Getting SQL Server Express Assistance
There are three principal sources of information from Microsoft about SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (SQL Server Express):
- SQL Server 2005 documentation
- SQL Server sites on the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) and TechNet
- SQL Server information on additional Microsoft Web sites
You can also get help from others either through the SQL Server Express community or directly from Microsoft support.
Note
SQL Server Express is a limited edition of SQL Server 2005. To view topics that contain information about SQL Server Express features that are same as SQL Server 2005 features, in the Contents pane of SQL Server 2005 Books Online, use the SQL Server Express filter. To view topics that describe the limitations of SQL Server Express, see the "SQL Server Express Edition Books Online" node in table of contents for SQL Server 2005 Books Online.
SQL Server Express Documentation and Samples
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
Download the latest version of SQL Server 2005 Books Online to view SQL Server Express content. A separate Books Online for SQL Server Express is unavailable. |
|
Download the samples for SQL Server Express. |
Information on MSDN and TechNet
The Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) provides online and offline services that help developers write applications by using Microsoft products and technologies. The Microsoft TechNet program delivers comprehensive technical resources that help IT professionals efficiently evaluate, deploy, and support Microsoft solutions.
Several sites on MSDN and TechNet provide a specific audience with links to the SQL Server information most relevant to their jobs, including the information in the copy of SQL Server Books Online on MSDN. These sites also contain information that extends the information available in Books Online.
The following table describes these resources and their intended audiences.
| Resource | Audience |
|---|---|
Developers who are building SQL Server databases, reporting systems, and business intelligence solutions, and enabling their applications and Web sites to use these systems. |
|
Developers who are enabling their applications and Web sites to use data stored by using products such as SQL Server and Microsoft Access. |
|
Web site creators and application developers whose sites and applications use XML for data storage and manipulation. |
|
Administrators and operators who are planning, deploying, administering, and supporting systems by using SQL Server. |
Additional Online Information
| Resource | Audience |
|---|---|
Provides product and installation information for SQL Server Express. |
|
Provides product and installation information about any of the Visual Studio Express products. |
|
Provides pre-sales information about evaluating SQL Server as a data storage and business intelligence tool. |
|
Provides a searchable repository of SQL Server articles written by Microsoft Support. |
|
Describes Microsoft training and certifications for SQL Server. |
|
Lists Microsoft Press books about SQL Server 2005. |
Getting Assistance From Others
If you cannot find the information you are looking for in the product documentation or on the Web, you can either ask a question in the SQL Server community or request help from Microsoft support.
The following table links to and describes these resources.
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
Has links to newsgroups and forums that are monitored by the SQL Server community. It also lists community information sources, such as blogs and Web sites. The SQL Server community is helpful in answering questions, although there is no guarantee of an answer. |
|
This site focuses on the newsgroups, forums, and other community resources that are useful to SQL Server developers. |
|
You can use this Web site to open a case with a Microsoft support professional. |
See Also
Concepts
Using SQL Server Express Books Online
Help and Information
Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance
Change History
| Release | History |
|---|---|
14 April 2006 |
|