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rgatiganti

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When to use SQLCE and SQL server

Hi,

  I have a SQL server database and I am developing windows mobile application. I want to query sql server database on my desktop from my mobile application. In this case should I use sqlceconnection or sqlconnection. Which one is correct ?

I am new to sql database and I am totally confused. Please help with this.

Thank you,
Divya.
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Norman Maina
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Hi Divya,
To query the sql server in your PC - you should use sqlconnection.

The usual development for mobile apps using windows mobile is to have a subset of the main database in your phone -which your application will connect(sqlceconnection ) and then sync back the changes when ready with the database in your PC or LAN.

rgds,
Norman Maina
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rgatiganti

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Hello,

  Thank you for the quick reply. I have 4 tables on my server. I want to have the same tables on my mobile as well. But I dont need to use sync because I dont need to get all the information once. Every time I will query the  server and get my information. If the information is needed i will add that to my mobile database.
So, I will not use any sync service here.

So, to do this I need to write code to access my mobile database (.sdf) as well database on server(.mdf files). So, are saying I can use sqlceconnection to access mobile database and sqlconnection to access server database from mobile. In that case I need to install sql server on my mobile right? Is that possible.

Thank you,
Divya.
Divya,

NO you cannot install SQL Server into your mobile device :)

I'm assuming you have already installed SQL Server Compact Edition in your mobile device though.

Next in your application,add a reference to system.data.sqlclient (by right clicking your project and going to ADD Reference)

Then you can now add an Imports statement ...
imports system.data.sqlclient

c#
using syste,data.sqlclient

From there you can write the connection string to conenct to the database in your PC -for example
Dim conn as new sqlconnection("Data Source=myServerAddress;Initial Catalog=myDataBase;Integrated Security=SSPI;")

Hope that helps.
Norman Maina
Ok, thank you. I followed the steps you mentioned. I tried to connect to my server database. When I say conn.Connect() I am getting SqlException which says General Network Error.

Can you help me with this error.

Thank you,
Divya.
And to quote the Microsoft guy

"This should work:

"Server=YourServerHere,1433;Initial Catalog=YourDataBaseHere;User ID=YourLoginHere;Password=YourPasswordHere;Integrated Security=SSPI;"

Note you have to provide login and password even though windows authentication will be used. That's because there's no login procedure on devices."
Thank you. I am going through the links provided to get the solution. I just have two more questions.

1) Do I need to have IIS running on my server? I just have SQL server 2008 installed on my server.

2) How should i open TCP port on my server?

Thank you,
Divya.
Hi,

   I am still not able to connect. I am able to access network using IE browser. But I am not able to ping the server using vxUtils. Please help me here.

Thank you,
Divya.
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Norman Maina
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