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Introducing SQL Server Express Manager

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For those of you who are interested in database management tools for SQL Express, I’d like to tell you about a new product that Microsoft will be releasing soon called SQL Server Express Manager (or XM for short). XM is a lightweight tool built on top of the latest version of the .NET Framework and the new SQL Server System Management Objects API. We received a lot of interest from MSDE customers for a better database management experience and we are hoping to provide that with the release of XM.
 
A little background on XM…
The inspiration for developing this tool came directly from customer feedback. By talking to MSDE users, we learned that in order to make SQL Server Express a successful product, we needed to provide an easy way for customers to manage their databases. For example of a feature that was implemented in direct response to a customer request is XM’s ability to connect to and managed both local and remote SQL Server instances.
 
Another significant result from the feedback that we received was that it reinforced the importance of designing XM with simplicity of use in mind. We want XM to be a tool that any database developer can get value out of so to that end, we have tried to optimize XM to be easy to install, easy to understand, and available to anyone. Some of the new usability features include step by step wizards to guide users through common tasks and a simplified tree view of the database objects in addition to standard functionality such as a T-SQL editor with syntax-highlighting. Like SQL Express, XM will also be freely downloadable and redistributable.
 
We expect to ship the first preview release of XM in time for Yukon Beta 3 but we are making every effort to provide this tool to customers earlier in the fall. Customers have also expressed an interest in more frequent product releases so we are planning to ship additional preview releases with updates to XM every 6 – 12 weeks. Our hope is this increased ship frequency will allow us to respond to customer requests more quickly.
 
We’d love to hear your thoughts on what features you would like to see in XM and how frequent you would like to have access to updates to the tool. If you’re interested in additional information, I will be updating this blog periodically with the latest status on XM.
 
I hope you’ve found this information useful and I look forward to writing to you again.
 
Thanks for all your time,
 
Eric Feng
Program Manager for SQL Server Express

Comments

  • Anonymous
    July 04, 2004
    One thing I a curious about; where does MS Access fit in with all this? E.g. will it now use SQL Server Express rather than Jet?

  • Anonymous
    July 06, 2004
    You're a moron Sam. You too Robert. SQL Express Manager hasn't been released yet, SQL Express has. SQL Express Manager will be here in a few weeks.

  • Anonymous
    July 06, 2004
    Isn't that pleasant? Is that the way you have all your discussions Paul? Do you know who I am? Maybe INETA are morons too for putting me on their speaker's bureau. Maybe Microsoft are morons for making me an MVP.

    >SQL Express Manager hasn't been released yet, SQL Express has. SQL Express Manager will be here in a few weeks.

    Thats the point idiot. They shouldn't have released SQL Express without the manager. Its a waste. Learn how to read.

  • Anonymous
    July 06, 2004
    It's a valid point that tools make the database much more useful. We decided to release a technical preview of SQL Express for three main reasons.
    1. We wanted to get as much feedback as possible on the database engine to ensure that we could get any necessary fixes into the final RTM product.
    2. Our customers & partners that use MSDE (which doesn't have tools) gave us feedback that they wanted a version that they could test and examine as soon as possible
    3. We've done lots of integration work with Visual Studio to make developing data driven application with SQL Express easier. We wanted to offer an option for users that wanted to begin examining these features now.

    We know that tools are hugely important and we are working hard to get a preview version of the tools out as soon as possible. Thanks for you patience and we hope that you'll continue to provide feedback.

    Thanks, Corey

  • Anonymous
    July 06, 2004
    Thanks Corey for listening to my feedback (and fustration) on behalf of users trying to use it. Your rationale makes sense with this explanation and the fact that the tools are coming out soon. Thanks again.

  • Anonymous
    July 06, 2004
    >>We expect to ship the first preview release of XM in time for Yukon Beta 3<<

    I hope yo mean "Yukon Beta2", or do we have wait to end of the year?

    Slavo.

  • Anonymous
    July 07, 2004
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    July 07, 2004
    Thanks for response, Euan.

    Admin GUI (XM) is definitely important.

    More publicity with regards to SMO is very important as well.

    Slavo.

  • Anonymous
    July 07, 2004
    As I pointed out, I understand this is a Beta version. I also pointed to tools to use in the meantime. This seemed to prove useful to a few people.

  • Anonymous
    July 07, 2004
    Slavo,
    What more do you want on SMO? I am working on some samples right now.

    -Euan Garden
    Product Unit Manager
    SQL Server Tools

  • Anonymous
    July 07, 2004
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    July 08, 2004
    SQL Server Express Manager ( XM ) ? Beta 3 ??

  • Anonymous
    July 08, 2004
    SQL Server Express Manager ( XM ) ? Beta 3 ??

  • Anonymous
    July 08, 2004
    I'd add that besides syntax highlighting Intellisense would be especially helpful. Other languages have had it for several versions now, it's time we stop treating T-SQL like a red-headed step child. Furthermore, now that you can write SPs in any CLR language and that XQuery support has been introduced, I think a lot of developers would benefit from Intellisense. Check out www.aquadata.com to see a pretty darn good (free) implementation of Intellisense for SQL...

  • Anonymous
    July 08, 2004
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    July 09, 2004
    Is there a problem with using WEb Data Administrator before Express Manager becomes available?

  • Anonymous
    July 09, 2004
    You will need the version of DMO that comes with express as the DMO version that comes with WebData Admin/SQL2000 does not work with SQL Server 2005 due to the meta data changes.

    We have not tested it but as the COM object interfaces have not changed it should work.

  • Anonymous
    July 09, 2004
    Thanks Euan, I have not hit any problems with it yet. It seems to work fine. If I come across any Issues I will post.

  • Anonymous
    July 10, 2004
    Will XM provide a way to schedule backups if there is no SQLAgent? The idea of relying on end-users to do manual backups fills me with horror!

    Will there be any way to import/export data if there is no DTS?

  • Anonymous
    July 10, 2004
    XM will be able to generate Backups that work via the OS Scheduler.

    You will still be able to import and export text data via BCP and Bulk Insert.

    -Euan Garden
    Product Unit Manager
    SQL Server Tools

  • Anonymous
    July 15, 2004
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    July 20, 2004
    Is XM released yet? SQL express is usless without a ui

  • Anonymous
    July 21, 2004
    Can u connect to SSE from MS Access to make a data project like with sql 2000? Thanks

  • Anonymous
    July 21, 2004
    Meanwhile, can we use MS Access as the front end, or make database projects (ADB)???

  • Anonymous
    July 29, 2004
    It's awsome, finaly we got what we wanted!

  • Anonymous
    August 10, 2004
    Please! Please! Please! release XM NOW!!!
    I beg you, my master.

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