BUG: A SQL Server database diagram appears to be blank after you install Visual Studio 6 Service Pack 6 or Visual Studio .NET 2003 (902245)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2003), Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2003), Enterprise Architect Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (2003), Enterprise Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 SP6

SUMMARY

This article describes a problem that occurs after you install Microsoft Visual Studio 6 Service Pack 6 (SP6) or Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003. Database diagrams appear to be blank when you open them. This problem occurs because incorrect .dll files are installed in Visual Studio 6 SP6 and in Visual Studio .NET 2003. You must reinstall the Visual Studio 6 SP5 version of those files to resolve the problem.

SYMPTOMS

When you open a Microsoft SQL Server database diagram, the diagram appears to be blank and contains no content. However, you receive no error message.

This problem occurs after you install Visual Studio 6 SP6 or Visual Studio .NET 2003.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because some incorrect .dll files are included in Visual Studio 6 SP6 and in Visual Studio .NET 2003. These files include .dll files that are typically located in the following folder:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSDesigners98

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, replace all files in the MSDesigners98 folder by using the files in the same folder in Visual Studio 6 SP5. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Download Visual Studio 6 SP5.

    The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

    DownloadDownload the Vs6sp5vb.exe package now. Release Date: February 21, 2001

    For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

    Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.
  2. In the File Download dialog box, click Save.
  3. In the Save As dialog box, click Desktop in the left pane, and then click Save.
  4. On the desktop, double-click Vs6sp5vb.exe to extract the file.
  5. In the Open File dialog box, click Run.
  6. Type the location where you want to save the extracted files, and then click OK. For example, type C:\Vs6sp5, and then click OK. If the folder that you specify does not exist, click Yes to create the folder.
  7. Expand files to the C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSDesigners98 folder. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
    2. To change the directory to the folder where you extracted the .cab files in step 6, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

      cd c:\Vs6sp5

      Note Replace c:\Vs6sp5 with the path that you used in step 6.
    3. To expand the files from the .cab file to the appropriate folder, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

      expand vs6sp5b2.cab -F:msdesign*.dll C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSDesigners98

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

Any database diagrams that you created in Visual Studio 6 SP6 or in Visual Studio .NET 2003 will still work after you install the Visual Studio 6 SP5 .dll files.

Steps to reproduce the behavior

  1. Install any version of Microsoft SQL Server 2000.
  2. In SQL Enterprise Manager, create a new database diagram that is named DD1, and then save the diagram.
  3. Install the original release version of Visual Studio 6.
  4. In SQL Enterprise Manager, create a new database diagram that is named DD2, and then save the diagram.
  5. Install Visual Studio 6 SP5.
  6. In SQL Enterprise Manager, create a new database diagram that is named DD3, and then save the diagram.

    Notice that all three database diagrams can be modified at this point.
  7. Install Visual Studio 6 SP6 or Visual Studio .NET 2003.
  8. Try to modify the database diagrams that you created in steps 1 through 6.

    Notice that the diagrams appear to be blank.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:3/7/2006
Keywords:kbvs2005swept kbvs2005doesnotapply kbfix kbtshoot kbbug KB902245 kbAudDeveloper
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