>>Just tried to install the MSDE option from CD, it seemed to be working as it took a few minutes, but did not give any confirmation at the end that it had installed successfullly.
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>>I dont know whether MSDE is installes now or not. How do I check this out and start creating Databases using MSDE ?
>
>Gerard,
>
>I'm using MS SQL Server Developer Edition on Windows XP Pro. In my Windows Task Manager I see "sqlservr.exe" listed. In my Administrative Tools | Services I have MSSQLServer listed. In my task tray I have an icon which is gray with a green arrow in a white circle attached to it to signify that it is running.
>
>To use SQL Server from VFP I can go into my ODBC data sources and create a new datasource called MyServer.

-- Sorry about this message being in two parts. It seems the UT has the hiccups.

After I choose the SQL Server ODBC driver the dialog will show me a list of available servers, including one called "(local)" and one with the name of my server (my machine's name).

Since I installed the "pubs" database, after setting up the ODBC I can type the following in the Command window:

nConnection = SQLCONNECT("MyDataSourceName")
nSuccess = SQLEXEC(nConnection, "SELECT * FROM Authors")

I don't know exactly what you'll see on your machine since I don't have MSDE installed here to check. Post back with more questions.