DACPAC

Author: rwestMSFT

docs/toc.yml

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           - name: Overview
             href: tools/visual-studio-code-extensions/mssql/mssql-schema-designer.md
+        - name: Data-tier Application
+          items:
+          - name: Overview
+            href: tools/visual-studio-code-extensions/mssql/mssql-data-tier-application.md
     - name: SQL bindings for Azure Functions
       items:
       - name: Overview

docs/tools/visual-studio-code-extensions/mssql/media/mssql-data-tier-application/data-tier-application-install.png

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+---
+title: Overview of the Data-Tier Application Experience (Preview)
+titleSuffix: MSSQL Extension for Visual Studio Code
+description: Learn how to use the Data-tier Application experience in the MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code to deploy and extract DACPAC files, and import and export BACPAC files.
+author: tauseefsiddique10
+ms.author: tsiddique
+ms.reviewer: roblescarlos, randolphwest
+ms.date: 11/18/2025
+ms.service: sql
+ms.subservice: vs-code-sql-extensions
+ms.topic: overview
+ms.collection:
+  - data-tools
+ai-usage: ai-assisted
+---
+
+# Data-tier Application (Preview)
+
+The Data-tier Application experience provides an easy-to-use experience to deploy and extract `.dacpac` files and import and export `.bacpac` files.
+
+> [!NOTE]  
+> Fabric targets aren't currently supported in this preview.
+
+This experience makes it easier to manage `.dacpac` and `.bacpac` files, which simplifies the development and deployment of data-tier elements that support your application. For more information, see [Data-tier applications (DAC) overview](../../sql-database-projects/concepts/data-tier-applications/overview.md).
+
+## Features
+
+- Deploy a `.dacpac` file to a new or existing SQL database (Publish DACPAC)
+- Extract the schema from a SQL database to a `.dacpac` file (Extract DACPAC)
+- Import a `.bacpac` file to a new or empty database (Import BACPAC)
+- Export the schema and data from a SQL database to a `.bacpac` file (Export BACPAC)
+
+## Install the MSSQL extension
+
+To use the Data-tier Application features, install the MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code.
+
+1. In Visual Studio Code, select the **Extensions** icon to view available extensions.
+
+   :::image type="content" source="media/mssql-data-tier-application/data-tier-application-install.png" alt-text="Screenshot of installing the MSSQL extension in Visual Studio Code.":::
+
+1. Search for the **SQL Server (mssql)** extension and select it to view its details. Select **Install** to add the extension.
+
+1. Once installed, **Reload** to enable the extension in Visual Studio Code (only required when installing an extension for the first time).
+
+> [!TIP]  
+> For a comprehensive overview of the MSSQL extension's features and capabilities, see [What is the MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code?](mssql-extension-visual-studio-code.md)
+
+## Launch the Data-tier Application experience
+
+To launch the experience in the MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code, right-click the Databases node, or right-click a specific database in the Object Explorer. Then, select **Data-tier Application**.
+
+:::image type="content" source="media/mssql-data-tier-application/launch-data-tier-application.png" alt-text="Screenshot of launching the Data-tier Application experience in the MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code.":::
+
+## Related content
+
+- [Data-tier applications (DAC) overview](../../sql-database-projects/concepts/data-tier-applications/overview.md)
+- [Quickstart: Connect to and query a database with the MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code](connect-database-visual-studio-code.md)
+- [GitHub Copilot for MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code](../github-copilot/overview.md)
+- [Schema Compare](mssql-schema-compare.md)
+- [Schema Designer](mssql-schema-designer.md)
+- [Learn more about Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs)
+- [Learn more about contributing to the MSSQL extension](https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode-mssql/wiki)