Files That Manage Solutions and Projects

This topic describes the file types that are specific to Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio. By default, all solutions and their projects are created in \My Documents\SQL Server Management Studio Projects.

Management Studio Solution Files

SQL Server Management Studio uses different file types than Microsoft Business Intelligence Development Studio or Microsoft Visual Studio. This means you cannot open a SQL Server Management Studio solution in Business Intelligence Development Studio or in Visual Studio. SQL Server Management Studio solution files allow Solution Explorer to display a graphical interface for managing your files.

Extension

File type

Description

Created by

.ssmssln

SQL Server Management Studio Solution Object

Provides the environment with references to the location on disk of Microsoft SQL Server projects, project items, and solution

SQL Server Management Studio 

.sqlsuo

SQL Server Solution User Options

Records all of the customization options associated with your SQL Server solution

SQL Server Management Studio 

Management Studio Project Files

In the same way that solutions contain solution files that manage objects in a solution, projects contain project files. The type of project file that SQL Server Management Studio creates for a project depends on the template used to create the project. The following table describes the type of file created for each project.

Extension

Project template

.ssmssqlproj

SQL Server Scripts Project

.ssmsasproj

Analysis Services Scripts Project

.ssmsmobileproj

SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP2 Scripts Project

Location of Solution-Level Files

By default, solution-level files are created in the physical directory of the first project that is created with the solution. You can specify a directory for the solution by creating a solution, or you can specify the directory when you create a new project.

If you have a directory structure similar to the logical structure shown in Solution Explorer, project and solution files are easier to locate and share with other developers on a team.