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...

This tip outlines a test environment and then walks through the process of setting up Database Mirroring. This includes the configurations, backups, restores and verification process.  Read more...

Simple-Talk's free wallchart of the most important SSMS keyboard shortcuts aims to help find all those curiously forgettable key combinations within SQL Server Management Studio that unlock the hidden magic that is available for editing and executing queries.   Read more...

As responsibilities are growing every day, a DBA or developer needs to improve his/her productivity. One way to do this is to use as many shortcuts as possible instead of using your mouse and the menus. In this tip we take a look at common tasks you may perform when using SSMS and the associated shortcut keys.  Read more...

What happens when double clicking a .SQL file doesn't open the file in SSMS? This article provides the solution to fixing that annoying SSMS issue.  Read more...

While looking through the new features and improvements in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) we found a potentially interesting one to Hide System Objects in Object Explorer in SQL Server Management Studio. In this tip we will take a look at how to Hide System Objects in Object Explorer.  Read more...

So often, one sees developers doing repetitive coding in SQL Server Management Studio or Visual Studio that could be made much quicker and easier by using the Regular-Expression-based Find/Replace functionality. It is understandable, since the syntax is odd and some features are missing, but it is still worth knowing about.   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...

I feel that it is wise move for a script to actually check itself that the database connection that is...  Read more...

I am always conscious to keep a record of all operations performed on my database servers. Operations through T-SQL in an SSMS query pane can easily be saved in query files. For table modifications through SSMS designer I have predefined setting to generate T-SQL scripts. However there are numerous database and server level tasks that I use the SSMS GUI and I would like to have a script of these changes for later reference. Examples of such actions through the SSMS GUI are backup/restore, changing compatibility level of a database, manipulating permissions, dealing with database or log files or creating/manipulating any login/user. I am looking for any way to generate T-SQL code for such actions, so that it may be kept for later reference  Read more...

Index fragmentation can cause problems with query performance. Indexes therefore need to be occasionally rebuilt. the Rebuild Index task of the SSMS Database Maintenance Wizard drops and rebuilds every index in a database. It is effective but an off-line activity that is resource-intensive, so it not always the best way of avoiding index fragmentation in a production database. Brad explains..  Read more...

I need to setup other computers the same way that are used to manage my SQL Servers. Instead of having to manually add the registered servers on each computer in this tip I show you how you can import and export registered servers between computers.  Read more...

Every now and then, I see someone doing repetitive tasks in SQL Server Management Studio such as dropping a stored procedure one by one when they need to remove ten or scripting out a single object at a time because they can't select multiple objects from the Object Explorer. I have even seen people create elaborate scripts to perform tasks that involved manipulating multiple database objects to avoid these mundane tasks. In this tip I will show you how this can be done simply by using SQL Server Management Studio.  Read more...

A new article from Steve Moore shows us how to use SQL Server Management Studio with your SQL Azure databases in the cloud.  Read more...

This tip shows you an option that exists within SSMS to automatically generate scripts for all table changes when using the table designer.  Read more...

Learn how to use the SSMS GUI to modify tables in this SQL School video.  Read more...

This article is the final article in a series that explores new features that are available in SQL Server 2008 Management Studio  Read more...

This article shows the new features that are available in SQL Server 2008 Management Studio   Read more...

Phil takes us through one of the best kept secrets of SSMS - Templates. Even for a 'plain-screen' man like Phil, Templates are an excellent tool, and a major reason to use SSMS.  Read more...