What's New in Data

This version of Visual Studio includes the following new features for developing applications that access data:

• Language-Integrated Query (LINQ) technology presents important programming-language advances over Visual Studio 2005. LINQ to SQL applies LINQ technology to relational databases. For more information about getting started with LINQ to SQL, see LINQ to SQL.

• The Object Relational Designer (O/R Designer) assists developers in creating and editing the LINQ to SQL objects that map between an application and a database. The O/R Designer creates the DataContext, entity classes, and DataContext methods that are used by LINQ to SQL to communicate with the remote database and handle data that is used in your application. For more information, see O/R Designer Overview.

  • To open the O/R Designer, add a LINQ to SQL Classes item to a project. For more information, see How to: Add LINQ to SQL Classes to a Project (O/R Designer).

• N-Tier support for typed datasets provides enhancements to the Dataset Designer that assist in separating TableAdapter code and typed dataset code into discrete projects. For more information, see N-Tier Data Application Overview.

  • To separate TableAdapter code and typed dataset code into discrete projects, set the DataSet Project property in the Dataset Designer. For more information, see How to: Separate Datasets and TableAdapters into Different Projects.

• Hierarchical update capabilities have been incorporated into the Dataset Designer to enable saving data in multiple related tables. A new TableAdapterManager object providing generated code that includes the save logic necessary for maintaining referential integrity has been added to typed datasets. Instead of calling the Update method for each TableAdapter, call the TableAdapterManager.UpdateAll method. For more information, see Hierarchical Update.

  • By default, hierarchical updates are enabled for datasets that are created in this version of Visual Studio. You can control hierarchical updates by setting the Hierarchical Update property in the Dataset Designer. For detailed information, see How to: Enable and Disable Hierarchical Update.

• Local database caching incorporates a SQL Server Compact 3.5 database and Microsoft Synchronization Services for ADO.NET into an application and prepares the application to periodically synchronize the data with a remote database on a server. Local database caching enables applications to reduce the number of round trips between the application and a database server. This can increase performance when you are working with data that changes infrequently or when applications are not always able to connect to the remote database. For more information, see Occasionally Connected Applications Overview.

  • Configure local database caching by adding a Local Database Cache to a project. For more information, see How to: Configure Data Synchronization in an Application.

  • Starting in Visual Studio 2008 SP1, you can configure local database caching from the Data Source Configuration Wizard. For more information, see Walkthrough: Creating an Occasionally Connected Application by Using the Data Source Configuration Wizard.

  • Starting in Visual Studio 2008 SP1, you can configure local database caching to use SQL Server change tracking. For more information, see How to: Configure Data Synchronization to Use SQL Server Change Tracking.

• Microsoft SQL Server Compact 3.5 is a compact database that can be deployed on desktop computers, smart devices, and Tablet PCs. SQL Server Compact 3.5 is a local database that is easily incorporated into applications and is easily deployed. For more information, see Using SQL Server Compact 3.5 (Visual Studio).

  • For information about how to incorporate a new or existing SQL Server Compact 3.5 database into your application, see How to: Add a SQL Server Compact 3.5 Database to a Project.

See Also

Concepts

What's New in Visual Studio 2008

What's New in ADO.NET

What's New in Visual Database Tools

What's New in Visual Basic

What's New in Visual C#

Additions to Windows Forms for the .NET Framework 2.0

Change History

Date	History	Reason
July 2008	Added information about configuring local database caching by using the Data Source Configuration Wizard.	SP1 feature change.
July 2008	Added information about configuring local database caching to use SQL Server change tracking.	SP1 feature change.