FAQ: Microsoft SQL Server Data ToolsWhat is SQL Server Data Tools? SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) is the final name for the product formerly known as SQL Server Developer Tools, Code-Named “Juneau”. SSDT provides a modern database development experience for the SQL Server and SQL Azure Database Developer. As the supported SQL Azure development platform, SSDT will be regularly updated online to ensure that it keeps pace with the latest SQL Azure features. Key facts:
Who is SSDT for, and what does it provide them? SSDT is for SQL Server database developers, who often develop database schemas, views, stored procedures, and other database objects while developing their application logic.
How much does SSDT cost? SSDT is broadly available as a free component of the SQL Server platform and will be available for all SQL Server users. Where can I ask more questions about SSDT? Simply visit our MSDN forum at https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/ssdt/. What are the Prerequisites for Installing SSDT? SSDT can be installed standalone or can be integrated into an existing Visual Studio 2012 or Visual Studio 2010 installation (Pro and above) Visual Studio 2012:
The operating systems supported by SSDT for Visual Studio 2012 are the following:
Visual Studio 2010:
The operating systems supported by SSDT for Visual Studio 2010 are the following:
Is SSDT a replacement for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)? SSMS is targeted at core administration of connected databases, and will continue to be a part of SQL Server, and a core component of SQL Server 2012. As such, SSMS will continue to be the graphical tool for such tasks as creating and managing database backups, creating and viewing extended events, and other such central DBA administration tasks for production databases. Is SSDT a replacement of the Visual Studio for Database Professionals ("Data Dude") Product? SSDT is an evolution of the existing Visual Studio Database project type, as such you can update existing projects (*.dbproj) to a SQL Server database project (*.sqlproj). Please note that some of the Visual Studio 2010 database project features; specially data generation and data compare are not part of SSDT. Do Database Projects (“Data Dude”) remain in Visual Studio 2012? In Visual Studio 2012, SSDTl both replaced and provided conversion capability for existing Visual Studio database projects. You can see this change in the Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2012 What are You Improving Over Visual Studio 2010 Database Projects ("Data Dude")? SSDT includes a number of features not present in the existing Visual Studio 2010 database project types. Notably, the project oriented features are more in line with traditional VS projects. For instance, SSDT includes support for “Goto Definition”, and “Find All References” for database artifacts, much like C# and VB.NET. Also, refactoring support is provided. For example, a developer or DBA can click on a column name in a stored procedure, find all references of that column name throughout the database (views, stored procedures, indexes, table definitions, etc); and quickly refactor the entire schema if changing this field. Also, the SSDT projects can target SQL Server 2005, 2008, 2008 R2, and SQL Azure, and help migrate schemas between these versions. Additionally, SSDT provides a strong connected experience in the new SQL Server Object Explorer including a new “PowerBuffer” declarative development feature. Common across both the project and connected experience is a new table designer, an updated schema compare and an updated publish feature. Do you have an upgrade story for "Data Dude" customers? Existing customers with SQL Server database projects in Visual Studio 2010 will be able to upgrade to the new SSDT Database project. Does SSDT enable SQL CLR Development? Yes, SQL CLR Developers will be able to develop, debug and deploy SQL CLR components using SSDT, as part of its project based development environment. Will the BIDS tools be available as part of SSDT? SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) is a distinct toolset from SQL Server Data Tools - Business Intelligence (SSDT-BI). In the SQL Server 2012 installer, developers can install SQL Server Data Tools - Business Intelligence for Visual Studio 2010 by selecting SSDT during installation. The BIDS tools will run on Visual Studio 2010 SP1, as SSDT does. The SQL Server 2012 installer will also install SSDT’s prerequisites and a “stub project” that allows SQL Server 2012 users to acquire the latest SSDT version from the web. SSDT - BI can be obtained on the web for Visual Studio 2012 via the following download: Download SSDT-BI for Visual Studio 2012 How do you enable tracing in SSDT? To aid investigation of customer-reported issues or product bugs, an SSDT team member may ask for trace files. Please follow these steps to enable tracing: 1. Open a new command prompt as Administrator. 2. Run the following commands logman start MicrosoftDacFx -p {79F618AD-4B02-4D46-A525-F5A93C551DDD} 0x800 -o "%LOCALAPPDATA%\DacFX.etl" -ets 3. Run the target scenario is in SSDT. 4. Go back to the command prompt and run the following commands logman stop MicrosoftSsdt –ets 5. The resulting ETL files will be located at "%LOCALAPPDATA%\DacFX.etl" and "%LOCALAPPDATA%\SSDT.etl" and can be navigated to using Windows Explorer. 6. Attach this file to an email and send it to the SSDT team member you've been working with.
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