>>>>>Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>>I am trying to follow a tutorial which is creating something in Visual Studio 2008. One of the steps is to create a Service-based database. When I tried to do this it was telling me it could not connect to the SQL Server. I double checked and ensured my SQL Server 2008 Express was running. So I started up the SQL Server 2005 Express instance that I also have on my PC. This time the creation of the database worked.
>>>>>
>>>>>I would prefer to be using the 2008 version, how can I tell VS to use that instance?
>>>>
>>>>Are you creating database in SSMS? If yes, just connect to this server selecting it from drop down combobox.
>>>
>>>Sorry, I should have been clearer. The steps I am following are:
>>>
>>>1. Create a new Class Library project in VS2008
>>>2. Choose Project | Add New Item and choose Service-based Database
>>
>>Couple of things:
>>
>>I may be wrong but it's possible that the initial release of VS2008 didn't support SQL2008 - do you have the latest SP's?
>>
>>Also, when I just tried this the Configuration Wizard kicks in at the 'Choose your Database Objects' page. Using 'Previous' to back up allows me to set a specific connection (but I've currently only got a couple of SQL2005 options available so I don't know if a 2008 SQL would appear......)
>>
>>HTH,
>>Viv
>
>I got the answer:
>
>go to Tools -> Options -> Database Tools -> Data Connections. There is an option there to set the server instance name to use.

Presumably that only sets the default? Did you try backing up a couple of frames in the Wizard to select from there ?
Doesn't matter since you got it working - just curious.....

>I *think* I have he latest SP, the version info is:
>
>Microsoft Visual Studio 2008
>Version 9.0.30729.1 SP
>Microsoft .NET Framework
>Version 3.5 SP1
>
>Installed Edition: Professional

Looks like the latest to me..... :-}
Best,
Viv