System.Data.SQLite

this may be an old thread but there is a trick that works.

 Install Visual Studio 2008 Shell(integrated). It is actually a full version Visual Studio 2008 Framework without any of the language support(so you cannot open C# project using it). The SQLite designer works(so are the BI tools in SQL server 2008 Express and F# or I believe any plugins for VS 2008).

From a Japanese Website

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=zh-TW&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fbugzero.shooti.jp%2Fsitehead%2Fhttp%3A%252F%252Fblog.livedoor.jp%252Funker%252Farchives%252F1114241.html

I have added

            <dependentAssembly>
                <assemblyIdentity name="Microsoft.VisualStudio.Data" publicKeyToken="b03f5f7f11d50a3a" culture="neutral" />
                <bindingRedirect oldVersion="0.0.0.0-9.0.0.0" newVersion="9.0.0.0" />
            </dependentAssembly>

to vbexpress.exe.config. The designer is now working in vbexpress 2008 but everytime a adding new database there is an error message but it still works.

Object reference not set to an instance of and object.

Hope this useful to everybody.

Regards,

Steve 

 Since it is clear that something is trying to do happen but not suceeding, I attempted some detective work. I used Lutz Roeder's Reflector utility to examine SQLite.Designer.dll version 1.0.33.0 dated 05/28/2008. According to Reflector, the dll references (among others) a Microsoft.Data.ConnectionUI assembly version 8.0.0.0 and a Microsoft.VisualStudio.Data assembly version 8.0.0.0. I could not find an assembly with that version

Yes, they don't distribute those assemblies with the express editions.  They also disabled other hooks to make 3rd party providers work in Express as well.  In short, Microsoft disabled all the plumbing to make it work in Express.

Well, I was facing many problem with old version. Gary your trick helped me in solving many problem...

  Thanks, Keep it up :)