Although I haven't tried it, I seem to remember that the Server Enterprise Manager (SEM) can connect to MSDE.

All database objects (tables, stored procedures, etc) can be created by submitting commands to MSDE. The SEM has a very nice table designer, but eventually, everything is boiled down to a single CREATE TABLE (or ALTER TABLE if you changing an existing table).

From VFP, you should be able to access MSDE using both Remote Views and SQL Pass-Through.

The MSDN Library lists alot of the Transact-SQL commands. Also, since MSDE is 100% SQL Server compatible, any intro book should be of some help. Just remember that most of the books are probably going to concentrate on the SEM.

-Mike