---
title: "Create a Visual Basic SMO Project in Visual Studio .NET | Microsoft Docs"
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ms.date: "07/27/2016"
ms.prod: "sql-server-2016"
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  - "docset-sql-devref"
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ms.topic: "reference"
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  - "VB"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "Visual Basic [SMO]"
ms.assetid: d7a3892c-0f1c-4c4d-8480-b58dce3720bc
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author: "JennieHubbard"
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---
# How to Create a Visual Basic SMO Project in Visual Studio .NET
  This section describes how to build a simple SMO console application.  
  
 This example imports namespaces, which enables the program to reference SMO types. The import of the **Agent** namespace is optional. Use it when you are writing a program that uses [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent. The **Common** namespace is required to establish a secure connection to the instance of [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)]. The **SqlClient** namespace is used to process SQL exception errors.  
  
### Creating a Visual Basic SMO project in Visual Studio.NET  
  
1.  Start Visual Studio 2015.  
  
2.  On the **File** menu, click **New** and then **Project**.  The **New Project** dialog box appears.  
  
3.  In the [!INCLUDE[vsprvs](../../includes/vsprvs-md.md)] **Installed** pane, navigate to **Templates**\\**Visual Basic**\\**Windows** and select **Console Application**.  
 
4.    \(Optional\) In the **Name** text box, type the name of the new application.
  
5.  Click **OK** to load the [!INCLUDE[vbprvb](../../includes/vbprvb-md.md)] console application template.  
  
6.  On the **Project** menu, select **Add Reference**. The **Reference Manager** dialog box appears.  
  
7.  Click **Browse** to locate the SMO assemblies.  Navigate to C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\130\SDK\Assemblies and then select the following files. These are three of four minimum files that are required to build an SMO application:  

    - Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc
     
    - Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo.dll
     
    - Microsoft.SqlServer.SqlEnum.dll
  
    > [!NOTE]  
    >  Use the **Ctrl** key to select more than one file.  
    
8.  Click **Add**.
  
9.  Click **Browse** to locate an additional SMO assembly.  Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\130\SDK\Assemblies and then select the file referenced below.  This is the fourth minimum file required to build an SMO application.

    - Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo.dll

10.  Click **Add**. 
  
11.  Add any additional SMO assemblies that are required. For example, if you are specifically programming [!INCLUDE[ssSB](../../includes/sssb-md.md)], add the following assemblies:  
  
      - Microsoft.SqlServer.ServiceBrokerEmum.dll  
     
12. Click **OK**.
  
13. On the **View** menu, click **Code**.
  
14. In the code, before any declarations, type the following **Imports** statements to qualify the types in the SMO namespace.  
  
    ```  
    Imports Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo  
    Imports Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common  
    ```  
  
15. SMO has various namespaces under Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo, such as Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo.Agent. Add these namespaces as they are required.  
  
16. You can now add your SMO code.