Access versus MSDE versus SQL Server Express

[Paul H]

I have never used the MSDE as a backend for a database but I am considering
dipping my foot in the SQL waters and trying out SQL Server Express.

I remember that the MSDE had certain limitations (limited users?) that
stopped me from using it. Does SQL Server Express have similar limitations
that would deter me from using it as a backend and maybe eventually getting
my head around Visual Studio Express with a view to moving away from Access
and developing larger applications?

Thanks,

Paul

[Lyle Fairfield]

SQL Server Express:

A helpful capability of Access is that one can create an ADP (whether
or not it or an MDB is the production version of the application) and
create, edit, manipulate, diagram the SQL Database objects seamlessly
from within that ADP.

While one can use an SQL-Express database with an Access application,
the Access UI balks at editing the database objects, eg, one cannot
create a Stored Procedure with the Access UI, as one can, say with
Access 2003 and SQL-Server 2005.

Of course, one can do this with T-SQL strings and with the interface
provided with Express development platforms (which IMO is much more
advanced in this area that Access), so it's not a serious problem, but
it's not as convenient.

One expects that Access 12 will have this capability.

Larger Applications???