Version 2.0 of the .NET Framework will offer powerful enhancements to ADO.NET that will give application and service developers unprecedented control over their data. In A First Look at ADO.NET and System.Xml v. 2.0, Microsoft's lead program manager on XML technologies joins with two leading .NET and XML experts to present a comprehensive preview of tomorrow's ADO.NET and System.Xml classes.

Drawing on the first .NET Framework 2.0 Technology Preview Release, the authors introduce powerful new techniques for simplifying development, enhancing flexibility, and leveraging .NET's new support for emerging XML standards. They also preview important new synergies between .NET Framework 2.0, XML, and the next version of SQL Server (code-named "Yukon").

This book's detailed coverage includes:

• Clear explanations of Microsoft's data-access intentions and directions--so you'll be ready when .NET 2.0 arrives
• A brief overview of ObjectSpaces--the exciting new technology for using objects that represent and hold their own data
• Major improvements in bulk loading, batch execution, and paging
• Support for truly asynchronous connection and command operations
• In-process server-side cursors for programmatic data processing within stored procedures
• XML class improvements that enhance standards support, promote integration, and maximize performance
• Beyond SQLXML 3.0: leveraging XQuery and XML Views in distributed query processing
• Better support for storing XML data and integrating relational and XML data management
• "Yukon's" new XML data type: using SQL Server as an XML document store

Whether or not you're already developing with ADO.NET, this book brings together all the insights, best practices, and sample code you'll need to get a running start with ADO.NET 2.0 and the System.Xml v. 2.0 classes.

Table of Contents

List of Figures.


List of Tables.


Foreword.


1. ADO.NET and System.Xml Version 2.0.

The Version 2.0 Technology Preview Release.

Summary of New Features in Version 2.0.

The Growing Importance of XML.

Relational Data Binding in ASP.NET.

A Roadmap for This Book.

Summary.

2. Bulk Loading, Batch Execution, and Paging.

The New Bulk Data Copy Features.

The New Batched Update Features.

Data Paging with the Command Object.

Retrieving Connection Statistics.

Summary.

3. MARS, Asynchronous Commands, and ObjectSpaces.

Expanded and Improved Data Access Features.

MARS in Action.

Asynchronous Command Execution.

An Overview of ObjectSpaces.

Summary.

4. ADO.NET and SQL Server "Yukon".

SQL Server Query Notifications.

SQL Server User-Defined Types.

Managed Code, Server-Side Cursors, and Result Sets.

Summary.

5. New Features of System.Xml.

Why Should I Care about XML?

System.Xml Version 1.x.

The Quest for Universal Data Access.

Which Programming Data Model: Relational, Object, or XML?

The Changing XML Landscape.

What's New in System.Xml Version 2.0.

Summary.

6. The XPathDocument2 Class.

Creating and Updating the XPathDocument2 Class.

An Overview of the XPathDocument2 Class.

Properties and Methods for the XPathDocument2 Class and Dependent Classes.

The XPathEditor and XPathChangeNavigator Classes.

Using the XPathDocument2 Class.