SQL Server Management Tools? Can't install, but?

Question

Hi, I have Windows 7 with all updates on my Dell laptop. It's a solid state drive, 8 gig of ram, etc, etc,.. Great little laptop.. 

I'm also running Windows Visual Studio 2012 Pro. I also play with Webmatrix. Anyway, I'm trying to use the Management studio tools, but I always get a message / popup box that says one or more components are missing. Please re install. I've done that, and I've uninstalled several times. I even went and download something when I searched that was an update for SQL server, and it still didn't work.. I can use the old version of Management tools for VS 2008 and it works fine. I don't get it? 

Anyway, I also have the SQL server tools for Visual Studio 2012 which I've not played with, but wondering if it has the ability to connect to hosted sql servers? If so, that's all I really need, and the ability to design databases visually such as one can do in the management studio tools, but if SQL server tools for Visual Studio will do the job, I'll just get rid of the Managment tools. Any help would be most appreciated..

Thanks so much.

Tim 

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Tim

Answer 1

Tim

Yes VS2012 has the ability to connect to SQL Server 

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlsetupandupgrade/thread/ab1de11b-502b-4a28-a084-836a2ddf4463

BTW,  if you have a sql server installed on the machine, why not using SSMS tool?

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Best Regards,Uri Dimant SQL Server MVP, http://sqlblog.com/blogs/uri_dimant/

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Answer 2

Hi Tim,

Yes, Visual Studio can connect to SQL Server, but SQL Server Management Studio has more tools regarding SQL Server manipulation, so I suggest installing it. Based on the error message, this issue can occur if SQL Server Management Studio was corrupted or it conflicted with some other applications on the computer. I suggest installing SQL Server Management Studio on another computer and connect to SQL Server remotely for test.

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Allen Li
TechNet Community Support

Answer 3

Hi Uri, 

I'm sorry, I don't know what the SSMS tool is? I'm not a developer per sey, as I don't have a degree in MS. I'm just a part time developer for fun mainly. I didn't go to college. Was too busy learning..:-) 

Anyway, I have both SQL 2008, and 2012 installed with management tools. I started having problems with 2012 management tools when I was trying to design a database on my host's SQL server. I want to use the Management tools as I find there interface easier to use than the Visual Studio SQL data tools. I say this because I want to for instance design a database diagram and I can't see any way to do this using Visual Studio's SQL data tools? I can with the Management tools, but my host uses SQL 2012 and I'm not able to connect with SQL 2008 Management tools it seems? I guess I need 2012 Management tools. Yet, it's corrupted. I've uninstalled it several times. I've even uninstalled other items / programs / software that I thought might be corrupting the Management Studio 2012 and have had no luck. Any help would be most appreciated! 

Thanks so much

Tim

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Tim

Answer 4

I'm trying to re install Management Tools now. I hope it works. I've totally un installed 2008 SQL and 2012 sql and everything and anything that has to do with the former! I hope now that my new install works. I need those tools.. 

Tim

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Tim

Answer 5

I may have a bit of news, on this front.

my installation on Win64 - Webmatrix (which installs its own SQL Server Compact)

                                       SQL Server Express 2012

                                       Visual Studio Express 2012

My problem: After installing SQL Server Express 2012, initially, I had a working  SQL Server Management Tools installed, BUT, because WebMatrix incorrectly detects (and tries to run) Visual Studio 2010 instead of  VS2012 (since I had upgraded from 2010 and was using 2012), I uninstalled Visual Studio 2010.  This fixed WebMatrix/VS2012 integration but subsequently produced an error when trying to run SQL Server Management Tools: "please reinstall"

I tried to use 4 different versions of SQL Server 2012 installation packages, and finally I found one (SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe - 135MB) that seemed to have only the tools, not the engine.

Here's the rub:  It seems, as part of its installation it must add Visual Studio 2010 (Shell) - it seems there is not an edition of SQL Server Management Tools based on VS 2012. Although I now have SQL Server Management Tools back, it has broken the connection (in WebMatrix) to Visual Studio 2012.

Install Note: I believe you have to choose the 1st installation option: New SQL Server standalone install OR ADD FEATURES TO AN EXISTING INSTALLATION

I tried the "REPAIR" option on the subsequent installation dialog, but that didn't work.

Choose New SQL SERVER installation

hope that helps someone --- I spent days hunting down solutions, but didn't find any that spelled out the inherent connection to Visual Studio 2010 shell!

 cheers