title: Do I need a database reference for a linked server in a SQL Server database project?
body: <p>In my database project, I have added a reference to a linked server. When I use this linked server in a view and try to build my database project, SSDT reports errors because it cannot understand references to any of the schemas referenced on the linked server:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[LinkedServer].[DB1].[dbo].[Table1]
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The above would returns an error that SSDT cannot decipher the reference to <code>[DB1].[dbo].[Table1]</code>. I tried to add a reference to this database, but SSDT required either a <code>.dacpac</code> file (produced by another database project) or a system database on the same server as the database in my project. </p>
  
  <p>How do I handle referencing an external database? There are use cases where a project needs to reference an remote database that is <strong>not</strong> an SSDT database project. In my case, I am accessing the database of another company and putting this database under version control as a SSDT project is out of the question. </p>