diff --git a/extensions/mssql/package.json b/extensions/mssql/package.json
index 3626ebdb05..3315cdbdc2 100644
--- a/extensions/mssql/package.json
+++ b/extensions/mssql/package.json
@@ -17,6 +17,14 @@
     "compile": "gulp compile-extension:mssql-client",
     "update-grammar": "node ../../build/npm/update-grammar.js Microsoft/vscode-mssql syntaxes/SQL.plist ./syntaxes/sql.tmLanguage.json"
   },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "dataprotocol-client": "github:Microsoft/sqlops-dataprotocolclient#0.2.6",
+    "opener": "^1.4.3",
+    "service-downloader": "github:anthonydresser/service-downloader#0.1.4",
+    "vscode-extension-telemetry": "^0.0.15"
+  },
+  "devDependencies": {
+  },
   "contributes": {
     "languages": [
       {
@@ -656,13 +664,5 @@
         }
       ]
     }
-  },
-  "dependencies": {
-    "dataprotocol-client": "github:Microsoft/sqlops-dataprotocolclient#0.2.5",
-    "opener": "^1.4.3",
-    "service-downloader": "github:anthonydresser/service-downloader#0.1.4",
-    "vscode-extension-telemetry": "^0.0.15"
-  },
-  "devDependencies": {
   }
 }
diff --git a/extensions/mssql/src/config.json b/extensions/mssql/src/config.json
index 60784d1a59..dd0aea67df 100644
--- a/extensions/mssql/src/config.json
+++ b/extensions/mssql/src/config.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
 	"downloadUrl": "https://github.com/Microsoft/sqltoolsservice/releases/download/v{#version#}/microsoft.sqltools.servicelayer-{#fileName#}",
-	"version": "1.5.0-alpha.27",
+	"version": "1.5.0-alpha.28",
 	"downloadFileNames": {
 		"Windows_86": "win-x86-netcoreapp2.1.zip",
 		"Windows_64": "win-x64-netcoreapp2.1.zip",
diff --git a/extensions/mssql/yarn.lock b/extensions/mssql/yarn.lock
index 5976a32b4b..981aafc4f6 100644
--- a/extensions/mssql/yarn.lock
+++ b/extensions/mssql/yarn.lock
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ core-util-is@~1.0.0:
   version "1.0.2"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/core-util-is/-/core-util-is-1.0.2.tgz#b5fd54220aa2bc5ab57aab7140c940754503c1a7"
 
-"dataprotocol-client@github:Microsoft/sqlops-dataprotocolclient#0.2.5":
-  version "0.2.5"
-  resolved "https://codeload.github.com/Microsoft/sqlops-dataprotocolclient/tar.gz/6aca9c6850d2b2e1e59f09d67e15922f5acec5ea"
+"dataprotocol-client@github:Microsoft/sqlops-dataprotocolclient#0.2.6":
+  version "0.2.6"
+  resolved "https://codeload.github.com/Microsoft/sqlops-dataprotocolclient/tar.gz/b40358cdf33fbc4076a5621363d95350ab08d882"
   dependencies:
     vscode-languageclient "3.5.1"
 
diff --git a/src/sql/base/browser/ui/modal/modal.ts b/src/sql/base/browser/ui/modal/modal.ts
index 7fab27544f..2c657d04e0 100644
--- a/src/sql/base/browser/ui/modal/modal.ts
+++ b/src/sql/base/browser/ui/modal/modal.ts
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ export abstract class Modal extends Disposable implements IThemable {
 		private _name: string,
 		private _partService: IPartService,
 		private _telemetryService: ITelemetryService,
-		private _contextKeyService: IContextKeyService,
+		_contextKeyService: IContextKeyService,
 		options?: IModalOptions
 	) {
 		super();
diff --git a/src/sql/parts/connection/common/connection.contribution.ts b/src/sql/parts/connection/common/connection.contribution.ts
index 89bc79a5a6..f82196cbbc 100644
--- a/src/sql/parts/connection/common/connection.contribution.ts
+++ b/src/sql/parts/connection/common/connection.contribution.ts
@@ -92,5 +92,10 @@ configurationRegistry.registerConfiguration({
 			'description': localize('sql.defaultEngineDescription', 'Default SQL Engine to use. This drives default language provider in .sql files and the default to use when creating a new connection. Valid option is currently MSSQL'),
 			'default': 'MSSQL'
 		},
+		'connection.parseClipboardForConnectionString': {
+			'type': 'boolean',
+			'default': true,
+			'description': localize('connection.parseClipboardForConnectionStringDescription', 'Attempt to parse the contents of the clipboard when the connection dialog is opened or a paste is performed.')
+		}
 	}
-});
\ No newline at end of file
+});
diff --git a/src/sql/parts/connection/common/connectionManagement.ts b/src/sql/parts/connection/common/connectionManagement.ts
index a2aa2c6818..d2234ad5b9 100644
--- a/src/sql/parts/connection/common/connectionManagement.ts
+++ b/src/sql/parts/connection/common/connectionManagement.ts
@@ -266,6 +266,11 @@ export interface IConnectionManagementService {
 	 * Get the connection string for the provided connection profile
 	 */
 	getConnectionString(ownerUri: string, includePassword: boolean): Thenable<string>;
+
+	/**
+	 * Serialize connection string with optional provider
+	 */
+	buildConnectionInfo(connectionString: string, provider?: string): Thenable<sqlops.ConnectionInfo>;
 }
 
 export const IConnectionDialogService = createDecorator<IConnectionDialogService>('connectionDialogService');
diff --git a/src/sql/parts/connection/common/connectionManagementService.ts b/src/sql/parts/connection/common/connectionManagementService.ts
index db2561e6fc..15bb2a3a35 100644
--- a/src/sql/parts/connection/common/connectionManagementService.ts
+++ b/src/sql/parts/connection/common/connectionManagementService.ts
@@ -1366,4 +1366,14 @@ export class ConnectionManagementService extends Disposable implements IConnecti
 			});
 		});
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Serialize connection with options provider
+	 * TODO this could be a map reduce operation
+	 */
+	public buildConnectionInfo(connectionString: string, provider: string): Thenable<sqlops.ConnectionInfo> {
+		return this._providers.get(provider).onReady.then(e => {
+			return e.buildConnectionInfo(connectionString);
+		});
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/sql/parts/connection/connectionDialog/connectionDialogWidget.ts b/src/sql/parts/connection/connectionDialog/connectionDialogWidget.ts
index 4f6aa8007d..d319836be7 100644
--- a/src/sql/parts/connection/connectionDialog/connectionDialogWidget.ts
+++ b/src/sql/parts/connection/connectionDialog/connectionDialogWidget.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ import { ITree } from 'vs/base/parts/tree/browser/tree';
 import { IContextMenuService, IContextViewService } from 'vs/platform/contextview/browser/contextView';
 import { IInstantiationService } from 'vs/platform/instantiation/common/instantiation';
 import * as styler from 'vs/platform/theme/common/styler';
-import { TPromise } from 'vs/base/common/winjs.base';
 import * as DOM from 'vs/base/browser/dom';
 import { ActionBar } from 'vs/base/browser/ui/actionbar/actionbar';
 
@@ -376,6 +375,7 @@ export class ConnectionDialogWidget extends Modal {
 	 */
 	public open(recentConnections: boolean) {
 		this._panel.showTab(this._recentConnectionTabId);
+
 		this.show();
 		if (recentConnections) {
 			this._noRecentConnectionBuilder.hide();
diff --git a/src/sql/parts/connection/connectionDialog/connectionWidget.ts b/src/sql/parts/connection/connectionDialog/connectionWidget.ts
index a3b145127c..1509a994ea 100644
--- a/src/sql/parts/connection/connectionDialog/connectionWidget.ts
+++ b/src/sql/parts/connection/connectionDialog/connectionWidget.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ import * as Constants from 'sql/parts/connection/common/constants';
 import { ConnectionProfileGroup, IConnectionProfileGroup } from 'sql/parts/connection/common/connectionProfileGroup';
 import { attachInputBoxStyler, attachButtonStyler, attachEditableDropdownStyler } from 'sql/common/theme/styler';
 import { Dropdown } from 'sql/base/browser/ui/editableDropdown/dropdown';
+import { IConnectionManagementService } from 'sql/parts/connection/common/connectionManagement';
+import { ICapabilitiesService } from 'sql/services/capabilities/capabilitiesService';
+import { ConnectionProfile } from '../common/connectionProfile';
 
 import * as sqlops from 'sqlops';
 
@@ -32,6 +35,8 @@ import { OS, OperatingSystem } from 'vs/base/common/platform';
 import { Builder, $ } from 'vs/base/browser/builder';
 import { MessageType } from 'vs/base/browser/ui/inputbox/inputBox';
 import { endsWith, startsWith } from 'vs/base/common/strings';
+import { IClipboardService } from 'vs/platform/clipboard/common/clipboardService';
+import { IConfigurationService } from 'vs/platform/configuration/common/configuration';
 
 export class ConnectionWidget {
 	private _builder: Builder;
@@ -85,7 +90,12 @@ export class ConnectionWidget {
 		callbacks: IConnectionComponentCallbacks,
 		providerName: string,
 		@IThemeService private _themeService: IThemeService,
-		@IContextViewService private _contextViewService: IContextViewService) {
+		@IContextViewService private _contextViewService: IContextViewService,
+		@IConnectionManagementService private _connectionManagementService: IConnectionManagementService,
+		@ICapabilitiesService private _capabilitiesService: ICapabilitiesService,
+		@IClipboardService private _clipboardService: IClipboardService,
+		@IConfigurationService private _configurationService: IConfigurationService
+	) {
 		this._callbacks = callbacks;
 		this._toDispose = [];
 		this._optionsMaps = {};
@@ -120,9 +130,29 @@ export class ConnectionWidget {
 		if (this._authTypeSelectBox) {
 			this.onAuthTypeSelected(this._authTypeSelectBox.value);
 		}
+
+		DOM.addDisposableListener(container, 'paste', e => {
+			this._handleClipboard();
+		});
+
 		DOM.append(container, this._builder.getHTMLElement());
 	}
 
+	private _handleClipboard(): void {
+		if (this._configurationService.getValue<boolean>('connection.parseClipboardForConnectionString')) {
+			let paste = this._clipboardService.readText();
+			this._connectionManagementService.buildConnectionInfo(paste, this._providerName).then(e => {
+				if (e) {
+					let profile = new ConnectionProfile(this._capabilitiesService, this._providerName);
+					profile.options = e.options;
+					if (profile.serverName) {
+						this.initDialog(profile);
+					}
+				}
+			});
+		}
+	}
+
 	private fillInConnectionForm(): void {
 		let serverNameOption = this._optionsMaps[ConnectionOptionSpecialType.serverName];
 		let serverNameBuilder = DialogHelper.appendRow(this._tableContainer, serverNameOption.displayName, 'connection-label', 'connection-input');
@@ -130,7 +160,7 @@ export class ConnectionWidget {
 			validationOptions: {
 				validation: (value: string) => {
 					if (!value) {
-						return ({ type: MessageType.ERROR, content: localize('connectionWidget.missingRequireField', '{0} is required.', serverNameOption.displayName)});
+						return ({ type: MessageType.ERROR, content: localize('connectionWidget.missingRequireField', '{0} is required.', serverNameOption.displayName) });
 					} else if (startsWith(value, ' ') || endsWith(value, ' ')) {
 						return ({ type: MessageType.WARNING, content: localize('connectionWidget.fieldWillBeTrimmed', '{0} will be trimmed.', serverNameOption.displayName) });
 					}
@@ -354,6 +384,7 @@ export class ConnectionWidget {
 	}
 
 	public focusOnOpen(): void {
+		this._handleClipboard();
 		this._serverNameInputBox.focus();
 		this.focusPasswordIfNeeded();
 		this.clearValidationMessages();
diff --git a/src/sql/sqlops.d.ts b/src/sql/sqlops.d.ts
index e24c601848..0ab39faa66 100644
--- a/src/sql/sqlops.d.ts
+++ b/src/sql/sqlops.d.ts
@@ -327,7 +327,9 @@ declare module 'sqlops' {
 
 		rebuildIntelliSenseCache(connectionUri: string): Thenable<void>;
 
-		getConnectionString(connectionUri: string, includePassword: boolean): Thenable<string> ;
+		getConnectionString(connectionUri: string, includePassword: boolean): Thenable<string>;
+
+		buildConnectionInfo?(connectionString: string): Thenable<ConnectionInfo>;
 
 		registerOnConnectionComplete(handler: (connSummary: ConnectionInfoSummary) => any): void;
 
diff --git a/src/sql/workbench/api/node/extHostDataProtocol.ts b/src/sql/workbench/api/node/extHostDataProtocol.ts
index f915d6e7bc..95bd9d950a 100644
--- a/src/sql/workbench/api/node/extHostDataProtocol.ts
+++ b/src/sql/workbench/api/node/extHostDataProtocol.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { IMainContext } from 'vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.protocol';
 import { Disposable } from 'vs/workbench/api/node/extHostTypes';
 import { SqlMainContext, MainThreadDataProtocolShape, ExtHostDataProtocolShape } from 'sql/workbench/api/node/sqlExtHost.protocol';
 import { DataProviderType } from 'sql/workbench/api/common/sqlExtHostTypes';
+import { TPromise } from 'vs/base/common/winjs.base';
 
 export class ExtHostDataProtocol extends ExtHostDataProtocolShape {
 
@@ -185,6 +186,15 @@ export class ExtHostDataProtocol extends ExtHostDataProtocolShape {
 		return this._resolveProvider<sqlops.ConnectionProvider>(handle).getConnectionString(connectionUri, includePassword);
 	}
 
+	$buildConnectionInfo(handle: number, connectionString: string): Thenable<sqlops.ConnectionInfo> {
+		let provider = this._resolveProvider<sqlops.ConnectionProvider>(handle);
+		if (provider.buildConnectionInfo) {
+			return provider.buildConnectionInfo(connectionString);
+		} else {
+			return TPromise.as(undefined);
+		}
+	}
+
 	$rebuildIntelliSenseCache(handle: number, connectionUri: string): Thenable<void> {
 		return this._resolveProvider<sqlops.ConnectionProvider>(handle).rebuildIntelliSenseCache(connectionUri);
 	}
@@ -617,7 +627,7 @@ export class ExtHostDataProtocol extends ExtHostDataProtocolShape {
 	/**
 	 * Get Agent Proxies list
 	 */
-	$getProxies(handle: number, ownerUri: string): Thenable<sqlops.AgentProxiesResult>  {
+	$getProxies(handle: number, ownerUri: string): Thenable<sqlops.AgentProxiesResult> {
 		return this._resolveProvider<sqlops.AgentServicesProvider>(handle).getProxies(ownerUri);
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/sql/workbench/api/node/mainThreadDataProtocol.ts b/src/sql/workbench/api/node/mainThreadDataProtocol.ts
index 485cf62be6..ba8fa88f2e 100644
--- a/src/sql/workbench/api/node/mainThreadDataProtocol.ts
+++ b/src/sql/workbench/api/node/mainThreadDataProtocol.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import { ISerializationService } from 'sql/services/serialization/serializationS
 import { IFileBrowserService } from 'sql/parts/fileBrowser/common/interfaces';
 import { IExtHostContext } from 'vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.protocol';
 import { extHostNamedCustomer } from 'vs/workbench/api/electron-browser/extHostCustomers';
-import severity from 'vs/base/common/severity';
 
 /**
  * Main thread class for handling data protocol management registration.
@@ -91,6 +90,9 @@ export class MainThreadDataProtocol implements MainThreadDataProtocolShape {
 			getConnectionString(connectionUri: string, includePassword: boolean): Thenable<string> {
 				return self._proxy.$getConnectionString(handle, connectionUri, includePassword);
 			},
+			buildConnectionInfo(connectionString: string): Thenable<sqlops.ConnectionInfo> {
+				return self._proxy.$buildConnectionInfo(handle, connectionString);
+			},
 			rebuildIntelliSenseCache(connectionUri: string): Thenable<void> {
 				return self._proxy.$rebuildIntelliSenseCache(handle, connectionUri);
 			}
@@ -343,7 +345,7 @@ export class MainThreadDataProtocol implements MainThreadDataProtocolShape {
 
 	public $registerAgentServicesProvider(providerId: string, handle: number): TPromise<any> {
 		const self = this;
-		this._jobManagementService.registerProvider(providerId, <sqlops.AgentServicesProvider> {
+		this._jobManagementService.registerProvider(providerId, <sqlops.AgentServicesProvider>{
 			providerId: providerId,
 			getJobs(connectionUri: string): Thenable<sqlops.AgentJobsResult> {
 				return self._proxy.$getJobs(handle, connectionUri);
diff --git a/src/sql/workbench/api/node/sqlExtHost.protocol.ts b/src/sql/workbench/api/node/sqlExtHost.protocol.ts
index a035009c69..d12bdb90b0 100644
--- a/src/sql/workbench/api/node/sqlExtHost.protocol.ts
+++ b/src/sql/workbench/api/node/sqlExtHost.protocol.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import {
 	IItemConfig, ModelComponentTypes, IComponentShape, IModelViewDialogDetails, IModelViewTabDetails, IModelViewButtonDetails,
 	IModelViewWizardDetails, IModelViewWizardPageDetails
 } from 'sql/workbench/api/common/sqlExtHostTypes';
-import { Event, Emitter } from 'vs/base/common/event';
 
 export abstract class ExtHostAccountManagementShape {
 	$autoOAuthCancelled(handle: number): Thenable<void> { throw ni(); }
@@ -73,6 +72,13 @@ export abstract class ExtHostDataProtocolShape {
 	 */
 	$getConnectionString(handle: number, connectionUri: string, includePassword: boolean): Thenable<string> { throw ni(); }
 
+	/**
+	 * Serialize connection string
+	 * @param handle the handle to use when looking up a provider
+	 * @param connectionString the connection string to serialize
+	 */
+	$buildConnectionInfo(handle: number, connectionString: string): Thenable<sqlops.ConnectionInfo> { throw ni(); }
+
 	/**
 	 * Notifies all listeners on the Extension Host side that a language change occurred
 	 * for a dataprotocol language. The sub-flavor is the specific implementation used for query
@@ -609,7 +615,7 @@ export interface ExtHostModelViewTreeViewsShape {
 	$getChildren(treeViewId: string, treeItemHandle?: string): TPromise<ITreeComponentItem[]>;
 	$createTreeView(handle: number, componentId: string, options: { treeDataProvider: vscode.TreeDataProvider<any> }): sqlops.TreeComponentView<any>;
 	$onNodeCheckedChanged(treeViewId: string, treeItemHandle?: string, checked?: boolean): void;
-	$onNodeSelected(treeViewId: string, nodes:  string[]): void;
+	$onNodeSelected(treeViewId: string, nodes: string[]): void;
 }
 
 export interface ExtHostBackgroundTaskManagementShape {
diff --git a/src/sqltest/stubs/connectionManagementService.test.ts b/src/sqltest/stubs/connectionManagementService.test.ts
index 2b1206ed36..ebb864b29f 100644
--- a/src/sqltest/stubs/connectionManagementService.test.ts
+++ b/src/sqltest/stubs/connectionManagementService.test.ts
@@ -257,4 +257,8 @@ export class TestConnectionManagementService implements IConnectionManagementSer
 	getConnectionString(ownerUri: string): Thenable<string> {
 		return undefined;
 	}
+
+	buildConnectionInfo(connectionString: string, provider?: string): Thenable<sqlops.ConnectionInfo> {
+		return undefined;
+	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file