Article ID: 195186
Article Last Modified on 5/2/2006
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Visual InterDev 6.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 Enterprise Edition
- Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 Professional Edition
- Microsoft Visual Database Tools
This article was previously published under Q195186
SUMMARY
The Visual InterDev 6.0 Professional package does not contain the ability to create database objects like database diagrams, tables, or stored procedures. This is a departure from Visual InterDev 1.0, where this was possible.
The functionality was moved to Visual Studio 6.0 Enterprise Edition. Visual InterDev 6.0, when installed from the Visual Studio 6.0 Enterprise Edition package, will have this capability.
MORE INFORMATION
The Visual Database Tools, a set of tools for accessing, viewing, and programming databases, have been enhanced in version 6.0. The tools now support Oracle schema design in addition to MS SQL Server, and have gained new capabilities, such as heterogeneous queries. They are also now available and integrated into all of the Professional Edition tools in Visual Studio, instead of just Visual InterDev, as in the previous version. To achieve these benefits, however, there were some changes to functionality.
When examining these changes, Microsoft found out that most mid- to large- sized programming shops were opposed to offering DBA-level capabilities to all of their developers. Also, a large percentage of customers divide responsibilities between database designers and application designers. It makes sense for the database designers to have the full range of Enterprise Edition functionality, and application designers to get the subset (at a reduced price) to be able to create applications around existing databases. Although this change doesn't apply to all customers, it balances the needs of most.
This change also makes the Visual InterDev Professional package more feature compatible with Visual Basic and Visual C++ Professional. These and other programs are bundled in the Visual Studio 6.0 Professional Edition.
For a detailed feature comparison chart of the Visual Database Tools with various programs, visit the following MSDN Web site:
Keywords: kbinfo KB195186
