SQL CE as a local store

In this recipe, let's explore how we can use SQL CE—an embedded database from Microsoft—as a local store. Some of the features of SQL CE are as follows:

• It is totally free without any license restrictions.

• Embedded database means you don't even need to install in order access the database; you can just copy the binary into the project folder and use it like a file.

• There are two ways to use the SQL CE in Phone applications; one is as a device storage, which allows read/write access, and the other is as an App storage, which allows read-only access. A scenario for the App storage is when you want to ship something like dictionary data or searchable data that doesn't need to be updated by the user.

• It is supported by Visual Studio for creating and editing databases. Also, you can modify indexes.

• You can use Entity Framework (EF) to create the model code. WP7 applications only support LINQ to SQL for now.

Getting ready

First, you need to make sure you download and install Visual...