Running the samples!

The Atlas samples use SQL Server 2005 Express (SSE) for their database. SSE ships as an option when installing VS2005 and Visual Web Developer Express. The SSE .mdf files are in each samples App_Data directory. You should also be able to attach the .mdf file in SQL Server 2005 Standard and change the connection string in the web.config.

Each of the Atlas samples should have has a readme.txt which describes how to get the sample working. For example the Contacts readme.txt at C:\Program Files\Microsoft ASP.NET\Atlas Sample Applications\Contacts\readme.txt contains

ASP.NET 'Atlas' Contacts Sample

Setup
=====
Copy the following file:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft ASP.NET\Atlas\v2.0.50727\Microsoft.Web.Atlas.dll

to the Bin folder in the folder where you have the Contacts sample files.

Running the Sample
==================
1. Open Visual Studio

2. Open the Contacts project by following these steps:

a. In the "File" menu, click "Open Website."
b. In the "Open Web Site" dialog box, click the "File System" tab.
c. Navigate to the folder where you have the Contacts sample files, and
then click "Open".

3. Run the Default.aspx page.

4. Navigate in the GridView control.

Notice that paging or sorting does not require a postback.

5. Drag the "Add new contact" panel to a different location on the page.

6. Enter a new contact.

Note that the box provides auto-complete behavior.

The instructions are cookie cutter at best. They assume your using SQL Express and are geared 100% to that. If you are using SQL 2005 Developer or Standard your on your own. I've spent 2 hours tonight to try and get the samples running. Messing with connection strings, turning on named pipes, turning on TCP/IP in SQL according to some blogs to see if I can get a connection. No dice.

In order to even attach the MDF file you have to run a SQL Stored Proc to attach and create an LDF file. Nowhere is this documented in the Atlas docs that I can find. Go here for that:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/tsqlref/ts_sp_ae-az_4wrm.asp

Once I've finally gotten my DB setup and stuff I went to run the app only to find out now it wanted another stored proc. I just gave up at that point.

I hate to be bitter, but the new SQL 2005 tools and stuff are THREE times more difficult to use than the old tried and true Enteprise Manager. I couldn't even add a user to the Tasklist database without numerous errors.

I wish they had put instructions on how to rig this up with SQL 2005 Developer because its not straight forward and the included docs are essentially useless when you step out of the box. They would have been better off using Access for the sake of a demo.

This time the first experience was really good, though i found the dll is directly not refered in the sample achived, as soon as i included them it workd for me. i am expecting a greate experience ahead

Thanks