Error in creating an Extension in SSMS using visual Studio (VSIX Project)

Question

I need to create an Extension in SSMS using visual Studio.
I have properly replicated and check each and everything from the first link I shared below. My extension shows output correctly when I run in visual studio in the tools bar, but when I change the "start external program to SSMS location", then after running it properly I can see SSMS gets opened, also I can see my extension in the tools bar in the SSMS, but it shows an error like this when I click it, I followed everything properly as per the 1st link, I shared below.
this the description (in ActivityLog.xml) for the error in the file which was mentioned in the above image:

Also, I have properly change everything which I need to run the SSMS and create the extension. For your reference I am using Visual Studio 2022 current (17.0.0), SSMS v18.4 (15.018206.0)

For this I have followed the following links as reference to it :

1. Detailed Explanation
2. stackoverflow question
3. Microsoft document

Answer 1

Hello @ciboligi ijavima ,

Thank you for taking time to post this issue in Microsoft Q&A forum.

With Visual Studio 2022, I can reproduce this issue.

Though Mike Wade explained that "XCopy-style deployment of extensions is not a supported scenario in this version of SSMS", when I used Visual Studio 2017, with the same version of SSMS, everything worked correctly on my side.

I guess some used assembly files are incompatible and as this document: Install Extensions in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) says:

SSMS 18.x is built on the Visual Studio 2017 shell and is subject to the limitations of that environment.

So, probably, the error(warning) is caused by compatibility issues.

Would you mind trying to use Visual Studio 2017? Using VS 2017, it works well(I have tested on my side, and the tutorial you shared is also based on VS 2017).

Happy coding.

Best Regards,

Tianyu

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