SQL Server 2005 introduced a new tool for managing servers and databases: SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). SSMS has more features than its predecessors in earlier SQL Server versions—and some of those can take a little while to figure out. To help ease the learning curve, I’ll provide some tips on how to use SSMS effectively for tasks such as querying and reporting, focusing on features that are less obvious to new users. I’ll base this discussion on SSMS in SQL Server 2005 SP2. If you’re using an earlier version, some features, captions, or menu options might be slightly different.