In this Chapter we will walk through the Database Programming in VB.Net. We will create database and tables in the SQL Management Studio and will attach that database with VB.Net forms and will view the data from the tables. Finally we will be able to insert new records in our tables and will be able to modify the existing data inside the tables.

Therefore it is important to learn ‘How to install SQL EXPRESS’ as well as ‘SQL SERVER MANAGEMNT STUDIO’ on our PC to get our goals. So let’s start to install SQL Express first.

SQL Express is available in the following two flours:

• SQL Express x86 for 32bits Operating System
• SQL express x64 for 64bits Operating system

So first of all you should check your operating system to decide which one will be suitable for you. For this purpose right click on ‘This PC / My Computer’ and choose the Properties as shown in the following image.

In the device specifications, check your system type as mine is 64bit operating system that is clear in the below picture. So I will install the x64bit SQL Express if yours is 32bit, then you should install x86 version. The installation process and steps for both are the same.

Depending upon your operating system, you should download your required product from Microsoft official site or you can also download your product type from the following links.

1. Download SQL Express x64bit

2. Download SQL Express x86bit

Save the download file in your favorite folder. Now double click your downloaded file to start extraction and installation as you see in the picture below.

When the extraction of files completes, you will see the following pop up dialog. Click ‘New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation’

The installation will start and you will see the following ‘Setup Support Rules’

Now overview the ‘Terms and conditions of the License’. If it is acceptable to you then give a tick Mark next to ‘I accept the License Terms’ and click the Next button.

Please always include the Product Updates as it will be best suited for our needs

Now click the Next button as shown below to install the updates files

The Installation of the updates will start as you see below.

When the installation of the updetes completes, the following dialog of features Selection will pop up. Please select all the available options and click the Next button

In the ‘Named Instance’ type ‘SQLExpress’ if it is not exist there and type ‘SQLEXPRESS’ in the Instance ID and click the Next button

Leave the defaults ‘Startup types’ for SQL Server databse Engine and for SQL Server Browser. We will configure them later.

In the next dialog box that pops up, windows authentication mode is selected by default. Leave it as it is we will change it to mixed Mode later that’s a long journey to go when we make Remote Connection with our database in VB.Net forms.

That’s all, the installation will start files installation so wait till the following dialog pops up and click the close button to finish Installation