How to install Biztalk 2013 Project Templates in Visual Studio 2012?

Question

Doing some work on a proof of concept in Azure VM with SQL Server 2012, BizTalk 2013 and Visual Studio 2012. All 3 (SQL, BizTalk and Visual Studio) are on the same VM. In visual studio 2012, I cannot see any project templates for BizTalk.

I installed the Windows Azure BizTalk Services preview but unfortunately, that only installs two templates both for BizTalk Azure services (not orchestrations, etc.).

I tried running (as admin) devenv.exe /InstallVSTemplates to no avail.

All I'm trying to do is have the BizTalk project templates installed in VS2012 so I can create an orchestration.

Ideas? Suggestions?

Answer 1

As part of the Biztalk installation, there's an option to install the developer tools and SDK. If it's not installed initially, you can go into control panel, modify the installation and add it there.

If the dev tools and SDK are grayed out, it's because IIS ASPNET 4.5 and WCF HTTP ACTIVATION 4.5 prerequisites have not been met. Ironically enough, once you meet said requirements, they'll appear during installation (as seen in the image below). In order enable the SDK option, I've found that installing Excel, in addition to several IIS options will enable the installation option. Credit to this blog entry for pointing me in the right direction.

TL;DR Install Visual Studio 2012 FIRST to get ASPNET 4.5 and WCF HTTP requirements met before installing BizTalk. Not sure why they couldn't just say something during the BizTalk installation. Maybe have a "Development environment" mode or type of installation where they'd mention having VS installed first.