ASDATABASE File

What are ASDATABASE files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an ASDATABASE file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your ASDATABASE files.

What is an ASDATABASE file?

An .ASDATABASE file is a Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services Project file.

Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services Project files store the full metadata of a BI database (tabular or multidimensional) as created in SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT). After a project is built, tools like the Analysis Services Deployment Wizard use these files to deploy the defined database objects - cubes, dimensions, data sources - onto an Analysis Services server instance. They serve as the central script for defining the database schema in one consolidated XML (or, for recent tabular models, JSON) form.

These files are generated during the build phase of an SSDT Analysis Services project. They are not source-of-truth design files but an output artifact that collects and organizes the object definitions from multiple project components. Users then provide the file to deployment tools or script engines, which read it to create or update the database on the target Analysis Services server.

The internal format is XML using the Analysis Services Scripting Language (ASSL), or JSON for certain newer tabular model compatibility levels. These files contain object definitions (for data sources, roles, partitions, etc.) and metadata such as CreatedTimestamp, LastSchemaUpdate, and State indicators. The build script uses these tags to describe what must exist, be altered, or be created on the server. A key identifier is that the file begins with an XML namespace declaration including schemas such as http://schemas.microsoft.com/analysisservices/2003/engine.

How to open ASDATABASE files

Important: Different programs may use files with the ASDATABASE file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your ASDATABASE file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Last updated: August 21, 2026

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