What's New in SQL Express 2008 November CTP

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SQL Server 2008 Express is now available as part of the November CTP - You can download it from the following link: https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=749bd760-f404-4d45-9ac0-d7f1b3ed1053&displaylang=en.

There is already a bunch of information out there about the new functionality available in SQL Server 2008, so I won't spend much time describing the features here. What I will do is document which of those new features will be available in the Express edition.

The following new features are available in SQL Express 2008:

New Datatypes

  • Date/Time data type improvements

  • Hierarchy ID

  • Filestream Data

  • Geographical Data

    DB Engine Improvements

  • Large user-defined types

  • Predictable query performance

    Programmability

  • ADO.NET Entity Framework

  • Language Integrated Query (LINQ)

    Productivity

  • Declarative Management Framework

  • Streamlined Setup

    For the November CTP we have only released the basic version of SQL Server 2008 Express. We'll be releasing SQL Server 2008 Express with Advanced Services and Management Studio Express in a future CTP. For now, if you want to use management studio to work with your SQL Express database, you should download SQL Developer edition, which is available from the same site listed above, and install the full version of Management Studio. This will work against SQL Express with no problems.

    Before you even ask, yes, the download package is pretty big; hey, it's a CTP! The download size will be reduced as we approach the final release so don't get too worried at this point, it's an interim step.

    Questions?

    You can provide feedback (bugs and feature request) on the SQL Server 2008 November CTP through the SQL Connect site: https://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer

    You can post general SQL Server 2008 question in the appropriate SQL Server 2008 forum on MSDN: https://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/default.aspx?ForumGroupID=428&SiteID=1

    You can post SQL Express specific quesitons in the SQL Server 2008 Express forum on MSDN: https://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=1621&SiteID=1

    Have fun!

    -Mike

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 24, 2008
    Thanks to everyone who attended the SQL Ireland Users group. We discussed some of the main new features

  • Anonymous
    January 24, 2008
    Thanks to everyone who attended the SQL Ireland Users group. We discussed some of the main new features

  • Anonymous
    February 19, 2008
    I know this is the wrong place, but I can't get to the Forum, it always disconnects me when I try to start a new thread. I can't get 2008 to install and it probably is because of 2005 never installed and I can't get 2005 removed.  I have done the Control Panel/Remove Program and it does not show the 2005 version of Express, but if I go to the C:/program files/ and then find the SQL programs, they are still all there and it will not let me delete them. I there any special software to remove all these programs to get a fresh start on installing SQL Express 2008. Thanks, Fred

  • Anonymous
    March 30, 2008
    Thanks to everyone who attended the SQL Ireland Users group. We discussed some of the main new features

  • Anonymous
    November 16, 2009
    The existing Management Studio seems to work with the SQL Server 2008 Express CTP. Do you still need to instal yet another version?

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2010
    am installed visualstudio 2010 and sql server 2005 but sql server not founding in visual studio how can i found the data it showing uesr not found when am trying to connect visual studio to sql server its giving a message user no found the server how can i solve the thing plz find for me reply me

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2010
    am installed visual studio 2010 and sql server 2005 but sql server not founding in visual studio how can i found the data it showing uesr not found when am trying to connect with visual studio to sql server its giving a message user not found the server how can i solve the thing plz find for me reply me