title: How to connect to SqlExpress for Entity Framework using Visual Studio 2010 Express?
body: <p>I'm trying to use the Visual Studio 2010 Express editions to set up an ASP.NET MVC 2 Web Application using SqlExpress + Entity Framework as the data access.  I have both the "C# Edition" and "Web Developer Edition" installed.</p>
  
  <p>If I try to add a data source using the "C# edition", I'm missing the "Microsoft SQL Server" data source type.</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4163528/images/StackOverflow/2010Express.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Visual Studio 2010 Express Screenshot http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4163528/images/StackOverflow/2010Express.png</a></p>
  
  <p>but Visual Studio 2008 Professional has it.</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4163528/images/StackOverflow/2008Professional.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Visual Studio 2008 Professional Screenshot http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4163528/images/StackOverflow/2008Professional.png</a></p>
  
  <p>as noted by another StackOverflow question, <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/188963/connecting-to-sql-server-with-visual-studio-express-editions">the "Web Developer Edition" has this</a>.  However, the Web Developer Edition doesn't support the Entity Framework items:
  <a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4163528/images/StackOverflow/2010EF.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer">EntityFramework http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4163528/images/StackOverflow/2010EF.png</a>.</p>
  
  <p>I'd want to stick with only the Express Editions.  Is my use case one that Microsoft forgot about?  What can I do here to use SqlExpress + MVC 2 + Entity Framework?</p>
  
  <p>Thanks!</p>
  
  <p>-Mike</p>