Specifications
Extracting a Data-Tier Application with SQL Server Management Studio CHAPTER 3 49
Extracting a Data-Tier Application with SQL Server
Management Studio
The Extract Data-Tier Application Wizard is another tool that you can use for creating a new
data-tier application. The wizard is in SQL Server 2008 R2 Management Studio. In this meth-
od, the wizard works its way into an existing SQL Server database, reads the content of the
database and the logins associated with it, and ensures that the new data-tier application can
be created. Finally, the wizard either creates a new DAC package or communicates all errors
and issues that need to be addressed before one can be created. This approach comes with a
big advantage. The extraction process can be applied to many versions of SQL Server, not just
SQL Server 2008 R2. For example, database administrators can use the wizard to generate a
DAC package from SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008, or SQL Server 2008
R2 databases.
IMPORTANT DAC denitions remain unregistered when you use the Extract Data-Tier
Application Wizard. Database administrators must use the Register Data-Tier Applica-
tion Wizard in SQL Server 2008 R2 Management Studio to register a DAC denition. For
additional information on registering a DAC denition, see the “Registering a Data-Tier
Application” section later in this chapter.
Follow these steps to extract a data-tier application:
1. In Object Explorer, connect to a SQL Server instance containing the database that
houses the data-tier application to be extracted.
2. Expand the Database folder, and select a database to extract.
3. Invoke the Extract Data-Tier Application Wizard by right-clicking the desired database,
selecting Tasks, and then selecting Extract Data-Tier Application.
4. Review the information on the Introduction page, and then click Next to begin the ex-
traction process. Select the Do Not Show This Page Again check box if you do not want
the Introduction page displayed in the future when using the wizard.
5. On the Set Properties page, illustrated in Figure 3-5, complete the DAC properties by
typing in the application name, version, and description, as described here:
■
Application name This refers to the name of the DAC. Although this name can
be different from the DAC package le, it is recommended that you make it similar
enough so that it still identies the application.
■
Version The DAC version identication helps developers manage changes when
working in Visual Studio. In addition, the version information helps identify the DAC
package version used during deployment. The DAC version information is stored
in the msdb database and can be viewed in SQL Server Management Studio in the
data-tier applications node.