SQL Server Management Studio – tips for improving the TSQL coding process

Answer 1

For Sub Queries

object explorer > right-click a table > Script table as > SELECT to > Clipboard

Then you can just paste in the section where you want that as a sub query.

Templates / Snippets

Create you own templates with only a code snippet. Then instead opening the template as a new document just drag it to you current query to insert the snippet.

A snippet can simply be a set of header with comments or just some simple piece of code.

Implicit transactions

If you wont remember to start a transaction before your delete statemens you can go to options and set implicit transactions by default in all your queries. They require always an explicit commit / rollback.

Isolation level

Go to options and set isolation level to READ_UNCOMMITED by default. This way you dont need to type a NOLOCK in all your ad hoc queries. Just dont forget to place the table hint when writing a new view or stored procedure.

Default database

Your login has a default database set by the DBA (To me is usually the undesired one almost every time).

If you want it to be a different one because of the project you are currently working on.

In 'Registered Servers pane' > Right click > Properties > Connection properties tab > connect to database.

Multiple logins

(These you might already have done though)

Register the server multiple times, each with a different login. You can then have the same server in the object browser open multiple times (each with a different login).

To execute the same query you already wrote with a different login, instead of copying the query just do a right click over the query pane > Connection > Change connection.

Answer 2

Use the Filter button in the Object Explorer to quickly find a particular object (table, stored procedure, etc.) from partial text in the name or find objects that belong to a particular schema.

Answer 3

I warmly recommend Red Gate's SQL Prompt. Auto-discovery (intellisense on tables, stored procedures, functions and native functions) is nothing short of awesome! :)

It comes with a price though. There is no free-ware version of the thing.

Answer 4

If you work with developers, often get a sliver of code that is formatted as one long line of code, then sql pretty printer add-on for SQL Server management Studio may helps a lot with more than 60+ formatter options. http://www.dpriver.com/sqlpp/ssmsaddin.html

Answer 5

Using TAB on highlighted text will indent it. Nice for easily arranging your code in a readable format. Also, SHIFT + TAB will unindent.

Answer 6

+1 for SQL Prompt.

Something real simple that I guess I had never seen - which will work with just about ANY SQL environment (and other languages even):

After 12 years of SQL coding, I've recently become a convert to the comma-prefix style after seeing it in some SSMS generated code, I have found it very efficient. I was very surprised that I had never seen this style before, especially since it has boosted my productivity immensely.

SELECT
t.a
,t.b
,t.c
,t.d
FROM t

It makes it really easy to edit select lists, parameter lists, order by lists, group by lists, etc. I'm finding that I'm spending a lot less time fooling with adding and removing commas from the end of lists after cut-and-paste operations - I guess it works out easier because you almost always add things at the end, and with postfix commas, that requires you to move the cursor more.

Try it, you'll be surprised - I know I was.