MySQL Bugs: #31731: Cannot create new MySQL connection in Server Explorer in Visual Studio

Bug #31731	Cannot create new MySQL connection in Server Explorer in Visual Studio
Submitted:	21 Oct 2007 1:05	Modified:	13 Nov 2007 11:41
Reporter:	Morgan Soley	Email Updates:
Status:	Closed	Impact on me:	None
Category:	Connector / NET	Severity:	S3 (Non-critical)
Version:	5.1.3	OS:	Windows
Assigned to:		CPU Architecture:	Any

Description:
I just did a clean install of Visual Studio Professional 2005, with Service Pack 1.  I also installed MS Ajax and the MS Ajax control toolkit.  I then installed the MySQL Net Connector version 5.1.3.

I created a blank Web project (AJAX enabled), with nothing on the page.  In server explorer, I try to add a new connection, and choose MySQL database from the list, and then hit next.  The "Add Connection" window comes up, prompting for server name, user name, password, and database name.  However, typing ANYTHING into any of these fields, or clicking the "Save password" checkbox, causes the "Add Connection" window to disappear entirely. 

This does not happen if I choose any other database type.

Additionally, if I drop a SQL Datasource onto the page, and attempt to configure it, the "MySQL Database" option doesn't even show up in the list of possible database types.

How to repeat:

1. Open the server explorer in Visual Studio.

2. Right-click "Data Connections" and choose "Add Connection"

3. Choose "MySQL Database" and click "Continue".

4. Attempt to type anything into the text fields in the connection setup window.

Follow up:

I couldn't get 5.1.3. to uninstall properly, experiencing the same thing as discussed here: 
http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?38,174528,174528#msg-174528

I used the windows install cleanup utility listed in that thread to remove the 5.1.3 installation and downloaded 5.1.2 from the archive.  I am no longer experiencing the problem listed in this bug report (disappearing "add connection" window) with 5.1.2.

Did you have a failed install already on your system before you installed 5.1.3?  The reason the dialog disappears is because you either have two connector/net assemblies registered in your machine.config or you don't have one in your GAC at all.

I can confirm there is a bug where if a failed uninstall doesn't remove the machine.config registration, then a new install will add another one and this will break VS in the way that you describe.

Verified the error in 5.1.3 that can add a duplicate entry in machine.config and this can cause the behavior the user is seeing.  If this turns out not to be the issue, the user is encouraged to open a new bug report.

A patch for this bug has been committed. After review, it may
be pushed to the relevant source trees for release in the next
version. You can access the patch from:

  http://lists.mysql.com/commits/36365

A patch for this bug has been committed. After review, it may
be pushed to the relevant source trees for release in the next
version. You can access the patch from:

  http://lists.mysql.com/commits/36366

Fixed in 5.1.4 (also applied all relevant parts of the patch to 5.0.9)

Thanks for the responses Reggie.  I investigated and it appears that the connector may have been installed on the machine previously!  I will try 5.1.4 when I get a chance and reopen a ticket if the error continues.

Thanks again.

A note has been added to the 5.0.9 and 5.1.4 changelogs: 

        Installing over a failed uninstall of a previous version could
        result in multiple clients being registered in the
        machine.config. This would prevent certain
        aspects of the MySQL connection within Visual Studio to work
        properly.