Handling the current version of Data-tier Application in SQL Server 2012 - sql-server-2012

I have some problems with tracking versions of my DACs. I was unable to see the current version of database. Luckily I found this post:
How do I find the current version of a SQL Server data-tier application?
The second answer did the trick, now I can see the current version using SQL statement:
select instance_name,type_version from msdb.dbo.sysdac_instances
Now I am able to see current version and version of new dacpac but in very ugly way. I still have some questions/uncertainties.
For some reason, I don't see Data-tier Applications under Management in SSMS. I was only founding discussions about this for SQL 2008 R2 so I'm not sure is that abandoned in SQL 2012 or I did something wrong.
When upgrading Data-tier Application in SSMS, I can only see dacpac version when reaching Summary step in upgrade wizard. When I select new dacpac in Select Package step, I expect to see the version and description of selected dacpac in the wizard below (as stated on numerous tutorials) but nothing appears. Even in summary step I can't see the version of the current DAC database which was the case in 2008 R2 according to the images I found in those tutorials.
Is there any way to handle version comparing a bit better than this, like showing the current version and new version on the same place? Is there a way to display warning if you are trying to upgrade using dacpac with same or lower version number?
Thx
marko

Related

Where can I download SSMS 2016?

Currently I use SSMS 17, however Gearhost, the website I am trying to deploy my database to, currently only use SQL Server version 13, which I believe to be SSMS 16.
The exact error is;
Error restoring database The database was backed up on a server
running version 14.00.1000. That version is incompatible with this
server, which is running version 13.00.4451. Either restore the
database on a server that supports the backup, or use a backup that is
compatible with this server.
Is there a place I can download this older version?
from docs:
The SSMS 17.x installation does not upgrade or replace SSMS versions 16.x or earlier. SSMS 17.x installs side by side with previous versions so both versions are available for use. If a computer contains side by side installations of SSMS, verify you start the correct version for your specific needs. The latest version is labeled
You can download it here
MSFT currently (May 2020) provides versions of SSMS back to 16.5.3.
Please use this link for the overview. The download of version SSMS 2016 can be found here.
To download older versions of SSMS you need to go here and select the version at the top of the left nav bar, otherwise it defaults to the latest version.
The error being encountered is due to an attempt to restore a SQL Server 2017 database to a SQL 2016 instance. It's not an issue with SSMS versions. SQL databases are not backwards compatible. You can restore a backup from an older version instance to a newer version instance (2016 to 2017), the restore will perform the upgrade, but you cannot restore a backup from a newer version instance to an older version instance (2017 to 2016 for example).
here, click on the version!
Microsoft docs
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/release-notes-ssms?view=sql-server-ver15#previous-ssms-releases

The backend version is not supported to design database diagrams or tables

I'm trying to add a table to my newly created database through SQL Server Management Studio.
However I get the error:
the backend version is not supported to design database diagrams or tables
To see my currently installed versions I clicked about in SSMS and this is what came up:
What's wrong here?
This is commonly reported as an error due to using the wrong version of SSMS(Sql Server Management Studio). Use the version designed for your database version. You can use the command select ##version to check which version of sql server you are actually using. This version is reported in a way that is easier to interpret than that shown in the Help About in SSMS.
Using a newer version of SSMS than your database is generally error-free, i.e. backward compatible.
I found the solution. The SSMS version was older. I uninstalled SSMS from the server, went to the microsoft website and downloaded a more current version and now the Database Diagrams works ok.
I ran into this problem when SQL Server 2014 standard was installed on a server where SQL Server Express was also installed. I had opened SSMS from a desktop shortcut, not realizing right away that it was SSMS for SQL Server Express, not for 2014. SSMS for Express returned the error, but SQL Server 2014 did not.
Just a heads up, Got the same message when I installed SQL Express 2022... Literally Installed SSMS (v18) by clicking the link after Express finished installing. I deleted V18 and downloaded V19, which is still in beta, and it fixed the problem.
if you got this error in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 18.12.1 in 2022, please download Download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 19 (Preview) and install it, a link is here, download the latest one, this provided link is the current latest version.
I was having the same problem, although I solved out by creating the table using a script query instead of doing it graphically. See the snipped below:
USE [Database_Name]
GO
CREATE TABLE [dbo].[Table_Name](
[tableID] [int] IDENTITY(1,1) NOT NULL,
[column_2] [datatype] NOT NULL,
[column_3] [datatype] NOT NULL,
CONSTRAINT [PK_Table_Name] PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED
(
[tableID] ASC
)
)
Consider using other design tools like Visual Studio. You can connect to your DB from Visual Studio and use VS design tools which is very easier and faster than writing T-Sql commands.
You only get that message if you try to use Designer or diagrams. If you use t-SQL it works fine:
Select *
into newdb.dbo.newtable
from olddb.dbo.yourtable
where olddb.dbo.yourtable has been created in 2008 exactly as you want the table to be in 2012

A good summary/explanation of Sql Server Express 2008 versions available for download?

Can someone tell me whether this link that I used to install Sql Server Express 2008 is version R2 or not? I installed from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=22973
The reason that I ask is that I am trying to setup an unattended installation of Sql Server Express 2008 and have found the following tutorial:
http://sqlbeyond.blogspot.com/2011/07/sql-server-express-2008-r2-unattended.html
The link that it mentions though has the word "beta" in it which makes me think that this link might be out of date. So can someone tell me firstly what version I have installed and secondly where I can download 64 bit and 32 bit versions of Sql Server Express 2008 for deployment (so no tools, etc). Thanks.
Update:
I suspect that the version I installed was RC0. The fact that the heading of the Microsoft page does not spell it out or provide links to new releases is not very helpful at all. Anyway, I have found the following page, which I think is what I am needing:
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=26729
and I found this explanation about the different versions of Sql Server Express 2008 file names which was very helpful:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlexpress/archive/2008/08/22/the-sql-express-2008-family-is-getting-bigger.aspx
Let me try answer my own question. I found this link which I find useful for getting an overview of the different Sql Server versions:
http://www.sqlteam.com/article/sql-server-versions
I assume that because Sql Server Express is an edition of Sql Server that its version numbers are identical to Sql Server version numbers. Sql Server Express 2008 R2, then, must have a version number matching the pattern 10.50.x.x, and the version that I originally downloaded from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=22973
is therefore the original release of Sql Server Express 2008; so without SP1 or SP2.
I also found this useful link which explains how to determine the version for an installed instance of Sql Server:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/euanga/archive/2008/01/23/confused-by-sql-server-version-numbers.aspx

Where to download SQL Server Management Studio 2008 (not express version)?

Where can I download that? All I can find is the express version. I bought the SQL Server Developer 2008, but the Studio wasnt installed along with it...
Thanks
SSMS is ALWAYS part of any non-express edition including DEV edition (I mean you dont need to download it seperately).
When you install SQL Server Dev. (or any other non-express edition), during setup process you will come across a screen where you can select which components to install (e.g. SSIS, SSRS, SSAS, BIDS, BOL etc). In that step you will need to select SSMS to get it installed.
For some reason if you have skipped that step you can run setup again and just install SSMS only.
But I dont think there is any seperate download available for "normal" SSMS.
This is an annoyance because access to SQL Server from a workstation is necessary and the only way (as previous posters mentioned) is to use the full SQL Server licensed installation package.
You'll run the setup to install as though you're installing the full database. In some cases, setup will detect that you'll need to first install some dependencies. When you come to the Feature Selection, you can select the Management Tools only.
http://i.stack.imgur.com/ochff.gif
You can download eval version from this link -
http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/trial-software.aspx
The express edition are the free versions.
The express version is the free version. If you want another version you need to buy it. My best guess is that it is included in one of those packages on in the microsoft store.
EDIT
According to a forum:
I`m not sure what you mean - you ask
for Management Studio and there is a
download link for SQL Server
Management Studio Express.
Or will you buy a SQL Server Standard,
Enterprise or Datacenter Edition -
then you have the "normal" SQL Server
Management Studio.

SQL Server 2005 Setup Problem

When I setup SQL Server 2005 this problem appear
Minimum Hardware Requirement (Warning)
Messages Minimum Hardware Requirement
The current system does not meet the
minimum hardware requirements for this
SQL Server release. For detailed
hardware and software requirements,
see the readme file or SQL Server
Books Online.
and I continued setup but I could not found SQL Server Management Studio tools in start menu
As mentioned, you have missed installing SSMS. You can go through the install process again (you don't need to uninstall, just run it again), except this time make sure you put a check mark next to the Management tools when you do feature selections. I'd tell you exactly where it is but i only have a SQL2008 install on hand at the moment.
Your SQL is not completely installed, I suggest you to update all feature in your OS.
may be you installed Express edition?
also Management Studio is free, you can download it from link text