How to install a SQL CE data base on a windows mobile device

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[edit] Introduction

Microsoft SQL Server Compact (SQL CE) is a compact relational database produced by Microsoft for applications that run on mobile devices and desktops.

SQLCE has similar characteristics as SQL data bases but the main difference is its small size, due to the fact this DDBB is installed on little devices like phones or PDAs. One of the main differences is that there is only one users of the same data base and if there are more than one, developers have to control it on the application.

There are multiple versions of SQL CE, but the last one is SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP1 supporting .NET Framework 3.5 which is compatible with Windows Mobile 2003, 5.0 and 6.0.

[edit] Download

We can get SQL CE files on Microsoft web, concretly on http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=E9AA3F8D-363D-49F3-AE89-64E1D149E09B&displaylang=en

Here we can find CAB files for installing SQL Server 2005 Compact on mobile devices, MSI file for installing SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition on desktop and tablet PC, header files required for developing a native SQL Server Compact application, MSI for installing the SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Help Files and Northwind sample application.

[edit] Install SQL CE dlls

Once we have all the files downloaded, next step is to search the directory where CAB files are stored (..\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v3.1\SDK\bin\wce500\armv4i), there, depending on the device we want to install the SQL CE data base, we will have to choose between wce5.0, ppc or phone dlls, for instance if we have a wce5.0 we have to take sqlce30.wce5.armv4i.CAB, sqlce30.repl.wce5.armv4i.CAB and sqlce30.dev.ES.wce5.armv4i.CAB (.ES. because we are using a spanish device).

Now, we have to copy selected .CAB files and copy them on the windows mobile device and finally, to install the data base we only have to click over each one of the .CAB files and follow the system instructions.