Windows Azure Storage – BACPAC Import database – Using SQL server (2012) Management Studio

Here is the screen by screen guide to import a Azure BACPAC database to a local machine using SQL Server 2012 management studio.

Required Tools / Data:

• SQL Server 2012 management studio with the latest version of SSDT. ( Note: Make sure the SQL Server 2012 Management studio is upto date. Otherwise while importing                 we will get the below error: Internal Error. The internal target platform type       SqlAzureDatabaseSchemaProvider does not support schema file version ‘2.5’.  The latest version of SSDT can be downloaded from http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/jj650015)

• Windows Azure Storage account key. ( This can be retrieved from the Azure portal – Storage)

Step 1:  Open the SQL Server Managment Studio and Connect to the Azure storage.

Step 2:  Key in the Storage account key.

Step 3: Open the right container and right click the required BACPAC file to import

Step 4:  Right Click Select “Import Data Tier Application”

Step 5: Click Next

Step 6: Connect to the SQL Server (Target)  and Name the database

Step 7:  Click Next

Step 8 : Click Finish to import the Database.

Here we go…successfully imported the Azure BACPAC to the local machine.