As far as the database question, no, you don't NEED SQL Server. You can develop with all different kinds of databases. SQL Server, however, is more of an industry standard. You can download SQL Server Express edition for free from Microsoft.com. There is also a SQL Server Developer's Edition that you might want to look at. I'm not sure how you get it, but I thought it was available to certain version of VS.

>Robert,
>
>Thank you very much. I definitely can use those codes when it's time.
>
>I have been stagnant for many years with VFP 6.0 and I'm very unfamiliar with the .net so I might have quetions that are so easy for everyone else here.
>
>I am thinking about getting a professional version of Visual Studio 2005 to develop this database application in VB .net. Would you suggest to get the one with MSDN professional or MSDN premium? Will premium be an overkill?
>
>Also, does VS (any version) have a SQL server available for development? Is SQL server required when developing a database application with .net (with VFP I only used the native database engine)?
>
>May I please have some basic guidelines (or answers to questions that I haven't asked yet?) to get started?
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>What book would you recommend that I use for .net?
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>I appreciate good answers from any other gurus here.
>
>Evelyn