MacLochlainns Weblog

As I’ve mentioned before, I try to support Oracle, MySQL, and SQL Server in my database classes. When I downloaded SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Edition, I just downloaded the Database with Management Tools. That’s the one on the first page and shown on the left.

It appears what I really wanted was the Database with Advanced Services because I found basic features weren’t available in the Database with Management Tools version. So, you should click the Other Installation Options link. On that page you can choose between the various options.

For example, you can’t use an IF statement or local variable assignment. Also, the available data types are a subset of the mainline product. You can’t use a VARCHAR but must use the NVARCHAR. Many features of the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio are removed too. A brief forum discussion shows that these types of problem exist in other versions too.

I thought a couple quick examples of raised exceptions would be helpful. They’re listed below.

Missing IF Syntax:

IF EXISTS (SELECT * FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES WHERE TABLE_NAME = 'CORE_SYSTEM_USER')
  DROP TABLE CORE_SYSTEM_USER
GO

Generated error message:

Major Error 0x80040E14, Minor Error 25501
> IF EXISTS (SELECT * FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES WHERE TABLE_NAME = 'CORE_SYSTEM_USER')
  DROP TABLE CORE_SYSTEM_USER
There was an error parsing the query. [ Token line NUMBER = 1,Token line offset = 1,Token IN error = IF ]

Local variable assignment Syntax:

DECLARE @TABLE_NAME nvarchar(30)
 
@TABLE_NAME = SELECT TABLE_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES WHERE TABLE_NAME = 'CORE_SYSTEM_USER'
GO

Generated error message:

Major Error 0x80040E14, Minor Error 25501
> DECLARE @TABLE_NAME nvarchar(30)
 
@TABLE_NAME = SELECT TABLE_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES WHERE TABLE_NAME = 'CORE_SYSTEM_USER'
There was an error parsing the query. [ Token line NUMBER = 1,Token line offset = 1,Token IN error = DECLARE ]

After I clear out the install and retry it with the other, I’ll update this as to whether or not these are available in the Database with Advanced Services SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Edition.