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In Visual Studio 2013 there is no longer an option to create .sdf SQL Server Compact databases in WebPages (WebMatrix) websites. I am no longer able to view .sdf database files in Visual Studio either. I downloaded the latest version of WebMatrix to open my .sdf database but WebMatrix crashes when I open my website. When I create a new empty site and add existing files, it crashes.

I searched for days for a way to view and edit my .sdf database and nothing is working. I can no longer get Navicat SQL Server app to open a database. I cannot get LinqPad to open an .sdf database file, I cannot get Compact Viewer to open or edit .sdf databases. I can open .sdf databases with SqlCEToolbox40.exe but it only shows top 200 rows and it won't let me edit the tables.

Now I'm completely stumped. How do I view and edit a .sdf database file?

giammin
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jAsOn
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    Do you have the "SQL Server Compact Design Tools" installed? http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/aa983341.aspx – David Sep 03 '13 at 17:58
  • Thanks @David, I checked out that link just now and searched for it but I don't see a download link anywhere. – jAsOn Sep 03 '13 at 18:01
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    Here maybe http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30709 – rene Sep 03 '13 at 18:02
  • Thank you @rene, I'm downloading that now and will see how things go. But looking at the page I think I have already installed that. But we'll see.. – jAsOn Sep 03 '13 at 18:07
  • Ah, yep. It's only giving me option to repair or remove, so I have already got that. – jAsOn Sep 03 '13 at 18:07
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    Than at least we verified you have the correct bits installed :-( – rene Sep 03 '13 at 18:08
  • Yeah, I are sad too :-( – jAsOn Sep 03 '13 at 18:16
  • Update: Just installed SQL Server CE 3.5 SP2 for Windows Desktop and was able to get the SqlToolbox thing to work in VS _but_ still can't edit tables :-/. – jAsOn Sep 03 '13 at 18:18
  • Alright, let's see if this works. The last version of VS I remember opening and editing SDF files in was VS 2012. I just installed VS 2012 Express for Web and am going to see if it'll work for me. – jAsOn Sep 03 '13 at 18:46
  • Thank you everyone for your help. I've installed a previous version of VS since I cannot get it working with VS 2013. Really wasn't something I wanted to do - but atleast I can work now. – jAsOn Sep 03 '13 at 18:55
  • Lest not forget that VS2013 is still a preview release, hopefully things like this will be resolved in the final bits. – Mark Hall Sep 03 '13 at 18:56
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    @MarkHall Oh yeah ofcourse. It's still preview release but I was getting a little scared. When 4+ apps wouldn't edit them (and some couldn't even open them), and given the complete lack of support for sql ce db's in vs 2013 (as far as I could tell in the past week), and many google searches revealed others with the same problems, it made me wonder if I should start migrating to remote sql db. – jAsOn Sep 03 '13 at 19:17
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    Actually I know what it feels like, I am still migrating to VS2012, I have to redo all of my installers, which is a pain. – Mark Hall Sep 03 '13 at 19:22
  • well.. not this has bit me as well. seriously, we can't edit sdf files now? the ms insanity continues. – Brady Moritz Nov 19 '13 at 22:01

1 Answers1

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The answer is yes: Microsoft is silently dropping support (as usual IMHO) to Sql Compact Edition.

It started abandoning Sql CE 3.5 in Vs2012 It continued dropping Sql CE in Sql Management Studio 2012 and finally in VS2013

You can use CompactView or install SQL Server Compact Toolbox extension in VS2013 or (my prefered solution) use Sql management Studio 2008

UPDATE thanks to Nicolas' comment

As stated by Microsoft:

SQL Server compact edition is in deprecation mode with no new releases planned near future. Last release SQL CE 4.0SP1 (and earlier releases that are still in the support cycle) will continue to be supported through its lifecycle and Microsoft is committed to fix any major, production blocking issues found in these releases.

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giammin
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