SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 2016 has a handy new feature to View Live Query Statistics. This feature also works when connected to a 2014 instance using SSMS 2016.

Why use it?

Previously, similar stats were available by doing so:

SET STATISTICS "Detail" ON;

With the new feature, the main difference is that as the query progresses, stats are refreshed, thus providing a live coverage of what SQL Server is up to. This is a fantastic feature to learn about query processing and execution plans, and it helps to identify performance problems. Only yesterday, I used it to identify a “bad plan” where SQL was doing an Eager Spool by cross-joining two million record tables, and thus filling tempdb.

How to use it?

To use the feature, simply click on “Include Live Query Statistics” button in the toolbar or under menu Query -> Include Live Query Statistics.

Watch the magic unfold when you execute query.

If you are not using SQL Sentry Plan Explorer already, please install PRO version for free from Sentry One. I find it amazing and it’s probably the best free tool out there to do performance analysis. Install the SSMS add-in, and you can right click on plan and view plan in SQL Sentry Plan Explorer. It becomes incredibly useful for complex plans that are cumbersome to navigate in SQL Server. Not to mention the host of other info that’s presented nicely to make performance tuning enjoyable.

Watch out for that..

Live Query Statistics is an interesting feature, but I had a nervous few moments when my long-running ETL stored procedure began to produce a plan that was way too big for SSMS to handle. I had to eventually cancel execution and view plan from DMV. So, while it is a nice feature, watch out for a few gotchas. Microsoft also advises that there might be a mild performance dip in execution of your query when you are using this feature.

Who can use it?

You need to have SHOWPLAN and VIEW SERVER STATE permissions to be able to use this feature effectively.

Overall, this is a great feature that makes information available at finger tips when you are possibly scrambling to address that performance issue that is driving everyone nuts!