title: SQL Server 2008 import schema and data from ADO.NET Provider?
body: <p>I am trying to figure how to get SQL Server 2008 to import data using the schema from an ADO.NET Provider.  You can use the Database Import wizard and choose any ADO.NET Provider (I am using VistaDB in this case).  But once you go to the actual import the Copy Data from one or more tables is grayed out.  You can only write queries.  I want to copy the entire database schema and data.</p>
  
  <p>I found references in the online help that only Microsoft providers can use this by default and that you have to build a custom descriptor for third parties.  The help then points to :\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\ProviderDescriptors for the directory to look. Looking through the XML file is looks like it wants SQL queries for all the schema and definition loads.  Why can't it load them through the GetSchema() call that all ADO.NET Providers have to implement?  That doesn't make any sense to me.</p>
  
  <p>Then I found that you can get all the schema in a DTS package in SQL Server from any ADO.NET Provider.  The last DTS package I wrote was about 10 years ago.  Looking at the 2008 version I am totally lost.  How do you get a DTS package to load the entire database schema and import it in SQL Server today?</p>
  
  <p>Or, am I over thinking this and there is an easier way to do it?</p>