Quick answer: To open an .ispac file in Visual Studio, create an Integration Services Import Project Wizard project and select the Project deployment file option. An .ispac is the project deployment file produced by an SSIS project and contains the project packages and parameters needed for deployment.

Prerequisites:
Use a supported Visual Studio version with the SQL Server Integration Services Projects extension installed. For Visual Studio 2022, Microsoft provides the SSIS extension separately through Visual Studio/Marketplace. Current Microsoft guidance lists SQL Server 2019–2022 as supported SSIS project targets for Visual Studio 2022. See Microsoft’s current SSDT guidance.

First, create an Integration Services project that will import the .ispac file.

1. Launch Visual Studio and select “File” > “New” > “Project or Click Ctr + Shift + N.
2. Choose the ‘Integration Services Import Project Wizard’ project type, provide the Project name, Location, and Solution name, and Click Create.

Open SSIS Package from ispac file in SQL Server Data tools.

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There are two ways to open ispac file in Visual Studio

A. Open an SSIS project from a .ispac file

  1. As shown in the image below, select the Project deployment file radio button, navigate to the folder where the .ispac file is located, and select it. Click Next.
  2. Review your selection and click Next.
Open SSIS Package from ispac file

The wizard imports the project from the .ispac file into the solution. You can then open the packages in Solution Explorer and edit them.

B. Open SSIS packages from SSISDB (Integration Services Catalog)

  1. As shown in the image below, select the Integration Services Catalog radio button, and Enter the SQL Server instance name containing Integration Services Catalog (SSISDB).
  2. Click the Browse button Next to the path and select the SSIS project you want to open. Click Next
  3. Review your selection and click Next.
Open SSIS Package from SSISDB in SQL Server.

This will open the selected SSISDB project in Visual Studio.

Pro tips:
1. If you are working with SSISDB, see Create SSIS Catalog in SQL Server. For moving an existing catalog to another server, see SSISDB Migration to a New Server.
2. Using SSIS Catalog Migration Wizard, you can migrate SSIS Catalog items from one server to another in just a few clicks. It is an extension to Visual Studio, SQL Server Management Studio and can also work as a standalone tool.

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