XPost: microsoft.public.sqlserver.newusers   
   From: esquel@sommarskog.se   
      
   Gene Wirchenko (genew@ocis.net) writes:   
   >      I suppose some might be due to slightly different versions.  I   
   > think that there are at least two downloads of SQL Server 2008   
   > Express.  Could anyone elaborate on this?   
      
   For SQL Express, there are usually streamlined downloads for service packs.   
   That is, you can download and install SQL 2008 SP2 in one go. With other   
   editions you need to apply the service pack separately.   
      
   It is possible that there are differences in how database diagrams work   
   between service packs. Then again, it is not that likely. The diagrams is   
   a fairly old feature, and I don't think Microsoft touches it very much   
   at all.   
      
   I would also like to raise a word of caution of using the graphical   
   tools in SSMS to create and moreover to change table definitions. There   
   are serious flaws in how SSMS implement the table changes, of which some   
   are not so directly apparent, which makes it even more devious. The   
   diagrams as such may helpful to visualise the database, if you don't   
   have a real data-modelling tool around (and they tend to be expensive,   
   why many haven't.) But for actually creating tables you are better off   
   with CREATE and ALTER TABLE.   
      
   --   
   Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, esquel@sommarskog.se   
      
   Links for SQL Server Books Online:   
   SQL 2008: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/cc514207.aspx   
   SQL 2005: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/bb895970.aspx   
      
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