Now that SQL Server 2016 has been released, it is time to start creating new SSIS and SSRS projects for it. Since SQL Server 2014, SSIS has migrated to Visual Studio. The latest version, Visual Studio 2015, has a free Community edition, and can be found here. If you have it installed and try to create a new Reporting or Integration Services Project, you will notice that there are no templates listed which will allow you to create one of these projects.

Making SSIS and SSRS Projects for SQL Server 2016

To create SSIS projects in Visual Studio, you will need to click on this link to download the SQL Server Data Tools [SSDT] in the language of your choice. Visual Studio must not be running during the install. After about 5 minutes, when the install completes you will have a new application installed, SQL Server Data Tools 2015. You will still have the Visual Studio 2015 application as well, providing two methods for creating new packages. which means that you can click on this icon instead of opening up Visual studio. SSDT also contains the templates for database projects, so you can now start using Visual Studio.

Creating SSIS and SSRS Packages for Different Versions of SQL Server

In this version of SQL Server Data Tools, Microsoft has finally addressed the common problem of needing to maintain multiple versions of SSIS packages for the different server versions. No longer do you need three different applications to maintain code for SQL Server 2012, 2014 and now 2016. All of these versions are supported with SSDT for Visual Studio 2015. SQL Server will detect which version the code was last saved in so that you don’t have to worry about accidently migrating code. You also have the ability to create an SSIS package in 2012, 2014 or 2016. To select the version you want, right click on the project and select Properties. Under Configuration Properties->General as shown in the picture, the TargetServerVersion, which defaults to SQL Server 2016, has a dropdown box making it possible to create a new package in Visual Studio 2015 for whatever version you need to support. Supporting the ability to write for different versions, is a great new feature and one which I am really happy is included in SSDT for Visual Studio 2015.

Yours Always

Ginger Grant

Data aficionado et SQL Raconteur