Features of SQL Management Studio for SQL Server

Contents

Database Management

Manage the unlimited number of servers and databases with minimum time and effort now. Customize connections to simplify your work and get quick access to the databases: group favorite objects, adjust objects tree view, and use tabs to work with particular nodes.

Database management in SQL Management Studio for SQL Server connections and objects

Object Management

Get all objects under control and easily manage them from DB Explorer. Simplify work creating and editing database and server objects with visual editors. Quickly copy, rename, delete any object, view dependencies, run related tasks, and get object script.

Managing SQL Server objects with visual editors in SQL Management Studio

User Management

Get access to the full list of SQL Server users, modify them, and assign privileges. All database objects grants are displayed as a grid so that you could easily filter them and grant or revoke privileges on database objects.

Managing SQL Server user privileges and permissions in SQL Management Studio

Compatibility

SQL Management Studio for SQL Server is compatible with SQL Server, Azure SQL, Amazon RDS for Microsoft SQL Server, and fully supports Unicode and all the latest server features.

SQL Management Studio compatibility with Azure SQL, Amazon RDS, and SQL Server

SQL Server Log Viewer

View and analyze SQL Server server logs in a simple way. Apply sorting, filtering, and grouping for better viewing. Load collected logs and export them directly from the program.

Analyzing SQL Server logs with filtering and sorting in SQL Management Studio

Activity Monitor

Monitor information about user connections to the database and the locks they hold in real-time. You can filter the rows by process ID, system/non-system attribute, or by status (background, suspended, sleeping, running) and terminate deadlocked or unresponsive processes.

Real-time SQL Server activity monitor for user connections in SQL Management Studio

Resource Governor

Manage SQL Server workload and resources by specifying limits on resource consumption by incoming requests. Monitor existing workload groups and resource pools and create new ones in visual mode.

Managing SQL Server workload and resource consumption in SQL Management Studio

Jobs management

Make server administrating easier and more effective with all SQL Server Agent objects at hand. Create and modify jobs and other objects (alerts, operators, etc) in a friendly interface, monitor their status, and view history.

Managing SQL Server Agent jobs and alerts in SQL Management Studio

Database Designer

Design ER diagrams: create and edit objects, visually set the links between them, add virtual relations, comments, and customize the look with advanced style and color properties. When ready, the diagram is automatically implemented to the database by creating the appropriate objects. Create ER-diagrams from the existing databases with Reverse Engineering function.

Designing ER diagrams for SQL Server databases in SQL Management Studio

DB Compare and Sync

Compare and synchronize databases or selected objects on different servers or within the same server. Set filters on objects and properties to improve speed. Get a detailed representation of differences and modification scripts. Generate reports with database differences. Create scheduled tasks for routine operations.

Comparing and synchronizing SQL Server databases using SQL Management Studio

SQL Server services

Run database maintenance tasks with easy-to-use wizards or schedule execution on a regular basis:

  • Backing up databases
  • Restoring databases
  • Attaching databases
  • Detaching databases
  • Shrinking databases
  • Managing indices
  • Updating statistics
  • Checking database
SQL Server database maintenance and backup wizards in SQL Management Studio

Query Builder

Build complex queries with joins, conditions, and sub-queries in a visual mode without extended knowledge of SQL syntax. Add grouping, filtering, and sorting in the special area selecting fields and values. Use code completion, keyboard templates, procedure hints, and other useful features for manual editing of queries.

Building complex SQL Server queries visually with Query Builder in SQL Management Studio

Script Editor

Edit and run large scripts from editor or files. Improve navigation on SQL code with statements explorer, customized formatting, and code folding. Include automatic execution of custom scripts into your tasks.

SQL Server script editor in SQL Management Studio with code formatting and folding

SQL Formatter

Beautify your code and make it clear to everyone with the formatting feature available in SQL Editor, SQL Script, and some object editors. Formatter settings can be adjusted to your needs.

Beautifying SQL Server code with SQL Formatter in SQL Management Studio

SQL Server Debugger

Improve code quality debugging your code directly in the IDE. Minimize time on locating the errors with step-by-step execution, variables, watches, call stack, and breakpoints.

Debugging SQL Server code with breakpoints and watches in SQL Management Studio

Data Generator

Generate test data for SQL Server tables without effort: set data range or add files with sample data, specify total rows count, preview data, and populate tables immediately or save a result script. Data integrity for linked tables is processed automatically. Use of masks, constraints, formulas, and all the latest data types are supported.

Generating test data for SQL Server tables using SQL Management Studio Data Generator

Report Designer

Create data reports in a few clicks with a user-friendly wizard and access them from the DB Explorer. Apply suggested display templates or set advanced options and detailed layout with the specialized editor.

Creating SQL Server data reports with templates and wizards in SQL Management Studio

Getting under VCS

Automatically save database object definitions to files for keeping all changes or further processing by any version control system.

Integrating SQL Server database objects with version control systems in SQL Management Studio

Database Documenter

Automatically generate database structure as a searchable HTML document or a PDF file. Just a few steps and you get documentation with all objects and properties in a customized view. Generated files can be saved in other different formats.

Generating SQL Server database documentation in HTML and PDF via SQL Management Studio

Import Data

Import data into tables from 10 most popular formats: MS Excel, MS Word, XML, MS Access, PDF, TXT, CSV, and more. Follow the steps of the friendly wizard to set column correspondence, select between insert, update, delete modes, and customize data format. Use generators, constants, increments, and replacements if needed. Create automated tasks. The BULK INSERT statement is also supported for bulk appending of file data.

Importing data to SQL Server from Excel, CSV, and XML using SQL Management Studio

Export Data

Export table, view, or query data to any of 20 popular formats: MS Excel, MS Word, MS Access, HTML, PDF, TXT, CSV, DBF, XML, ODF, and more. Simple wizard helps to select required fields, set advanced format properties for output data and file layout. Save time for routine operations with templates and command-line execution.

Exporting SQL Server data to Excel, PDF, and HTML using SQL Management Studio

Migrate and Convert

Seamlessly convert databases from any ADO-compatible source to SQL Server databases. Migrate tables, select required fields and indices, views, data, customizing each element if needed. Automate migration with the console utility.

Migrating and converting databases to SQL Server with SQL Management Studio

SQL Server Data Сompare and Synс

Compare table data between different servers or within the same one and quickly synchronize them. Select columns and records manually or automatically, view comparison results, generate difference reports. Edit the result synchronization script and execute it immediately or save for future use. Create scheduled tasks to run synchronization automatically.

Comparing and synchronizing SQL Server table data with SQL Management Studio