PHP / SQL Server which adapter to use and general questions

Question

I beginning a project which requires me to use php with a SQL Server database. Although I am using mySQL for years this will be my first project using SQL Server.

• Is it better to use PDO than MMSQL.
• Are there any "Gotcha"s I should be aware when using SQL Server.
• Does SQL Server have any UTF-8 problems?

Answer 1

Since you are running PHP on windows, I'd use Microsoft's PHP SQL Server "driver":

http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2005/en/us/PHP-Driver.aspx

it has the best feature set for SQL Server.

Answer 2

You can have BOTH the PHP driver produced by Microsoft AND PDO. The 2.0 version of the Microsoft driver includes a PDO driver. You can download it here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=80e44913-24b4-4113-8807-caae6cf2ca05. This whitepaper should get you started: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/whitepaper-accessing-sql-server-databases-from-php.aspx.

Hope that helps.

-Brian