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By using Microsoft Visual C++ and Visual C++ for Devices, you can apply your knowledge of Visual C++ to develop desktop and smart device applications that use Microsoft SQL Server Compact 3.5. Visual C++ for Devices is included with Visual Studio, which provides an IDE for developing smart device applications.

SQL Server Compact 3.5 is implemented as a set of dynamic-link libraries (DLLs) that simplify data access. You use OLE DB to access a SQL Server Compact 3.5 database in Visual C++ applications. OLE DB is a low-level data interface technology that provides granular capabilities for data access. Of all the data access APIs, OLE DB for SQL Server Compact 3.5 provides the fastest data manipulation and access.

SQL Server Compact 3.5 header files are installed under %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v3.5\Include. In the file header comments, the version-specific information for SQL Server Compact is contained. The list of header files and their purpose is given below:

  • sqlce_err.h

    Error codes used by database

  • sqlce_oledb.h

    OLEDB standard programming interfaces

  • sqlce_sync.h

Merge and RDA programming interfacesThe following table describes the topics in this section:

Topic

Description

Engine Object Programming (SQL Server Compact)

Describes the methods and properties used to create, use, and delete a SQL Server Compact 3.5 database when you use Visual C++ for Devices.

Remote Data Access Programming (SQL Server Compact)

Describes the methods and properties used to implement remote data access (RDA) with SQL Server Compact 3.5 when you use Visual C++ for Devices.

Replication Programming (SQL Server Compact)

Describes the methods and properties used to implement merge replication with SQL Server Compact 3.5 when you use Visual C++ for Devices.

Programming the Native Error Object (SQL Server Compact)

Describes the methods and properties used to implement error handling with SQL Server Compact 3.5 when you use Visual C++ for Devices.

Reference

OLE DB Provider Reference (SQL Server Compact)