As I said download SSE. It has management studio. MSDE didn't have any tools (though there are tools if you search inet). I don't see it as a dandy idea to install an SQL version if you're going to work with it:) If you don't get the tools you'd be on your own in a way (doesn't really look like trivial for a beginner IMHO - IOW with just MSDE you're in trouble).

"will it be possible to interact with it via means other than record data? Specifically, can a stored procedure in the database send messages back to the client that contain info such as "That record is already in the database."?

Record data? It's set based not record. You can call stored procedures.
VFP version is also important providing you some ease (ie: pre VFP8 less capabilities).
Cetin

>Cetin & Dan - Thanks for your input.
>
>Well, it seems somewhere along the way I picked up a copy of MSSQL server. Perhaps its the lite version that comes with VFP 9? In any case, I have an icon in my tray that brings up a control window for SQL Server and it says the service is running. But that's all I know. I can't find any means to access the service or set up a table in it or ?? Where do I go from here?
>
>In a related matter. Once the database is setup as a client-server relationship, will it be possible to interact with it via means other than record data? Specifically, can a stored procedure in the database send messages back to the client that contain info such as "That record is already in the database."?
>
>Thanks again.
>- Don
>
>>No. But it would be a dandy idea to set up some version of SQL-server on your local machine. VFP9 ships with a copy of MSDE (which is SQL-server in drag, and is now known as SQL-Server Lite).
>>
>>"Remote data" does NOT mean the data is located on a remote machine. It's just outside the VFP environment. It can be in a different environment on your own workstation.
>>
>>Dan
>>
>>
>>>If I wanted to learn how to interact with a backside server like SQL Server, would it be a good idea to simulate this experience with VFP? (Seeing as though there are no SQL Server databases available at the moment.)
>>>
>>>If so, is there a white paper available that would provide the basics of how to set it up and understand it?
>>>
>>>Thanks for any input.
>>>-Don