SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is the
most frequently used tool in the SQL Server
2005 management suite. Even if you use it daily, however,
you might not realize the tasks you can do with it.
Create Shared Server Registrations
Do you get tired of having to re-register your servers when
you move to a different SSMS workstation? You can save
and restore your server registrations. Open the Registered
Servers window using View, Registered Servers; right-click
a node, then select Export. To import the registration
information file to another SSMS system, on that system
open the Registered Servers window, then right-click a
node and select Import.
Manage Integration Services
By default, SSMS’s Connect to Server opens to the Database
server. However, by selecting Integration Services you
can manage running packages and view stored packages.
You can also use the SSMS Connect To dialog box to
connect to Analysis Services, Reporting Services, and even
SQL Server Compact Edition.
Change the SSMS Startup Window
If you often use Query Editor, you can save some work by
changing the SSMS startup options. Go to Tools, Options,
Environment, then use the drop-down menu to change
the At startup setting. I prefer Open Object Explorer and
new query.
Get Quick System Summary Info
Using
the Server Dashboard
The Server Dashboard, new in SQL Server 2005, shows an
overview of your current server status including CPU utilization,
total server memory used, active sessions, blocked transactions, and more. You can view the Server Dashboard
by opening Object Explorer, then right-clicking
a server node. From the context menu, select Reports,
Standard Reports, Server Dashboard.
Jumpstart Your T-SQL Scripts
Using Templates
SSMS includes templates for a wide array of T-SQL
tasks, from creating triggers and stored procedures
to configuring Database Mail. Select View, Template
Explorer and expand the template node you want to use,
then double-click the template to pull it up in SSMS’s
Query Editor.
Highlight T-SQL Errors
Although it doesn’t debug T-SQL, Query Editor can find
the lines causing T-SQL errors. Go to the Messages pane
and double-click the error, displayed in red. The error line
will be highlighted in the Editing pane.
Display Line Numbers in Query Editor
Query Editor’s Messages pane by default doesn’t display the
line numbers of T-SQL syntax errors. To show line numbers
in Query Editor, go to Tools, Options then expand All Languages
and select the Line numbers check box.
Automatically Generate Scripts
The Script button in the top left corner of almost all
SSMS dialog boxes makes it easy to create and save
T-SQL scripts. To use it, just fill out your SSMS dialog
box, then instead of clicking OK (which would normally
execute the action), click the Script button. The T-SQL
code to perform the action will be written to a new Query
Editor window. This scripting option is also a great tool
for novices looking to learn more about T-SQL.
End of Article
