Getting Assistance (SQL Server Compact)
Good sources of information from Microsoft about SQL Server Compact 3.5 are described in this topic and include the following:
- Documentation installed with SQL Server 2008.
- SQL Server sites on the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) and TechNet.
- Other Microsoft Web sites.
You can also obtain help from people, either through the SQL Server community or directly from Microsoft support.
SQL Server Compact 3.5 Documentation
You can access SQL Server Compact 3.5 documentation in the following ways:
- From the download site at SQL Server Compact 3.5 Books Online Download Center.
- If you have installed SQL Server 2008, from the Start menu, click All Programs, click Microsoft SQL Server Compact 3.5, and then click Install or Repair SQL Server Compact Help. This runs the installer package that installs the SQL Server Compact 3.5 Help to the local computer. It can then be opened by using the shortcut in the SQL Server Compact program group, or directly from SQL Server 2008 Books Online.
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. This includes 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 audience.
| 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 Access. |
|
Web site creators and software developers whose sites and applications use XML for data storage and manipulation. |
|
Administrators and operators who plan, deploy, administer, and support systems using SQL Server. |
Additional Online Information
| Resource | Audience |
|---|---|
Provides information about evaluating SQL Server Compact 3.5 as a data storage solution for mobile devices. |
|
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 2008. |
Getting Assistance From Others
If you have not found the information that 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 |
|---|---|
Links to newsgroups and forums monitored by the SQL Server community. Also listed are 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. |
|
Focuses on the newsgroups, forums, and other community resources that are useful to SQL Server developers. |
|
Use this Web site to open a case with a Microsoft support professional. |