Hello,

I'm somewhat new to SSIS and to Visual Studio. I've followed the instructions in the book to download and install SQL Server 2014 Pro, Visual Studio Community 2013, and SSDT. I'm running on Windows 10.1, 64-bit.

I've followed the instructions to create a simple .dtsx package to import from an Excel spreadsheet. Now I want to open that package in Visual Studio and I can't figure out how. (Opening it via Open File, opens it as a XML file, which I don't think is what I want to do.)

The instructions on p. 25 in the book say: "After you download and install SSDT you'll find SSDT in the root of the Microsoft SQL Server program group from the Start Menu." Well, I don't find it in the start menu. Is Windows 10 somehow different? Or is VS 2013 very different from VS 2012? (The examples are of VS 2012.) Any help would be appreciated. I'm sure it's a simple thing. (Actually, being Microsoft, I'm not so sure...)

More Info: I think that I've installed SSDT correctly because when I look in the Programs and Features control panel, I see "Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools - enu (12.0.50730.0)", "Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools 2013" and "Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools Build Utilities - enu (12.0.30919.1)". Is there some further step in installation that I need to do, perhaps?

Thank You

It took a while to figure out but...

It turns out that it was indeed an installation issue: On p. 24, "... you must download SSDT from the Microsoft download site... Use a search engine with the term 'SQL Server Data Tools for Visual Studio 2013' to find the most recent release." It doesn't however say what parts you need to download.

In addition to SSDT_12.0.50730.0_EN.iso, you will also need to download the SSDT Business Intelligence package, called SSDT-BI, embodied in SSDTBI_x86_ENU.exe which can be found at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/down....aspx?id=42313.

Note that if you don't read the instructions REALLY CAREFULLY, installation will fail and it won't be clear why. Here is a link to clear instructions by someone else who figured it out: http://postimg.org/image/8arxoo9gz/.

Lastly, there is one more thing you'll need to be able to import/export to/from Excel. If you get an error when trying to run your first import, you will need to add another package: There is some conflict between x86 and 64 bit versions. Download AccessDatabaseEngine.exe from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl....aspx?id=13255.

Sheesh! I think that's it. But then I'm only up to page 25...

i'm just starting to read this book... i'm glad there is someone else read this book..

by the way, thanks for your great information..