Installing the (currently) latest Data Tools
5August 14, 2017 by Kenneth Fisher
I’m working on a project right now and it’s going to require me not only to refresh my SSIS skills a bit but learn a few things that are only available with the latest tools. So everyone ready for a few SSIS posts? Good. Me too!
Step One and Post One!
Something that has changed over the last few years is that the install for the SQL Server Engine, SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio for writing queries and stuff) and SSDT (SQL Server Data Tools for building SSIS packages and stuff) have all become separate. The latest versions of SSMS and SSDT are v17 and are free to download, as is the SQL Server Developer edition.
- SQL Server Developers Edition (now free if you sign up for Visual Studio Dev Essentials)
- SQL Server Management Studio – Supports SQL 2008 – 2017 (although if you need to connect to 2000 or 2005 I’m betting you can connect a query window just fine).
- SQL Server Data Tools – Built on VS 2015 and compatable with SQL 2005 – 2017.
So for the purposes of this post, I’m going to download SSDT.
Once the download is done (it’s small) run it.
I’m unchecking the Analysis Services tools, and while I have no intention of work with Reporting Services I don’t have an option there. You uncheck SSRS it unchecks SSDT, you uncheck SSDT and it unchecks SSRS. Basically, they are the same thing. Hit next, go through the normal legal acceptance page, and we get to the install page.
And now we wait (I’m going to bed, but my guess is it will be done by the time I get back tomorrow afternoon).
Ok, I’m back. The install appeared to go pretty quickly in the few minutes I watched it before going to bed. Either way, it installed!
The install is asking that you restart your machine so go ahead and do that now.
Once you’ve rebooted (or if you decide to skip it) go ahead and try to run SSDT for 2015.
Here you can sign into your Microsoft account and associate it with Visual Studio.
And finally, we are in!
In case you are interested SSDT is basically a set of modules for Visual Studio. If you have Visual Studio installed then the modules are added. If you don’t have it installed then a minimal “Integrated Shell” version of Visual Studio 2015 will be installed.
SQL Studies 
Hi Kenneth,
Does it work with high DPI displays ?
Regards,
Ilay
I don’t see why it wouldn’t but honestly I have no idea. If you try it out let me know! 🙂
I have installed the latest one. I have the problem with the Properties window as they are not aligned properly for some reason.
Generally you can move the properties window around. You can attach it to one side or the other (or bottom or top) or it can be lose. You might try moving it around and see what happens.
I will try to attach the screen shots here if possible.