With the initial release of the Microsoft .NET Framework, Microsoft introduced ADO.NET, the evolution of ActiveX® Data Objects (ADO). Designed to natively support XML as well as traditional datasets, Microsoft ADO.NET offered improvements in performance and scalability. In .NET Framework 2.0, data access is enhanced not only through the addition of new data access controls, services, and the ability to integrate more seamlessly with Microsoft SQL Server™ 2005, but also through improvements to the ADO.NET class libraries themselves. Now you can teach yourself the essentials of working with ADO.NET 2.0 in the Microsoft Visual Studio® environment—one step at a time. With STEP BY STEP, you work at your own pace through hands-on, learn-by-doing exercises. Whether you’re a beginning programmer or new to this version of the technology, you’ll understand the core capabilities and fundamental techniques for ADO.NET 2.0. Each chapter puts you to work, showing you how, when, and why to use specific features of the ADO.NET 2.0 rapid application development environment and guiding as you create actual components and working applications for Microsoft Windows®.