---
title: Connected Database Development
ms.prod: sql
ms.technology: ssdt
ms.topic: conceptual
ms.assetid: 21f7f959-7b8e-4335-8681-bebcd957692c
author: markingmyname
ms.author: maghan
manager: jroth
ms.reviewer: “”
ms.custom: seo-lt-2019
ms.date: 02/09/2017
---

# Connected Database Development

This section describes features provided by SQL Server Data Tools for designing and querying a connected database.  
  
Using the SQL Server Object Explorer in Visual Studio, developers can now create, edit and browse database objects located in either an on-premise database server, such as SQL Server 2008 or Microsoft SQL Server 2012, or off-premise in SQL Azure. Developers can easily clone an existing production database to a test instance, perform additional development work on it, and publish the changes back to the production database.  
  
> [!NOTE]  
> How To topics in this section contain a series of tasks that can be completed in a sequence.  
  
## In This Section  
  
|Topic|Description|  
|---------|---------------|  
|[How to: Connect to a Database and Browse Existing Objects](../ssdt/how-to-connect-to-a-database-and-browse-existing-objects.md)|Connect to a database and browse its entities.|  
|[How to: Create Database Objects Using Table Designer](../ssdt/how-to-create-database-objects-using-table-designer.md)|Use the new Table Designer to design tables and manage table relationships.|  
|[How to: Update a Connected Database with Power Buffer](../ssdt/how-to-update-a-connected-database-with-power-buffer.md)|Update a connected database without writing ALTER scripts.|  
|[Filter and Sort Dialog Box](../ssdt/filter-and-sort-dialog-box.md)|Specify which data should display in the Data View.|  
|[How to: Create New Database Objects Using Queries](../ssdt/how-to-create-new-database-objects-using-queries.md)|Use Transact\-SQL Editor to edit and execute Transact\-SQL scripts.|  
|[How to: Edit an Existing Table using Queries](../ssdt/how-to-edit-an-existing-table-using-queries.md)|Write Transact\-SQL scripts to edit the definition of a table, or populate data.|  
|[How to: View and Edit Data in a Table](../ssdt/how-to-view-and-edit-data-in-a-table.md)|Use the Data Editor to view or enter data in a table.|  
|[How to: Delete Objects and Resolve Dependencies](../ssdt/how-to-delete-objects-and-resolve-dependencies.md)|Rename or delete database entities, and let SQL Server Data Tools automatically resolve object dependencies.|  
|[How to: Clone an Existing Database](../ssdt/how-to-clone-an-existing-database.md)|Create a development database from a production database.|  
|[Extract, Publish, and Register .dacpac Files](../ssdt/extract-publish-and-register-dacpac-files.md)|Shows how to extract and publish .dacpac files.|  
  
## Related Sections

[Manage Tables, Relationships, and Fix Errors](../ssdt/manage-tables-relationships-and-fix-errors.md)