Visual studio 2010 does not have a data source tab

Question

I started reading Pro Business Applications with Silverlight 4 and I had the following problem with my visual studio 2010

I cannot find the data sources tab as indicated here:

When you open the Data Sources window in Visual Studio, you have already created a data source for each context of the domain created by the RIA services in the Silverlight project, with the objects that they open below them (as shown in Figure 6-2). Dragging one of them onto your design surface will create both the DomainDataSource control and the data display.

I know that the Data Sources window and the Data menu are intentionally disabled in websites and web application projects, but my project is a Silverlight business application.

Can someone tell me where I can find this window or what should I do to create a DomainDataSource control and a related control?

Thanks!

Answer 1

If you have MainWindow.xaml open, the DataSources tab is usually located next to the Toolbox tab.

If it does not appear there, go to the "View" menu → "Toolbars" and turn on the "Data Design" toolbar. Click the "Show data sources" button.

Or just use Shift + Alt + D

Answer 2

When I create an empty project, I can access the Data Sources as follows:

• Select a project in the solution explorer. (Not a solution!)
• The Data menu in the menu bar now allows you to access the data sources for this project along with other parameters related to the data source.

Answer 3

Ok, I have a workaround. For some reason, it only appears if you are running a Silverlight project. So, I started an empty solution, added the silverlight project. Bingo - there is a Data Source window. Now add any project you really need.

Answer 4

You may need to create a project containing your objects before the objects appear in the tree view.

Pablo