SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is the next version of MSDE and is a free, easy-to-use, lightweight, and embeddable version of SQL Server 2005. Free to download, free to redistribute, free to embed, and easy for new developers to use immediately, SQL Server Express includes powerful features such as SQL Server Management Studio Express, for easily managing a database.

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 took the award as Best Database Tool in Developer.com's annual Product of the Year contest, with the winner in each category determined by the readers of the site voting for their choice as the best in their field.

In addition to the features of SQL Server Express, certain additional capabilities are also available as part of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services (SQL Server Express). SQL Server Express with Advanced Services contains the following features:

- SQL Server Management Studio Express, a graphical management tool based on SQL Server Management Studio that makes it easy to manage and administer SQL Server Express databases.

- Reporting Services, an integrated report creation and design environment to create reports.

- Full-Text Search, a powerful search engine for searching text-intensive data.

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