Import-SSMS21ConnectionsToSSMS22

Import-SSMS21ConnectionsToSSMS22.ps1

Overview

This PowerShell script imports saved connections from SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 21 to SSMS 22 by transferring the ConnectionMruList key from the privateregistry.bin file of SSMS 21 to SSMS 22. Thus helping you not waste time manually re-adding all your SSMS 21 connections to SSMS 22.

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What it does

• Dynamically locates the SSMS version folders based on sdk.txt files (in case you had the Preview for SSMS 21 and/or 22 installed at some point).
• Backs up the SSMS 22 privateregistry.bin file before making any changes.
• Exports the ConnectionMruList key from SSMS 21's privateregistry.bin files.
• Updates the exported registry key to match SSMS 22 and imports it into SSMS 22.

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Requirements

• Administrator Rights: The script requires elevated privileges to modify the registry and access the privateregistry.bin files.
• SSMS 21 and SSMS 22 Installed: Both versions must be installed on the same machine.
• PowerShell: Built and tested for PowerShell 5.1 and newer.

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Usage

1. Close SSMS: Ensure both SSMS 21 and SSMS 22 are closed before running the script.

2. Run the Script:

   .\Import-SSMS21ConnectionsToSSMS22.ps1

3. Optional: Use the -OSUserName parameter to use a different user profile for the import

   .\Import-SSMS21ConnectionsToSSMS22.ps1 -OSUserName "OtherUser"

4. Follow Prompts: The script will prompt you to confirm before proceeding.

5. Verify Connections:

   • Open SSMS 22 and check if your SSMS 21 connections have been imported successfully.

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Notes

• Backup Files: The script creates backup copies of the privateregistry.bin file before making changes. This is stored in the same directory as the original SSMS 22 file with a .bak extension.
• Error Handling: If an error occurs, the script provides detailed error messages and you can use the previously generated backup to undo any changes.

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Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:

1. Close SSMS 22.

2. Restore the original privateregistry.bin file for SSMS 22:

   Remove-Item -Path "path\to\privateregistry.bin" -Force
   Copy-Item -Path "path\to\privateregistry.bin.bak" -Destination "path\to\privateregistry.bin" -Force

3. Restart SSMS 22.

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More info

For more details, visit the Import Saved Connections from SSMS 21 to SSMS 22 blog post.