This is part of a series of tips for speakers to make your presentations better.

I wanted to give some specific SQL Server presentation items that have bothered me recently. These aren’t big things, but they do cause problems for attendees, and that might mean the difference between someone learning what you are presenting and getting lost because they can’t easily see.

Windows

How does this look?

It’s bad. Imagine if you were 15 feet back from the presenter, which is how this looks on a screen. I can barely see code.

If you look at the Object Explorer, there’s this little item in there .I’ve highlighted it below.

There’s also one on the Properties window.

In fact, my SQL Test window at the bottom, most SSMS add ins and  Visual Studio windows have them.

Click them. They’ll hide the windows, like so.

This is a much cleaner view of things.

But, Steve, you’ll say. I need those windows. I get it, I need them, too. They’re on the side of your screen and you can pop them open. They’ll stay open when you work in them, and disappear when you don’t.

Gone when I don’t need it.

Here when I do:

It’s a quick tip, and it’s easy to learn. Once you practice with hiding and using windows, I’m sure you’ll find that you work more efficiently all the time, not just when on stage.

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