MySQL Data Source not appearing in Visual Studio

I just installed the ADO.NET connector from here http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/connector/net/

Yet MySQL doesn't appear as a data source like it should. I tried restarting Visual Studio. It doesn't fix my issue. Did I install the wrong connector?

EDIT: STill nothing. I'm using Visual Studio Express For Desktop. Do I need to pay for the Ultimate edition to use a MySQL Data Source?

I was having the same problem just now. I solved it by uninstalling the latest Connector/NET drivers (6.7.4) and then installed the older drivers (6.6.5) and it works.

I am using Visual Studio 2010. I uninstalled the latest ones because I figured they were somehow related to .NET4.5, which I'm not able to use.

---

Update #1:

Supposedly another way is to register the MySql Connector with various Visual Studio versions (2010/2012/2013/2015...) during installation: Go to Modify Product Features and select all the relevant Visual Studio versions.

---

Update #2 - Visual Studio 2019 Update:

When I installed MySQL Community with the ConnectorNET and VisualStudio Plugin options included - MySQL didn't show up as a data provider in Visual Studio.

The installer I used included the VS Plugin version 1.2.9, which had supposedly fixed installation issues from 1.2.8, but still didn't work for me...

The solution for me was to uninstall the Connector and the Visual Studio Plugin, download them as individual components, and then install them separately (not as part of the MySQLServer Installer). Install the Connector first, then VS plugin after.

• Connector Download
• VS Plugin Download

I found the solution here, Thanks to @LambertHeenan.

---

NOTE about Visual Studio Express

The OP asks whether MySQL is supported with Visual Studio Express (which as far as I can tell has been renamed to Visual Studio Community). In the past MySQL officially didn't support Visual Studio Express, as per @Paul's answer below, but they do officially support Visual Studio Community 2017 and 2019, according to this page.

Stuzor and hexcodes solution worked for me as well. However, if you do want the latest connector you have to download another product. From the oracle website:

Starting with version 6.7, Connector/Net will no longer include the MySQL for Visual Studio integration. That functionality is now available in a separate product called MySQL for Visual Studio available using the MySQL Installer for Windows (see http://dev.mysql.com/tech-resources/articles/mysql-installer-for-windows.html).

I found this on the MySQL support page for the Visual Studio connectors.

It appears that they do not support the MySQL to Visual Studio EXPRESS editions.

So to answer your question, yes you may need the ultimate version or professional edition - just not Express to be able to use MySQL with VS.

http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?38,546265,564533#msg-564533![enter image description here]1

From the MySql site.

Starting with version 6.7, Connector/Net will no longer include the MySQL for Visual Studio integration. That functionality is now available in a separate product called MySQL for Visual Studio available using the MySQL Installer for Windows (see http://dev.mysql.com/tech-resources/articles/mysql-installer-for-windows.html).

Tried everything but on Visual Studio 2015 Community edition I got it working when I installed MySQL for Visual Studio 1.2.4+ from http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/windows/visualstudio/ At time of writing I could download 1.2.6 which worked for me.

Release notes of 1.2.4 which adds support for VS2015 can be found at http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?3,633391

The Connector 6.7.x does not integrate the native data provider anymore. For "Visual Studio 2012" or less, you have to install "MySQL for Visual Studio". If you are using "Visual Studio 2013" there is no possibility to integrate MySQL for the "Entity Framework" yet. A solution should be available on 10/2013!

Uninstall later version and install mysql-connector 6.3.9 for visual studio 2010.

After installing add the dll files and restart the visual studio.

It works fine.

i install mysql for visual studio and the problem simply solved.although version of my visual studio is 2012!

I tried to install to VS 2015 using the Web installer. It seemed to work, but there was still no MySQL entry for Data Connections. I ended up going to http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/windows/visualstudio/, using it to uninstall then re-install the connector. Not it works as expected.

I have faced the same problem and i have installed mysql-connector-net-8.0.11. But in visual studio is not showing the db connector for mysql. Then I was installed the mysql-for-visualstudio-1.2.8 and run the visual studio. Its working fine.

Thank you!

Just struggled with Visutal Studio 2017 Community Edition - none of above options worked for me. In my case what i had to do was:

0. Run MySQL Installer and install/upgrade: Connector/NET and MySQL for Visual Studio to current versions (8.0.17 and 1.2.8 at the time)

1. Run Visual Studio Installer > Visual Studio Community 2017 > Modify > Individual components > add .NET Framework Targeting Packs for 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1 and 4.7.2

2. Reopen project and change project target platform to 4.7.2

3. Remove all MySQL-related nuGET packages and references

4. Install following nuGET packages: EntityFramework, MySql.Data.Entity, Mysql.Data.Entities

5. Upgrade following nuGET packages: MySql.Data, BouncyCastle nad Google.Protobuf (for some reason there is an update available just after install)