Download SQL Server Driver for PHP 2.0 CTP2

Microsoft is moving ahead with the development of the next iteration of its SQL Server Driver for PHP. A new release of the driver is now available for download for developers looking to bridge their PHP applications with SQL Server. The second Community Technology Preview (CTP2) of SQL Server Driver for PHP 2.0 can be grabbed from the Microsoft Download Center, with the Redmond company inviting early adopters to test-drive the release.

The precious CTP of the SQL Server Driver for PHP 2.0 was released on April 19th, 2010, and Microsoft used the feedback and bug reports from testers when putting together SQL Server Driver for PHP 2.0 CTP2. Going forward, the promise from Microsoft is that testers will be able to leverage both the SQLSRV (native API) and PDO_SQLSRV drivers in the same package.

“We will always include both drivers in our releases from now onwards, and our CTP2 package is available for download on MSDN Download Center. This CTP is the last one for this version as we have made the design changes required. We are working through our internal processes to publish the source code, and we plan to release it with our final version,” a member of the SQL Server Driver for PHP team noted.

Microsoft is looking to allow testers only a small period to provide feedback. According to the Redmond company, early adopters testing SQL Server Driver for PHP 2.0 CTP2 will have between four and six weeks to deliver their input on the drivers.

“Here are the changes in this release:

“- Code completely re-architected with the functional core layer and the API layers;
- SQLSRV driver is rebuilt with the code re-architected (no new features);
- PDO::__construct(): a design change from CTP1, Connection Options now need to be specified in the DSN string instead of the driver_options[] array;
- PDO::SQLSRV_ATTR_DIRECT_QUERY: new custom driver attribute to provide more flexibility to the developer: Ability to execute two queries within the same context or different contexts, useful when using temporary tables or other circumstances; Ability to bind parameters for queries within the same context;
- Errors are now encoded per the setting of CharacterSet / PDO::SQLSRV_ATTR_ENCODING;
- Bug fixes to SQLSRV as well as PDO_SQLSRV drivers;
- Our documentation now includes a new example application using the PDO_SQLSRV driver,” the SQL Server Driver for PHP team representative added.

SQL Server Driver for PHP 2.0 CTP2 is available for download here.