SQL SERVER 2014 DATA TOOLS

SQL SERVER 2014 DATA TOOLS

For some reason as yet unknown Microsoft decided to stop shipping SQL Server Data Tools with the installation media. Adding to the confusion is that the tools are now split into different versions.

There is one version named just SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), which is an add-on to Visual Studio. This version adds the toolset that was formerly known as Data Dude to Visual Studio. These SSDT tools include data and schema comparison, as well as support for refactoring databases, creating views, stored procedures, functions, and triggers. This version of SSDT provides both a live development mode and an offline project mode that helps provide source control for your databases by integrating with Visual Studio for team development, source control, and change tracking. There are different versions of these SSDT tools depending on the version of Visual Studio that you are using.

• SQL Server tooling in Visual Studio 2013—Visual Studio 2013 Express for Web, Express for Windows Desktop, Professional, Premium, and Ultimate include the SSDT tools. You don’t need a separate download. To check for the latest version of SSDT, open Visual Studio 2013 and choose the Tools, Extensions, and Updates menu. Then check the Updates section for Microsoft SQL Server Update for database tooling.

• SSDT Visual Studio 2012—there is a standalone install experience as well as an integrated install for the Visual Studio Professional, Premium, and Ultimate SKUs.

• SSDT Visual Studio 2010—this version of SSDT is no longer being updated.
The other version of SSDT is confusingly called SQL Server Data Tools – Business Intelligence (SSDT-BI). Although their names are almost identical, SSDT-BI is a distinctly different toolset than SSDT. SSDT-BI is the replacement for BIDS and it enables the development of Integration Services packages, Analysis Services cubes, and Reporting Services reports. Both versions of SSDT are no cost downloads for SQL Server users.


Source: 55144BC SQL SERVER PERFORMANCE TUNING AND OPTIMIZATION