Question

We are using a SQL Server Data-tier application (dacpac or DAC pack) and I’m having a hard time finding the current version of the database.

Is there a way to obtain the current version using any of these methods:

1. From within SQL Server Management Studio
2. Via a SQL statement
3. Programmatically using .NET code

Answer 1

From within SQL Server Management Studio

From http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee210574.aspx

To view the details of a DAC deployed to an instance of the Database Engine:

1. Select the View/Object Explorer menu.

2. Connect to the instance of the from the Object Explorer pane.

3. Select the View/Object Explorer Details menu.

4. Select the server node in Object Explorer that maps to the instance, and then navigate to the Management\Data-tier Applications node.

5. The list view in the top pane of the details page lists each DAC deployed to the instance of the Database Engine. Select a DAC to display the information in the detail pane at the bottom of the page.

The right-click menu of the Data-tier Applications node is also used to deploy a new DAC or delete an existing DAC.

Via a SQL statement

SELECT instance_name, type_version FROM msdb.dbo.sysdac_instances

Via a SQL statement on Azure

SELECT instance_name, type_version FROM master.dbo.sysdac_instances

Programmatically using .NET code

Note that in DacFx 3.0 this is no longer valid. See my other answer for a way to do it.

C#

ServerConnection serverConnection;
string databaseName;

// Establish a connection to the SQL Server instance.
using (SqlConnection sqlConnection =
    new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["DefaultConnection"].ConnectionString))
{
    serverConnection = new ServerConnection(sqlConnection);
    serverConnection.Connect();

    // Assumes default database in connection string is the database we are trying to query.
    databaseName = sqlConnection.Database;
}

// Get the DAC info.
DacStore dacstore = new DacStore(serverConnection);
var dacInstance = dacstore.DacInstances[databaseName];
System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print("Database {0} has Dac pack version {1}.", databaseName, dacInstance.Type.Version);

VB.NET

Dim serverConnection As ServerConnection
Dim databaseName As String

' Establish a connection to the SQL Server instance.
Using sqlConnection As New SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("DefaultConnection").ConnectionString)
    serverConnection = New ServerConnection(sqlConnection)
    serverConnection.Connect()

    ' Assumes default database in connection string is the database we are trying to query.
    databaseName = sqlConnection.Database
End Using

' Get the DAC info.
Dim dacstore As New DacStore(serverConnection)
Dim dacInstance = dacstore.DacInstances(databaseName)
System.Diagnostics.Debug.Print("Database {0} has Dac pack version {1}.", databaseName, dacInstance.Type.Version)