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« ExecutionLog Table in SSRS 2008 GoneAnswers To The SQL Server Quiz: Can You Answer All These Post »
7
comments

Using VS.NET 2005 SP1 with SQL Server 2008 connectivity

by onpnt on Mar 27, 2009 in categories Data Modelling & Design
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When I first installed SQL Server 2008 in my environment one of the first things I did was open up VS.NET 2005
and start messing around with connectivity to the instance. That failed miserably. Errors were abound!
All hope is not lost though...

The last thing I want to do is install side by side versions of VS.NET. The IDE is heavy and sucks the life out of
any developer machine. I'm sure I'm not the only one that does not want to think about what version I'm clicking
when creating packages. Yes that is laziness in the purest form and I'm proud of it. My efficiency as a DBA and
support developer is very good and rewarded.

So Microsoft was kind enough to allow me to use my full VS.NET 2005 SP1 installation to develop on my newly configured
SQL Server 2008 instances. Thank you!!!

The update is called, "Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Service Pack 1 Update for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Support".
This is similar to the DTS legacy support update that we all had to throw in when we had those nagging 2000 instances
floating around and the business just would not allow upgrading time to SSIS. We still had to support DTS so alas
again they were kind enough not to completely ruin our lives and make us work 24/7 for a month to upgrade to SSIS
prior to upgrading 2000 to 2005.

To grab the update go to
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e1109aef-1aa2-408d-aa0f-9df094f993bf&displaylang=en

Remember you need SP1 on VS.NET 2005 installed. Personally I think 2005 was the best release of the IDE for .NET so
my hard head is sticking with it until they really put the pressure on me.

The install process is a next...next...finish one as usual. You should now be able to connect to SQL Server 2008
"almost error free". I say almost because there is still the nice little gotcha listed on the download page of

This update does not support the following features for SQL Server 2008:
Creating and editing table schemas in Table Designer or Database Diagrams. As a workaround you may use the table
designer feature in SQL Server Management Studio 2008 to edit table schemas in SQL Server 2008.

So be forewarned on that :)

About the Author

Ted Krueger has been working in development and database administration for 13+ years. Specialties range from High Availability and Disaster / Recovery setup and testing methods down to custom assembly development for SQL Server Reporting Services. Ted blogs and is also one of the founders of LessThanDot.com technology community. Some of the articles focused on are Backup / Recovery, Security, SSIS and working on SQL Server and using all of the SQL Server features available to create stable and scalable database services. Recent community contributions have been to organize SQL Saturday events in the Chicago-land to Milwaukee-land area for 2010 where he will also be speaking about various SQL Server topics. @onpnt
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Comments and Feedback

7 comments

Comment from: SQLDenis [Member] Email
*****
Why wouldn't you install VS 2008? You can still target .NET 2.0 if you need to

Also why do you think VS 2005 is better than VS 2008? Are there any specific things that you can think off?
27/03/09 @ 07:54
Comment from: onpnt [Member] Email
>>Also why do you think VS 2005 is better than VS 2008

I don't. Bad use of words up there. 2005 is stable and a very good development tool IMO. I haven't had a problem with it in years. If it works I don't try to break it ;)

>>Why wouldn't you install VS 2008? You can still target .NET 2.0 if you need to

Yes but I can ask the same question. Why install VS 2008? ;)
27/03/09 @ 07:59
Comment from: SQLDenis [Member] Email
*****
>>Why install VS 2008? ;)

Can you use LINQ and .NET 3.5 stuff in VS 2005?
27/03/09 @ 08:23
Comment from: onpnt [Member] Email
>>Can you use LINQ and .NET 3.5 stuff in VS 2005?

Absolutely no need. Until the business or the development team find a need there is no reason.
27/03/09 @ 08:33
Comment from: SQLDenis [Member] Email
*****
I see, you don't develop for .NET 3.5 so no fancy var keywords for you
That makes sense then....for you
27/03/09 @ 08:37
Comment from: onpnt [Member] Email
Which is more than likely true for the majority of product based companies. upgrades and new technology cost money and IT is nothing more than a spending house when you sell a widget. People just don't upgrade because they release a new version in that type of environment. You know that
27/03/09 @ 08:40
Comment from: SQLDenis [Member] Email
*****
Not where I work :-)

We generally use the latest .NET version available, since we also all have MSDN VS 2008 is no problem either

But yeah upgrading Databases is another story...we still have servers on 2000..but After July 1st sometime (start of new fiscal year) they will be upgraded to 2008

we will actually upgrade one server to 2008 already on Monday 9AM (according to the ticket)
27/03/09 @ 09:16

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