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Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools Update

With the release of SQL Server 2014 Community Technology Preview 2 (CTP2) and the commercial release of Visual Studio 2013, we are excited to announce new preview releases of SQL Server Data Tools to support both database and business intelligence projects.

SQL Server Data Tools – Business Intelligence for SQL Server 2014 Preview

To support new business intelligence projects, we have recently released a Community Technology Preview (CTP) of the SQL Server Data Tools – Business Intelligence (SSDT-BI) tools that work with SQL Server 2014 CTP2.

SQL Server Data Tools – Business Intelligence (SSDT-BI) includes SQL Server Analysis Service Projects, SQL Server Reporting Services Projects, and SQL Server Integration Services Projects hosted in Visual Studio. SSDT-BI tools can be downloaded and installed as free tools from the web.  SSDT-BI tools:

  • Integrate into existing Visual Studio installations for those developers that already have Visual Studio 2012 (Professional Edition or higher) installed.
  • Install as standalone tools, with the Visual Studio integrated IDE shell also being installed to host the various BI projects they support.

As updates are available, the SSDT-BI tools do not automatically notify you of updates within the Visual Studio environment once installed, so users must visit the download site to obtain updates manually.  You can also always check here to make sure you have the latest release installed.

SQL Server 2014 Business Intelligence Support and Visual Studio 2013 Support

The existing preview version of SSDT-BI for SQL Server 2014 is based on Visual Studio 2012.  The commercial release of SSDT-BI is expected to be based on the newer Visual Studio 2013 in conjunction with the commercial release of the SQL Server 2014.  At that time, the existing SQL Server 2014 CTP 2 SSDT-BI that is based on Visual Studio 2012 will be retired and the new version of SSDT-BI that is based on Visual Studio 2013 will take its place.

SSDT-BI for SQL Server 2014 will support various SQL Server versions as follows:

  • SSAS projects can target SQL Server 2014 or lower
  • SSRS projects can target SQL Server 2014 or lower
  • SSIS projects can target only SQL Server 2014

To target SSIS projects for SQL Server 2012, developers will have to continue to use the existing SSDT-BI version for SQL Server 2012, which is based on Visual Studio 2012. This version of SSDT-BI for SQL Server 2012 that is currently available will continue to be available after the SQL Server 2014 release.

SSDT-BI for Visual Studio 2012 supports versions of SQL Server as follows:

  • SSAS project can target SQL 2012 or lower
  • SSRS project can target SQL 2012 or lower
  • SSIS project can target only SQL 2012

SQL Server Data Tools Database Projects Now Integrated within Visual Studio

What was previously available as an add-in for Visual Studio 2010 and updated for Visual Studio 2012, the database developer toolset, is now an integrated feature of both Visual Studio 2012 and 2013. Along with being integrated in the full Visual Studio SKUs, database developers without Visual Studio can install them for free as standalone tools also.  These tools provide end-to-end support for building and managing Windows Azure SQL Databases and SQL Server databases. They provide SQL Server version-specific validation. The tools include live connected tools and designers, and the ability to create database projects that integrate with Visual Studio source control (including Team Foundation Server) for full schema development, debugging, database migrations and overall database lifecycle management. Over the past year, new features have been added including:

  • Database Unit Testing
  • Data Compare
  • Declarative Model Extensibility (Deployment and Build contributors)

See below for a summarized map to acquire and update the core (non-BI) database tooling.

SQL Server Database Tooling

Visual Studio 2010 Standalone, add-in (free)
SQL Server Data Tools for Visual Studio 2010

Updates
In-shell notification for standalone, add-in.

Visual Studio 2012 Integrated
Visual Studio Ultimate 2012
Visual Studio Premium 2012
Visual Studio Professional 2012http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/eng/downloads

Standalone, add-in (free)
SQL Server Data Tools for Visual Studio 2012

Updates
In-shell notification for standalone, add-in.

Visual Studio 2013 Integrated
Visual Studio Ultimate 2013
Visual Studio Premium 2013
Visual Studio Professional 2013Standalone (free)
Visual Studio Express 2013 for Windows
Visual Studio Express 2013 for Web

Windows Azure SDK for Visual Studio 2013

http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/downloads/

http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/eng/downloads#d-2013-editions

Updates

In-shell notification & delivery

SQL Server Data Tools for SQL Server 2014

With the release of SQL Server 2014 CTP2, we have added support for SQL Server 2014 via a release of SQL Server Data Tools for SQL Server 2014 CTP2.

Summary

We are hard at work finishing up our complete Visual Studio tooling for SQL Server 2014. Both the tools integrated with Visual Studio 2012 and 2013 and the BI tools have pre-releases available for SQL Server 2014 already.  At commercial release of SQL Server 2014, we plan to also commercially release updates to the database developer and BI tools for the commercial release of SQL Server 2014.