March update of SQL Server Data Tools to support SQL Server 2014

On the heels of the new release date for SQL Server 2014 RTM, SQL Server Data Tools' (SSDT) availability was announced two days ago. It is fully compatible with SQL Server 2014.

Apart from bug fixes in the previous version, the following are the enhancements:

• Static code analysis extensibility
• Filter capabilities in the editable data grid
• Saving data compare settings to file (.dcmp)
• Additional TSQL Editor connection actions

With this all database tools are fully integrated with,

• Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 Express for web
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 for Windows Desktop
• Professional
• Premium
• Ultimate

These will be pushed via VS Updates. You could also bring it in using Tools | Extensions and Updates menu.

Visual Studio 2013 with SQL Server tools can be downloaded from here:
http://www.visualstudio.com/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs

Note that both SSDT VS 2010 and SSDT VS 2012 are available stand alone.
Review what's new in this update here:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ssdt/archive/2014/03/25/sql-server-data-tools-for-sql-server-2014-is-available.aspx

Review the posts for earlier version:
http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2012/12/sql-server-data-tools-gets-updated.html

http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2013/02/about-ssdt-and-vs-2012.html

Follow link for more:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/data/hh297027

SQL Express 2011 on the horizon

Presently it is Denali CTP3 Express from none other than Microsoft. A lightweight edition of Denali CTP3 which will eventually be released as SQL Server 2011 Express (I guess) like the other express editions of this great software. This is a 'made for web developers and asp.net developers" edition and make sure you download and enjoy working with it.
From the MSDN link here, http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/hh230763.aspx you can download Denali CTP3 Express edition which takes you to https://www.microsoft.com/betaexperience/pd/SQLDENEXPPRE/enus/ where you can make your choices as to version and language. Of course you need to register. The options are the same and one of the choices includes the tools as well.
The top features from the MSDN site are copied over here:
• Same database engine as other versions of SQL Server.
• Supports 10 GB of storage per database.
• Backup and restore with ease.
• Compatible with all editions of SQL Server and SQL Azure.
• Designed to work with Visual Studio and ASP.NET.
• Available with a graphical management tool.
• Offers reporting capabilities, full-text search, and spatial support.
What else do you need to test drive exccept the will?