In this tip, Koen Verbeeck explores how to apply business intelligence solutions to administrative tasks, specifically creating custom reports and adding them to SQL Server Management Studio.  Read more...

This tip looks at how to use a control file that lists the structure to use within SSMS and a PowerShell script that will automatically maintain the list of registered servers within SSMS.   Read more...

Phil Factor ponders the preponderance of text in current database tools, and asks what happened to our glorious graphical future?  Read more...

This is the story of how a free addin for SSMS, SQL Code Guard, was created and joined the Red Gate SSMS Ecosystem project.  Read more...

The process of doing SQL code-reviews used to be tedious and error-prone. Until SQL Enlight, it was a process that was difficult to automate for release and deployment. As it is now both a Command-line utility and an SSMS add-in, the database developer can see immediately the parts of the code that would raise eyebrows with the vigilant production DBA.  Read more...

The Red Gate SSMS Ecosystem is a framework that makes it easy to develop, share and manage SSMS add-ins. We aim to help add-in developers build everything from homegrown solutions and community-driven projects to commercial solutions provided by partner companies. We hope that DBAs and database developers will benefit from better integrated tools.  Read more...

Understanding indexes and how they work can be complicated enough for a Jr. DBA, but throw in all the different options and properties and an index can soon be overwhelming. Brady Upton takes an introductory look at creating an index in SQL Server using SQL Server Management Studio. He explains what each index property is meant for and the various options presented.  Read more...

Learn how to set colors for different connections in SSMS.  Read more...

I have a SQL Server instance that has hundreds of databases. Navigating the database tree in SSMS is a pain and I was wondering if there was a way to limit the list of databases that I see in SSMS?  Read more...

SQL Server MVP Jeff Moden shows us a quick and dirty bit of SQL Spackle to display the content of VARCHAR(MAX) and NVARCHAR(MAX).  Read more...

SQL Server Management Studio is where most SQL scripts and queries are run, and although it does a decent job, it doesn't provide much help storing, sharing and managing the scripts particularly in the context of a team. Red Gate is considering building functionality into SSMS to help its users consume and share queries and scripts. Please help us by completing this short survey to help us define the requirements.   Read more...

SQL Server expert David Poole discusses how teams can work together and share templates in Management Studio.  Read more...

While working with the Results to Text option in SSMS, you may come across a situation where the output from dynamically generated data is truncated. In this article I will guide you on how to fix this issue and print all the text for the Results to Text option.   Read more...

We’ve all heard about Extended Events and how they can help troubleshoot SQL Server performance, connectivity, and locking problems, but they seem so difficult to implement using T-SQL. Isn’t there a better way to implement SQL Server Extended Events?  Read more...

Today Steve Jones talks about his favorite feature in SSMS 2012 and why everyone should use it.  Read more...

This article describes how to use the built in repository for SQL Server Management Studio Templates and how to customize and share a common repository with your team.  Read more...

If you work with SSMS, you’ll know how frustrating it can be when tasks you perform every day aren’t part of the core features. Malden Prajdic certainly did, which is why he developed his free SSMS Tools Pack. Now on its second version, Grant Fritchey explains the functionality of this great free plugin.  Read more...

Provides a SQL code that generates a source-target transformation query and can be helpful at several stages of data warehouse development lifecycle.  Read more...

With the following technique, you can quickly read information stored in the extended properties of a SQL Server table.  Read more...

This is the first of three tips on how ETL Developers can be more productive by applying custom SSMS shortcuts to the most often used tasks.  Read more...