hi
i need to develop a system that will work under mssql.
what do i need do in order to start?
where can i find free development vesion of mssql?
can u explain the steps in order to get started and develop on my localhost?
thanks

    If you are going to use Windows, Apache (as the web Server), obviously MySQL and PHP, the best and easiest thing to do is to download them all in one package called W.A.M.P.

    Go to:

    www.wampserver.com

    and download the newest version. If you are new to PHP, I recomend you going to:

    www.lynda.com

    and buying the video tutorial PHP Essentials. It is superb. If you don't want to buy it, you can always download it from most p-2-p servers. Don't tell anyone I told you that 😃

    For more help, I am sure the guys can help you here.

    I am also just starting out.

    Regards

    Jaymes Payten-Marsh

      thanks, but im talking about mssql and not mysql, i know mysql

        For SQL2000 there is no free version available. You'd have to go with the smalles version possible, the Personal Edition.

        However, SQL2005, due in September I think, there is a free lowcost version planned, of course lacking features needed for enterprise development.

          just install and start to work, or what?
          what are the steps before starting to develop.
          thanks

            Yes, if you have a version of MSSQL things are quite easy. You'd have to use PHP's mssql_ functions instead of the mysql ones, but that's mostly it for the PHP side.

            Authentication might be a bit tricky, MSSQL offers domain-authentication or db-user authentication. It's best if you chose 'mixed mode' when you install the SQL to have access to both ways.
            In the php.ini you can set mssql.secure_connection = on for the domain-auth (IE automagically authenticates you) or off for regular user/password auth.
            You add/delete users under the 'Security' Tab in the Enterprise Manager.

            For MSSQL ... it's way beyond what MySQL can do, but you can start with the same simple tables, columns, etc. However if you intend to work a lot with MSSQL, you should get some literature or certificate for it, because it offers a lot of complex features and functions that are not all easy to understand.

            For administration there's the SQL Server Enterprise Manager, if you want to hack in SQL code or create functions/triggers/etc, there's the Query Analyzer.

            For basic differences between the SQL Syntax of MySQL/MSSQL there's O'Reilly's SQL in a Nutshell which offers basic information about the syntax itself (e.g. there is no LIMIT clause in MSSQL, you use TOP instead).

              hey
              bjwilke, thank u very much, i will try your sudgestions
              thanks again
              fatNjazzy

                Don't expect SQL2005 to be ready on time, or to be bug-free when they do start shipping it: every version since sqlserver started has been late and riddled with bugs.

                Cheapest place to buy a copy would be on eBay - there is a copy of the developer edition going for £7.99 on the UK site.

                  You can get MSDE free, it's the same database engine as MS SQL Server 2000 but without client tools like Enterprise Manager. You can also get the developer version of MS SQL Server 2000 for around $50.00 US which is a complete system for developement and testing, just not for production use.

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