How to import Azure SQL backup (.bacpac) to LocalDB using Visual Studio?

sql-server visual-studio azure bacpac
Borek Bernard picture Borek Bernard · Jan 8, 2015 · Viewed 13.9k times · Source

I imagine this would be quite a mainstream scenario but I can't find how to import an exported Azure SQL database (.bacpac) into my LocalDB in Visual Studio 2013. Am I missing something or Visual Studio missing something?

(Note: there are solutions here when one has SQL Server management studio but I don't have it and prefer not to install it, if possible.)

Answer

Simon W picture Simon W · Jan 9, 2015

If you have this folder on your machine C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\110\DAC\bin then you can run this command to restore the bacpac file:

.\SqlPackage.exe /Action:Import /SourceFile:"c:\temp\your.bacpac" /TargetConnectionString:"Data Source=(localdb)\v11.0;Initial Catalog=devdb; Integrated Security=true;"

If that folder's missing you will need to download the tooling from Microsoft.

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