Hi!

Ok, I finally found an answer for sure. Go to the following URL and read carefully what is there.

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinfo/development/2000/MSDE2000.asp


In particular, give special attention to following sentenses:

"Designed to run in the background, supporting transactional desktop applications, MSDE 2000 does not have its own user interface (UI) or tools. "

"Licensing for MSDE 2000 is handled differently according to the application it is included in."

Does anybody know which licensing rules or URL that apply to the MSDE shipped with VFP 7? Probably the same as described in the general sentences at that page:

"You can also build MSDE 2000 into an application that was built with Microsoft development tools, such as Microsoft Visual Studio® and Microsoft Office Developer Edition, and distributed royalty-free. "

So yes, probably you can distribute MSDE for free, but with only one condition - it is distributed together with the aplication built using tools with which you received MSDE.


To Bob Tracy: As about the "free" MSDE 2000 shipped with MSDN, see following:

"MSDE 2000 is packaged in MSDN Universal Subscriptions (as part of the SQL Server CD-ROMs) for the purpose of developing desktop applications that are fully compatible with SQL Server 2000. With MSDN Universal Subscription licensing, you can develop, use, and redistribute MSDE 2000 as part of the applications you build, provided that you comply with the distribution terms listed in the master EULA. To view the license agreement, visit MSDN. You will need client access licenses (CALs) or processor licenses to deploy MSDE 2000 applications that access SQL Server back-end data and resources. "

So, NOTHING is for free.

Any other comments?

P.S., I wondered, WHY VFP7 is not included in the tables on that page as a product with which MSDE 2000 shipped? Just sent notes to MS...


>Earlier this week I upgraded to VFP7. I installed the optional MSDE 2000 which proceeded fine. However, since then I've run into some issues which are personally hampering my use of this product.
>
>First off, as is my standard practice when installing new software, before using it I check to see if there is a more recent service pack available. As it happens, there is - MSDE 2000 SP1 (http://www.microsoft.com/sql/downloads/2000/ENGsp1.asp). I have been unable to get this update to install and have detailed the problems in a separate thread:
>
>http://www.levelextreme.com/wconnect/wc.dll?FournierTransformation~?2,15,577800
>
>Second, the last time I used SQL Server was back in the 6.0/6.5 days and I'm rusty, to say the least. My understanding is that SQL Server Books Online is the documentation for this product. I expected it to be installed along with MSDE but I can't find it on my system.
>
>Third, this is perhaps not an issue with MSDE so much as it's an issue with the philosophy of including some sort of SQL Server in the VFP7 box. I've had a little exposure to the SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Manager and it's a nice way to manage SQL Server. I understand that MSDE is bare-bones and one of the things it lacks is client-side utilities but I question if this is a good idea for developers. When learning a new (to me) product I appreciate all the help I can get.
>
>VS6 included a copy of SQL Server 7.0 Developer's Edition (and MSDE 1.0) in the Plus Pack. I never installed this product but presumably it comes with full documentation and client-side tools. Why could we not get a similar license for SQL Server 2000 with VFP7?
>
>Overall, my impression of what we get in the VFP7 package is somehow "MSDE Lite", which is not packaged to take advantage of MS's own update process and which is not a very attractive introduction to SQL Server.
>
>I'm hoping someone from the MS Fox Team will respond, but if anyone else has any workarounds or can point out obvious stuff I've missed, I'd appreciate it.