How to: Import Data-tier Application Packages

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Important

To create and manage databases using the latest version of Data Tier Applications (DACPAC), install the most recent release of SQL Server Data Tools from Get Started with Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools.

You can initialize the set of objects in a new data-tier application (DAC) project by importing an existing data-tier application (DAC) package. You could use this approach, for example, if you want to start the development of a new version of an application that uses an existing database. Use the Extract Data-tier Application Wizard in SQL Server Management Studio to extract a DAC package that has definitions of all the objects in the existing database, then import that package to your DAC project.

For more information about how to import objects directly from an existing database, see How to: Import Database Objects to Data-tier Applications.

Importing a Data-tier Application Package

To use the Import Data-tier Application Wizard

  1. On the Project menu, click Import Data-tier Application….

    The Import Data-tier Application Wizard appears.

    Note

    You can also right-click your DAC project in Solution Explorer or Schema View, and click Import DAC.

  2. Click Next to advance to the Specify Import Options page after you read the introductory page of the wizard.

  3. To import objects from a DAC package, select the Import from a data-tier application option. In the Package file name box specify the path and file name of the DAC package (.dacpac) file. You can also click Browse to find the file.

  4. If you are importing from a DAC package and want to include the server selection policy from the package, select the Import server selection policy option. A server selection policy defines criteria an instance of the Database Engine should meet to host the DAC. For more information, see Configuring the Server Selection Policy.

  5. Click Next to proceed with the import and advance to the Import Objects page.

  6. The Import Objects page reports the success of the import operation. A progress bar reports how much of the import operation remains to be done. The Status window displays status messages reporting the success or failure of the import operations.

See Also

Tasks

How to: Import Database Scripts to Data-tier Applications

Concepts

Creating Data-tier Application Projects

Adding New Objects to Data-tier Applications