Unable to Load Database project in VS2008

Question

I have Database project which I'm unable to load in VS2008 and I have SQL Server 2008 Express edition installed on my machine..

I get following error message, when I try to load

Database projects require a connection to a local instance of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 for design-time validation. To perform this operation, you must open the Tools menu, click Options and specify an instance of SQL Server 2005 that is running and to which you can connect in the Database Tools, Design-time Validation Database property page. When that is corrected, you must then refresh or reload the database project.

Any suggestions/update to solve this issue?

Answer 1

• You don't mention if you have VS2008 SP1 installed, but this is a requirement for SQL Server 2008 support in Visual Studio ( KB956139 )
• Did you verify your instance name is correct? Tools > Options > Database Tools > Data Connections -> SQL server instance name: SQLEXPRESS (or the name you chose during install)
• Does your instance accept remote connections? (mine always does, not sure if this is required) ( Source )

Answer 2

I know this is an old thread, but...

Were you able to get this combination working? Visual Studio 2008 with SQL Server Express 2008? I had the same issue that no matter what I entered into the instance fields in the Tools->Options->Database Tools boxes, it said I did not have them entered.

From what I could find on the interwebs, everything indicated that SQL Server Express 2008 should work with Visual Studio 2008 as long as you have the SP1 installed. I tried reinstalling SP1, but received the same error - "no instance specified".

So I downloaded and installed SQL Express 2005 x64 and specified a new instance name, SQLEXPRESS2005. Then I plugged that into Visual Studio 2008's settings and it worked right away.