Extend Data Connections Explorer

Question

Hi,

Does anyone know if you can extend the Data Connection Explorer in VS.  I would like to have a filter feature similar to that of SQL 2008.  When you work with large databases and need to find specific table, functions or stored procedures then scrolling is a nightmare

Regards

Jaco 

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Answer 1

Hi Jaco,

It sounds like what you are looking for is our Data Designer Extensibility (DDEX) toolkit.  You can learn more about this here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb165128.aspx

If this isn't what you are looking for, please let me know.

Thanks,
Nathan

Answer 2

Thank you Nathan.  Just a quick question before I start with the R&D on the Toolkit.  Is this the preferred extension method for VS2010?  If VS2010 has a different approach then I will rather develop the VS2010 component

Regards

Jaco

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Answer 3

Hello, Jaco

You could not change extend the data connection Explore that provided with visual studio. You could create your own data provider use DDEX as Nathan said.

But you could add, delete data connection programmatically by DataExplorerConnectionManager class.

DDEX is also preferred extension method in VS2008.

Thanks

Chao

Answer 4

Hi Chao,

My apologies for extending the thread.  But I can not decipher your reply.  Is it possible to add a context menu item that will popup a dialog allowing the user to enter filter criteria?  The filter criteria will then be used to limit the tables, stored procedures, functions etc. that are displayed in the "Data connections explorer"?

Regards

Jaco

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Answer 5

Hello, Jaco

I am sorry for the lately following up. Fir the functionality of DDEX, you could reference a MSDN blog. You could reference this link, the link is briefly and very clearly.

 DATA DESIGNER EXTENSIBILITY (DDEX): AN INTRODUCTION.

Thanks

Chao

Answer 6

Hi Jaco,

Sorry for the delayed reply here.  To summarize, yes DDEX is the preffered extensibility mechanism here.  For your scenario, the article Chao has linked to above alludes to filtering being possible with DDEX (Search for the "Server Explorer" section on the page).  While I'm not very framiliar with the DDEX APIs, it looks like what you are looking for is the DavaViewSupport object:  http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb163630.aspx

Although it is a little dated, there's also a really good general DDEX overview document on MSDN here:  http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms379576(VS.80).aspx

Thanks,
Nathan

Answer 7

Hi Guys,

Thank you for the assistance.  I will get started on DDEX toolkit and samples.

Regards
Jaco

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