How do I edit SSIS package files?

I have a DTSX file in a project I'm taking over. I have Visual Studio 2005 Pro, but it just opens it as an XML file. SQL Server Management Studio 2005 does the same.

I've seen people opening these files in some workflow-esque format; Business Intelligence Development Studio comes to mind.

Is this part of Visual Studio or SQL? Does it have to be purchased seperately? Can I open this file in a more useful way with the tools I have?

Solution 1:

From Business Intelligence Studio:

File->New Project->Integration Services Project

Now in solution explorer there is a SSIS Packages folder, right click it and select "Add Existing Package", and there will be a drop down that can be changed to File System, and the very bottom box allows you to browse to the file. Note that this will copy the file from where ever it is into the project's directory structure.

Solution 2:

Current for 2016 link is https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt204009.aspx

SQL Server Data Tools in Visual Studio 2015 is a modern development tool that you can download for free to build SQL Server relational databases, Azure SQL databases, Integration Services packages, Analysis Services data models, and Reporting Services reports. With SSDT, you can design and deploy any SQL Server content type with the same ease as you would develop an application in Visual Studio. This release supports SQL Server 2016 through SQL Server 2005, and provides the design environment for adding features that are new in SQL Server 2016.

Note that you don't need to have Visual Studio pre-installed. SSDT will install required components of VS, if it is not installed on your machine.

This release supports SQL Server 2016 through SQL Server 2005, and provides the design environment for adding features that are new in SQL Server 2016

Previously included in SQL Server standalone Business Intelligence Studio is not available any more and in last years replaced by SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) for Visual Studio. See answer http://sqlmag.com/sql-server-2014/q-where-business-intelligence-development-studio-bids-sql-server-2014

Solution 3:

Additional answer for Visual Studio 2012:

You can open .dtsx along with their corresponding .dtproj project files with the SQL Server Data Tools Business Intelligence (SSDT-BI) add-in:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mattm/archive/2013/03/07/sql-server-data-tools-business-intelligence-for-visual-studio-2012-released-online.aspx

http://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?id=36843

If the projects were created with an earlier version they will require an upgrade.

I did have some hang ups installing this - the install would spin on "Install_VSTA2012_CPU32_Action" and similar steps. It wasn't until I did a repair inside of the same installer did it install completely.

Solution 4:

You need the Business Intelligence Studio ..I've checked and my version of VS2008 Pro doesn't have them installed.

Have a look at this link:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=3C856B93-369F-4C6F-9357-C35384179543&displaylang=en