Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Pricing
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Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio
SQL Server Management Studio is an integrated environment for accessing, configuring, managing, administering, and developing all components of SQL Server. SQL Server Management Studio combines a broad group of graphical tools with a number of rich script editors to provide access to SQL Server to developers and administrators of all skill levels.
SQL Server Management Studio combines the features of Enterprise Manager, Query Analyzer, and Analysis Manager, included in previous releases of SQL Server, into a single environment. In addition, SQL Server Management Studio works with all components of SQL Server such as Reporting Services and Integration Services. Developers get a familiar experience, and database administrators get a single comprehensive utility that combines easy-to-use graphical tools with rich scripting capabilities.
SQL Server Management Studio includes the following general features:
- Supports most administrative tasks for SQL Server.
- A single, integrated environment for SQL Server Database Engine management and authoring.
- New management dialogs for managing objects in the SQL Server Database Engine, Analysis Services, Reporting Services, Notification Services, and SQL Server Compact, that allows you to execute your actions immediately, send them to a Code Editor, or script them for later execution.
- Non-modal and resizable dialogs allow access to multiple tools while a dialog is open.
- A common scheduling dialog that allows you to perform action of the management dialogs at a later time.
- Exporting and importing SQL Server Management Studio server registration from one Management Studio environment to another.
- Save or print XML Showplan or Deadlock files generated by SQL Server Profiler, review them later, or send them to administrators for analysis.
- A new error and informational message box that presents much more information, allows you to send Microsoft a comment about the messages, allows you to copy messages to the clipboard, and allows you to easily e-mail the messages to your support team.
- An integrated Web browser for quick browsing of MSDN or online help.
- Integration of Help from online communities.
- A tutorial on SQL Server Management Studio to help you take advantage of the many new features and become more productive right away.
- A new activity monitor with filtering and automatic refresh.
- Integrated Database Mail interfaces.
New Scripting Capabilities
The Code Editor component of SQL Server Management Studio contains integrated script editors for authoring Transact-SQL, MDX, DMX, XML/A, and XML scripts. It features:
- Dynamic Help for immediate access to relevant information while you work.
- A rich set of templates with the ability to create custom templates.
- Support for writing and editing queries or scripts without requiring a connection to a server.
- Scripting support for SQLCMD queries and scripts.
- A new interface for viewing XML results.
- Integrated source control for solution and script projects, supporting storing and maintaining copies of scripts as they evolve over time.
- Microsoft IntelliSense support for MDX statements.
The Object Explorer component of SQL Server Management Studio is an integrated tool for viewing and managing objects in all server types. It features:
Filtering by all or part of a name, schema, or date.
The asynchronous population of objects, with the ability to filter objects based on their metadata.
Access to SQL Server Agent on replication servers for administration.
Extensibility
- SQL Server Management Studio is built upon the Visual Studio Isolated Shell, which inherently supports extensibility (add-ins/plug-ins). It is possible to tap into the Visual Studio extensibility services to surface custom capabilities within SQL Server Management Studio; however, such extensibility is not supported.
- There are some users and third parties that have developed extensions to SQL Server Management Studio. While we do not discourage this, keep in mind that such extensibility is not supported, so there may be issues with backward/forward compatibility. Microsoft does not publish documentation for extending SQL Server Management Studio. There are, however, community blogs and sample code that you may be able to leverage.
- Microsoft does not support SQL Server Management Studio installations with SQL Server Management Studio extensions present, so if you have installed SQL Server Management Studio extensions, you may want to remove them before calling Microsoft Customer Support about a SQL Server Management Studio issue.
Tool Windows in SQL Server Management Studio
This topic has not yet been rated - Rate this topic SQL Server Management Studio provides many powerful tool windows for all phases of development and administration. Some tools can be used on any SQL Server component, and others are for certain components only. The following table identifies the tools that can be used for all components of SQL Server.
Object Explorer
Browse servers, create and locate objects, manage data sources, and view logs. This tool is accessed from the View menu.
Solution Explorer
Store and organize scripts and related connection information in projects called SQL Server Scripts. You can store several SQL Server Scripts as Solutions and use source control to manage scripts as they evolve over time. This tool is accessed from the View menu.
Template Explorer
Create queries based on existing templates. You can also create your custom queries or alter the existing templates to fit your scenarios. This tool is accessed from the View menu.
Dynamic Help
Show a list of related Help topics as you click on a component or type code.
The tools in SQL Server Management Studio work together. For example, you can:
Register a server with Object Explorer.
Open a SQL Editor window connected to a specific database from Object Explorer.
The tool windows in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio are a highly functional, flexible, and efficient system that allows you to:
Maximize the user workspace for development and management.
Reduce the number of unused windows displayed at one time.
Easily customize the user environment.
Manipulating windows is central to the Management Studio environment. Users can easily access the tools and windows they use frequently. Users can control how much space they want to allocate to different information, and the environment should maximize the space available for editing queries accordingly. Windows can be moved to different locations on the screen. Many windows can be undocked and dragged out of the Management Studio frame. This is particularly useful when using more than one monitor.
To increase your editing space while maintaining functionality, all windows offer the Auto Hide feature, which displays the window as a tab within a bar along the border of the main Management Studio environment. When the pointer is placed over one of these tabs, the underlying window reveals itself. Auto Hide for a window can be toggled by clicking the Auto Hide button, represented by a pushpin in the upper-right corner of the window. There is also an Auto Hide All option on the Window menu.
Some components can be configured in either tabbed mode where components appear as tabs in the same docking location, or in multiple document interface (MDI) mode where each document has its own window.
Object Explorer
SQL Server 2012Other Versions SQL Server 2008 R2
Benefits of Object Explorer
Object Explorer provides a hierarchical user interface to view and manage the objects in each instance of SQL Server. The Object Explorer Details pane presents a tabular view of instance objects, and the capability to search for specific objects. The capabilities of Object Explorer vary slightly depending on the type of server, but generally include the development features for databases, and management features for all server types.
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