SQL Server 2008 R2 Best Practices Analyzer

http://www.microsoft.com/

The Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 BPA is a diagnostic tool that performs the following functions:

• Gathers information about a Server and a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 or 2008 R2 instance installed on that Server
• Determines if the configurations are set according to the recommended best practices
• Reports on all configurations, indicating settings that differ from recommendations
• Indicates potential problems in the installed instance of SQL Server
• Recommends solutions to potential problems

MSSQL Schema Diff-compare database schemas

http://www.wintestgear.com/products/MSSQLSchemaDiff/MSSQLSchemaDiff.html

Use MSSQL Schema Diff to compare database schemas.  It quickly and easily locates
structural differences between two SQL Server databases.  Results are clearly displayed with MSSQL
objects in a familiar SQL Management Studio tree layout with property comparisons in a matching data grid.
Intuitive icons and color codes make it easy to spot differences.  Filter buttons make it easy to narrow down
to just what is different or missing from one or the other database.  Usage is simple; simply select two
MSSQL databases, click Compare, then browse the  differences.

SQL Server Web Data Administrator for SQL Server

http://sqlwebadmin.codeplex.com/

The SQL Server Web Data Administrator enables you to easily manage your SQL Server data, wherever you are. Using its built-in features, you can do the following from Microsoft Internet Explorer or your favorite Web browser:

* Create and edit databases in SQL Server or Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE)
* Perform ad-hoc queries against databases and save them to your file system
* Export and import database schema and data
* Manage users and roles
* View, create and edit stored procedures

Whether you are doing Microsoft Windows or Web development, or just need remote access to data for yourself or your clients, the Web Data Administrator is the perfect complement to your toolbox.

SQLite Database browser is a light GUI editor for SQLite

http://sourceforge.net/projects/sqlitebrowser/

SQLite Database browser is a light GUI editor for SQLite databases, built on top of Qt. The main goal of the project is to allow non-technical users to create, modify and edit SQLite databases using a set of wizards and a spreadsheet-like interface.

FlameRobin-administration and management GUI for Firebird

http://sourceforge.net/projects/flamerobin/

FlameRobin is a lightweight and cross-platform administration and management GUI for the Firebird DBMS.

MySQL-database Backup tool

http://sourceforge.net/projects/mysqlbutool/

Backup tool for MySQL to automatically / manually create sql dump files, for data, table structure, functions and stored procs. Can run via the task manager for backups on a regular base. Backup can be zipped with a password and saved on a server.

HeidiSQL-Windows based MySQL-Database Manager

http://www.heidisql.com/

HeidiSQL is an easy-to-use interface and a “working-horse” for web-developers using the popular MySQL-Database. It allows you to manage and browse your databases and tables from an intuitive Windows® interface.

SQL Server Reporting Services Scripter-enables scripting and transfer utility

http://www.sqldbatips.com/showarticle.asp?ID=62

Reporting Services Scripter is a .NET Windows Forms application that enables scripting and transfer of all Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services catalog items to aid in transferring them from one server to another. It can also be used to easily move items on mass from one Reporting Services folder to another on the same server. Depending on the scripting options chosen, Reporting Services Scripter can also transfer all catalog item properties such as Descriptions, History options, Execution options (including report specific and shared schedules), Subscriptions (normal and data driven) and server side report parameters.

SQL Encryption Assistant Basic Edition

http://www.devenius.com/SEABasic.aspx

SQL Encryption Assistant Basic Edition simplifies the creation, modification, and deletion of encryption keys and certificates inside SQL Server. SQL Encryption Assistant is an add-in utility to either SQL Server Management Studio or Microsoft Visual Studio.
Free BASIC Edition Download Free BASIC Edition 2008 Download
Features
    Create (Limit 5), Alter, Delete         Backup         Restore
      – Asymmetric Keys           – Certificates           – Certificates
      – Symmetric Keys           – Database Master Keys           – Database Master Keys
      – Certificates           – Service Master Keys           – Service Master Keys
      – Database Master Keys
      – Service Master Keys
System Requirements
    Operating Systems
          – Windows XP SP2
          – Windows Vista SP1
          – Windows Server 2003 SP1
          – Windows Server 2008
         
    Microsoft SQL Server 2005/2008
          – Express
          – Workgroup
          – Standard
          – Enterprise
         
    Visual Studio
          – Visual Studio 2005 SP1
          – Visual Studio 2008

Database Editor-Oracle, DB2, MS SQL SERVER, MySQL, Access

http://acid.110mb.com/

The program allows you to work with several databases simultaneously. Easy way for exports and imports datas to popular formats. Convenient connection manager provide the rapid switching between databases.

Support databases: Any. Oracle, DB2, MS SQL SERVER, MY SQL, Access etc

Features:

    * Object Browser
    * Import from csv,excel
    * Export to text,csv,excel
    * Work with BLOB fields (export/import)
    * SQL Editor with syntax
    * SQL History browser
    * SQL Templates
    * Web update
    * Plugins
    * Free
 

SQLBackupAndFTP-runs scheduled backups

http://sqlbackupandftp.com/

SQLBackupAndFTP is a software program that runs scheduled backups  of SQL Server or SQL Server Express databases, zips the backups, stores them on a network or on a FTP server, removes old backups, and sends an e-mail confirmation on job's success or failure. It has to be installed on the server.

SQL Server 2005 Driver for PHP

http://www.microsoft.com/

Download the SQL Server 2005 Driver for PHP, a PHP 5 extension that allows for the reading and writing of SQL Server data from within PHP scripts.

Query Express-query tool for MSDE and SQL Express

http://www.albahari.com/queryexpress.html

Query Express is a simple Query Analyzer look-alike, but being small and free it can be run where the SQL Server client tools are not installed or licensed. This makes it especially useful as a query tool for MSDE and SQL Express. It also connects to Oracle and other OLE-DB compliant databases.Query Express requires no installation and is packaged as a single 100KB executable. This is more than 300 times smaller than SQL Server Management Studio!Query Express Screenshot. Query Express is ideal for those not yet ready for the LINQ Challenge.Query Express has a fully permissive free license with no conditions attached. Full source code is included, which you can use in commercial software. Compatible with the .NET Framework versions 1.1, 2.0 and above—no additional downloads are required if you have Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista.

Microsoft Source Code Analyzer for SQL Injection

http://www.microsoft.com/

Community Technology Preview (July 2008)
Microsoft Source Code Analyzer for SQL Injection is a static code analysis tool for finding SQL Injection vulnerabilities in ASP code. Customers can run the tool on their ASP source code to help identify code paths that are vulnerable to SQL Injection attacks.

LINQPad is a fantastic freeware application that lets you interactively query SQL databases using LINQ (Language Integrated Query).

In this brave new world where LINQ will become more popular an will be broadly adopted by the .NET community it will become very important to become fluent with your use of LINQ. One way to accomplish this is by replacing your use of  SQL Management Studio for interactively querying SQL databases with LINQPad.

According the the LINQPad website you can "Kiss goodbye to SQL Management Studio !".  Does LINQPad replace SQL Management Studio for interactively querying SQL databases? 

Until I found Matt Perdeck's LINQ to CSV library an easy to use library to read and write CSV and tab delimited files with LINQ queries,  I would have said LINQPad is not ready.

In my opinion there are only two reasons not to use LINQPad and both problems are solved by LINQtoCSV.

1. LINQPad lacks the ability to export query results to a csv file.
2. LINQPad's output is limited to 1000 Records.\

Here's how to configure LINQPad to use LINQtoCSV.

Step 1: Download LINQtoCSV and copy to the folder of you choice.

Step 2: Add "LINQtoCSV.dll" Assembly Reference to Tab called "Additional References"  (Query >> Advanced Properties) or (F4)

Step 3: Add "LINQtoCSV" Namespace Reference to Tab called "Additional Namespace Imports"

Step 4: Press the Set as default for new queries button and close the window.

Step 5: Set Query Type to C# Statement(s)

Step 6: Add standard LINQtoCSV code to your Query.

About This Website

Welcome to FantasticFreeware.com's .NET Blog .  This Blog is dedicated to Fantastic .NET Framework Freeware Applications and Technology.  The .NET technologies that you will find here are C#, VB.NET, ASP.NET, .NET 2.0, 3.0, & 3.5 Frameworks, LINQ, WCF, WPF, Silverlight just to name a few.

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FantasticFreeware – is my personal Library of every freeware program that I have found useful.

I have cataloged over 2700+ of only the best hand picked freeware programs since 2003.  To make the list it must be a true freeware application. No demos, trial, shareware, and etc. I continually add to the collection and add about half dozen new freeware applications every week.  The current size of my personal catalog is 50GB and growing. The programs a categorized by major groupings. (Disk, Internet, Security, Development, and etc)

VistaDB 3.3 Express Edition-managed database you can XCopy deploy

http://www.vistadb.net/blog/vistadb-news/vistadb-express-release/

VistaDB is a 100% managed database you can XCopy deploy. In fact this site is powered by VistaDB (even this blog).

VistaDB Express is a free edition of VistaDB for non commercial use.  This includes hobbysts, mono developers, open source projects, personal websites, user groups, sample application, schools, and much much more.Why an Express Edition?We get asked quite a bit about distribution with free and open source projects (especially mono developers), we needed  a license to specifically help these developers use all the cool features of VistaDB in their community as well.Microsoft decided a long time ago that the Express Development tool (VB Express, C# Express, C++ Express) editions are not allowed to load third party plugins.  These editions were specifically aimed at the non professional developer community.  Since they can't load the GUI plugins for Visual Studio 2005 and 2008 anyway, we decided to simplify the offering for these users.Where do I get it? Get VistaDB Express here or the VistaDB 30 day trial.VistaDB Express HighlightsDesigned for use with Mono and Microsoft Express builds for personal projects, there are no Visual Studio plugins.    * No Server Explorer or Data Binding (Express Editions cannot load them anyway)    * May not be used for commercial purposes    * No in memory databases
    * No Isolated storage support
    * Database files may not be renamed (must be VDB3)
    * No Compact Framework support. No Sync Services. No LINQ. No Client / Server support.

Even with those restrictions it still has a lot of things you can't get from SQL CE:

    * Shared Hosting Support
    * ASP.Net websites with connection pooling support
    * CLR Procs
    * TSQL Procs
    * UDF Functions
    * Updatable Views
    * SQL Exception Handling
    * Data Builder GUI for managing your database
    * 64 Bit Windows Support

For a full review of VistaDB vs SQL CE see our comparison page on the VistaDB.net website.

For a full list of restrictions view the EULA for VistaDB.

Scrawlr-analyze website for sql injection bugs

https://download.spidynamics.com/Products/scrawlr/

Scrawlr, developed by the HP Web Security Research Group in coordination with the MSRC, is short for SQL Injector and Crawler. Scrawlr will crawl a website while simultaneously analyzing the parameters of each individual web page for SQL Injection vulnerabilities. Scrawlr is lightning fast and uses our intelligent engine technology to dynamically craft SQL Injection attacks on the fly. It can even provide proof positive results by displaying the type of backend database in use and a list of available table names. There is no denying you have SQL Injection when I can show you table names!

Technical details for Scrawlr

    * Identify Verbose SQL Injection vulnerabilities in URL parameters
    * Can be configured to use a Proxy to access the web site
    * Will identify the type of SQL server in use
    * Will extract table names (verbose only) to guarantee no false positives

Scrawlr does have some limitations versus our professional solutions and our fully functional SQL Injector tool

    * Will only crawls up to 1500 pages
    * Does not support sites requiring authentication
    * Does not perform Blind SQL injection
    * Cannot retrieve database contents
    * Does not support JavaScript or flash parsing
    * Will not test forms for SQL Injection (POST Parameters)

SQL Excel Add-in -SQL Excel adds easy database access

http://www.sqldrill.com/

Easy to import data to Excel from SQL Server, MYSQL, Oracle, Sybase, Microsoft Access, DB2 etc.     * Works with Excel XP, 2003 and 2007 Genuine Freeware! NO Ads, NO Spyware, NO Viruses  NO Time limits, NO "Phone Home"… Small Add-in Size – has small disk and memory footprint.  At the moment slightly less than 200k.  It wont bog down your Excel like add-ins can sometimes.. Fast Add-in user interface is implemented via  a small toolbar which will be added to your excel.  The toolbar wont take up too much space in Excel and you can move it to where you want it.

Vlinq-Visual Linq-query builder for Linq to Sql

http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/vlinq

Visual LINQ Query Builder is an add-in to Visual Studio 2008 Designer that helps you visually build LINQ to SQL queries. Functionally it provides the same experience as, for instance the Microsoft Access Query Builder, but in the LINQ domain. The entire UI of this add-in uses Windows Presentation Foundation. The goal of this tool is to help users become more familiar with the LINQ syntax. The tool may also demonstrate to users how to create their own Visual Studio 2008 add-in using Windows Presentation Foundation.

This academic project was developed by two students during an internship at Microsoft France, under the supervision of one of our Developer Evangelists. The project was in full collaboration with the STB International CPE team in Redmond.

GURA OLE DB Data Gate-simplfy ado.net db access

http://www.gura.com.au/TabloidSheet.aspx?p=P564221  

The GURA OLE DB Data Gate reduces the hassles associated with coding ADO.NET. It Provides the tools to retrieve and update data from OLE DB compatible databases. The Data Gate's role is to provide the common data access methods required for communicating with a data source. The Data Gate implements a standard interface that provides communication channels for an Object Director to perform data processes. As well as this, it implements standard CRUD functionality available for any calling application to access the raw data source data. 

BaseX is a native XML database

http://www.basex.org/  

BaseX is a native XML database. It features compact storage structures, a very efficient XPath and XQuery implementation and a visual frontend, facilitating visual access to the stored data. BaseX is written in Java and freely available for download. It is developed by the Database and Information Systems Group at the University of Konstanz.

Features:

    * Support of XQuery 1.0, reaching 99.3% of the W3C XQuery Test Suite
    * Partial support of XQuery Full-Text, based on the W3C Working Draft
    * Several Indexes, including a full-text index (currently only applied by the XPath 1.0 implementation)
    * GUI interactions for XML Updates
    * A Query Panel for entering XPath and XQuery
    * A Table View for a flat view of regular XML documents
    * A Help View for interactive feedback on the GUI features
    * A revised command syntax (try ´help´ in the console or the GUI command mode)

LINQPad lets you interactively query SQL databases in a modern query language

http://www.linqpad.net/  

LINQPad lets you interactively query SQL databases in a modern query language: LINQ.  Kiss goodbye to SQL Management Studio!

LINQPad supports everything in C# 3.0 and Framework 3.5:

    * LINQ to SQL
    * LINQ to Objects
    * LINQ to XML

LINQPad is also a terrific tool for learning LINQ: it comes preloaded with 200 examples from the recently released C# 3.0 in a Nutshell.  There's no better way to experience the coolness of LINQ and functional programming.

LINQPad is free and needs no installation: just download and run.  The executable is under 2MB and is self-updating. 

Database .NET – managing multi-databases

http://s630417.myweb.hinet.net/Database.htm

Database Reader is simple program for managing multi-databases. You can simply create / insert / select / update / delete table data and use SQL console.

Supports: MS Access / Access 2007 / Firebird / MySQL / SQL Server / SQL Server CE / SQLite/PostgreSQL.

Requires: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 or later.

DBSlayer – lightweight database abstraction layer suitable for high-load websites

http://code.nytimes.com/projects/dbslayer 

The DBacesslayer aka DBSlayer aka Släyer (as we like to call it when we're feeling ironically heavy metal) is a lightweight database abstraction layer suitable for high-load websites where you need the scalable advantages of connection pooling. Written in C for speed, DBSlayer talks to clients via JSON over HTTP, meaning it's simple to monitor and can swiftly interoperate with any web framework you choose.

The DBSlayer originated as an internal tool at the New York Times. The typical LAMP strategy for scaling up data-driven applications is to replicate slave databases to every web server, but this approach can hit scaling limitations for high-volume websites, where processes can overwhelm their given backend DB's connection limits. Quite frankly, we wanted to scale the front-end webservers and backend database servers separately without having to coordinate them. We also needed a way to flexibly reconfigure where our backend databases were located and which applications used them without resorting to tricks of DNS or other such "load-balancing" hacks. Plus, it just seemed really cool to have a JSON-speaking DB layer that all our scriptable content could talk to. Thus, the DBSlayer was born

Simple SQL Backup – quick backup of a SQL Server database

http://www.simplesql.net/

Simple SQL Backup is a free software program intended for use by network administrators. It makes performing an immediate backup of a SQL Server database very easy (easier than opening the Microsoft provided SQL Server administration tools).

Simple SQL Backup works on any edition of SQL Server 7.0, SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2005, or SQL Server 2008.