In many cases, organizations will convert existing client/server applications or file-sharing applications to support mobile clients. Client/server applications based on SQL Server 7.0 should not require significant changes. For example, developers might add refresh or synchronize features to an application that initiates the synchronization process with the central SQL Server database.
To take advantage of SQL Server's built-in merge replication features and scalability from the desktop to the enterprise, you should convert your application to SQL Server 7.0.
Microsoft provides resources (tools, services, and documentation) to guide you in your migration of data to SQL Server 7.0. For more information about migrating data to Microsoft SQL Server 7.0, see www.microsoft.com/sql.
Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Data Transformation Services (DTS) dynamically imports or exports data to and from any ODBC or OLE DB data source. DTS includes a graphical tool for scripting data transformations. This feature can be used for moving data to SQL Server or for performing regularly scheduled data transformation operations.
Microsoft Access 2000 will provide direct support for the Jet engine and the Microsoft Database Engine (MSDE). MSDE, which will ship with Microsoft Office 2000, shares the same code base as SQL Server 7.0. Developers can use Access 2000 to upsize existing Access applications to SQL Server or to develop new applications. The Access 2000 upsizing tool will move not only all the tables and data to SQL Server but also will migrate the referential integrity, Access views, and index definitions to SQL Server.
By using Microsoft Visual FoxPro 5.0, applications can be moved to SQL Server. The SQL Server Upsizing Wizard (part of Visual FoxPro) moves all the tables, views, referential integrity, index definitions, and data to SQL Server.
If your application currently runs on another database, only ODBC or OLE DB connectivity is required to move the data using DTS. For more information about migrating applications to run on Microsoft SQL Server 7.0, see www.microsoft.com/sql.