February 12, 2003 at 5:53 pm
Hi, I am new to this forum. We develop VB apps using either SQL 7 or 2000. However we have a new client who only has SQL 6.5 on their server and no budget to upgrade to 2000 until next year! We don't have the ability to install 6.5 here.
Is there any robust method for developing a 6.5 compatible database using either our SQL 7 or 2000 servers? If so, what would be the pitfalls to look out for?
Many Thanks, and if this is the incorrect forum please let me know 🙂
February 12, 2003 at 6:43 pm
You could start by putting your dev db in 65 compatibility mode, that will handle most of the gotchas - two I remember are the behavior of nulls changed, in 7.0 and higher they propogate, in 6.5 they dont, and you don't have Top N in 65.
Havent looked, but if you're an MSDN subscriber it might be available for download. I know current version you can load a developer edition, not sure if that feature/idea available for 6.5.
Andy
February 12, 2003 at 7:58 pm
First, I have been told there are things you can still do in SQL 7 that will not work in 6.5 that the compatibility mode doesn't handle.
Also, MSDN no longer has it available. You might try EBay but be carefull with licensing transfers and make sure not a ripoff MSDN copy or a "backup" copy (bootleg).
Finally, unless you know you need functionality available in a specifc version of SQL such as Enterprise edition or the DB is going to be over 2GB in size try using MSDE. This will allow you to offer them a solution that is more current without the need to worry about budget issue. Also, if they plan to upgrade to 2000 they have to go thru 7 to get there. With MSDE it is much simpler upgrade path and ultimately can mean a cost savings with that regards. Plus on top of that you can restore a backup from MSDE to any other version of the same class. You cannot do a backup and restore to restore a 7 db to 6.5, you will have to script the DB to build and I believe there may be some gotchas around that.
February 12, 2003 at 8:37 pm
Thanks very much for your replies. MSDE sounds suitable. We have had limited experience with MSDE, installed the copy that is bundled with Office 2000 and have restored (with some pain!) an existing SQL 7 database.
However we are only aware of using MS Access project to maintain the database... we had to run detach and attach stored procedures just to restore it.
Is there a utility out there which will provide us with MSSQL Enterprise Manager-type functionality - particularly Backup and Restore?
February 13, 2003 at 4:10 am
I wasnt aware of any problems with compatibility mode, but wouldnt surprise me if there were things that acted differently. Still, if you have to do 6.5, this could be a way to try it.
MSDE is a not a bad alternative, if its limitations dont hurt the project. Probably a freeware tool/copy of EM out there, havent paid much attention to know. Definitely you will need something, since both you and your customer will need tools to maintain the db. If you have a SQL7/2000 license, then you can use EM for MSDE installs as well - but not redistribute.
Andy
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