restore tabs after reopening SQL Server Management Studio - sql-server

I don't suppose there's a way to emulate a FireFox-type of setup, whereby if I close SQL Server Management Studio (2008) my open tabs will be there again when I restart? I know I can save the individual windows into a .sql file but was wondering if there was a way for those tabs to reopen with the text in them on their own.
Any third party tools that do something like this, perhaps? Thanks for the advice.
-Larry

There is a built-in way to do mostly this, but it is not going to open any random tabs that were there when you closed SSMS.
You can create a Solution in SSMS and save it with any set of SQL scripts. This works much like Visual Studio. You can even save connections (server + login info). The FILE menu has options to "Close Solution" as well as "Open Project/Solution" and "Recent Projects and Solutions".
So, if you create a Solution, add some Queries (i.e. .sql scripts), and then close the solution either via the FILE menu or just closing SSMS, when you open that Solution again it will restore the tabs that you had open at the time the Solution / SSMS was closed.
I just tested this in SSMS 2012, though it might have started as far back as SQL Server 2005. Even if not in 2005, this feature should definitely be in 2008 / 2008 R2.
Not exactly as open-ended as the FireFox / Chrome feature as it requires a defined Solution with defined .sql files, but definitely close.

SSMS Tools pack (free up to SSMS 2008, for SSMS 2012 as paid upgrade)
Red Gate Tab Magic (no more standalone)
SQL Prompt

How about running the Studio inside a VMWare and simply suspend the VMWare between sessions?
For my development purposes I use a VMWare that only runs an instance of SQL Server and the Mangement Studio. Maybe it's overkill for DB development but it helps in testing the integration of the database into a networked environment.

Redgates SQLPrompt does exactly this. When you close you session (on purpose or if the session crashes), all previously open tabs will launch automatically when SSMS is reopened. If you choose not to automatically launch these tabs, they’re still available via the Tab History option.
The tool does cost money but the intellisense and Snippets feature that accompany it makes it value for money.

Related

create linked server without management studio

I've installed Microsoft SQL Server 2008 and only got the Database Engine, not sure what to do with it.
Is it possible to create linked server without Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio? Without the MSSMS, there is no GUI to create the linked server, so it could be script or command I guess. So how should I do it?
Why choose? For as long as I can remember (going back to SSMS 2005), most dialogs have had a script button on them. So fill out the form and instead of hitting okay, hit the Script button and SSMS will show you the commands it would have ran. I often use this as a boostrap when I'm doing something I haven't done before. That is, I'll fill in the wizard, hit the script button, and then read the docs to see if I agree with everything it's doing.

Can't find Microsoft SQL Server even if it is installed?

Regarding the following images, I have obviously installed the Microsoft SQL Server, but I can't find the exe-file or anything named Microsoft SQL Server in the start menu.
Anyone who knows what to do to solve this, or do I need to install something more?
SQL Server runs as a service. You can start and stop it from windows services. SSMS is a gui tool for managing ddl (creating and altering tables and index's for example) and dml (writing queries to inquire, update or add data to databases).SSMS comes free with every edition of SQL server - perhaps you didn't tick a box when installing? You can also do this stuff the old fashioned way using sqlcmd from command line(DBAs love this for some reason) but for us mortals SSMS is much less of a struggle. As an aside there are other guis such as Toad (expensive) and Heidisql (free) amongst others which will do the job.
Looks like you have the engine. What you've got to do now is install SQL Server Management Studio: https://msdn.microsoft.com/hr-hr/library/mt238290.aspx
Looks like you have the various SQL Server components that are installed by Visual Studio (recent version) or SQL Server Data Tools (as used by VS).

Missing Diagram folder in Database Explorer at Visual Studio 2012

I was in a middle of designing a website when suddenly Database Diagram folder just disappeared from the Database Explorer. I have no idea what happened and what to do right now, as I desperately need it to continue my work - adding tables to database manually are not an option for me.
I've been seeking for the solution for a whole day, and I even re-installed the Visual Studio and local IIS server, but it wasn't helpfull at all.
Is there any way to bring the feature back or at least is there any free tool that would work on Windows 8 x64 and has diagram-based database designer for MSSQL 2008?
EDIT
It seems that Microsoft removed the diagramming for purpose. Which is pretty logical in a business logic - why would somebody buy Server Management Studio if they have basic tool (diagramming) built in Visual Studio?
1) Database Diagram is a feature of SQL Server, not Visual Studio. I am not sure what VS uses to display that folder but you might want to verify with your DBA or check the configuration of the database to see if someone has not just disabled the ability to use diagrams. Have you tried refreshing your connection to the database server as well?
2) How is adding tables to a database manually not an option? If you get yourself dependent on doing things one way and only that one way you are setting yourself up for disaster in future projects, as you are in your current one. There are other ways from within VS to create a table, it just may not be a graphical picture that diagrams offers.
3) Have you looked at the database through SSMS to see if the diagrams folder shows up there?
Hello this has been my solution that worked for me and enabled me to use database diagram ide in visual studio 2012!!
First i installed SQL Server Management Studio. I then noticed that i still did not have SQLEXPRESS Service or SQL Agent Browser in my computer services either.. This was why i assume i couldn't login to any of the SSMS which was annoying. I then downloaded SQL Server Express R2 which then ran me though another setup which was fine. I did also choose to put a sql server password for SQL Server Express.
Once installed I double checked to make sure the services where running by right clicking MY COMPUTER / MANAGE / SERVICES -- scroll down till you see "SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS)" and make sure that the service has started and also "SQL Server Agent (SQLEXPRESS)" (this one was turned off when i checked) .. i was then able to login to SSMS without a problem.
I then created a new database, right clicked diagram like we always do in VS and created a diagram with two tables, created their relationships blah blah..
i then created a new website in vs 2012, i clicked "Connect To Database" in the SERVER EXPLORER"
I choose my server name, used windows authenication and selected the database i just created in SSMS.
Then to my suprise i now have database diagram designing in Visual Studio 2012.. Finally!
Thankyou microsoft for removing such a cool feature which now gives us developers a few things to do.
Hope this helps.

How to debug SQL Server T-SQL in Visual Studio 2012

How does one debug a T-SQL stored procedure in a multi-tier application in Visual Studio 2012?
To be clear, I want to set a breakpoint in a sproc in VS 2012, and hit it when the sproc is called from an ASP.NET WebForms app in the same debugging session.
When following the same steps as for VS 2010, the breakpoints aren't hit inside the sproc.
Debugging T-SQL in a sproc on a SQL Server 2008 R2 Express database works as expected in Visual Studio 2010.
To be sure everything was enabled properly, I went over the instructions for VS 2010 (here), but no such page exists for VS 2012 or .NET 4.5.
It seems the missing step is to enable "Application Debugging", but no such option exists in the Server Explorer > Data Connections context menu in VS 2012.
VS 2010 Application Debugging
VS 2012 No Application Debugging
You need to open "SQL Server Object Explorer. Not "Server Explorer". That is what is different between 2010 & 2012. Then right click on the server and select "Application Debugging".
This is for VS2012 and SQL2012. Yes things are somewhat different for other versions, but kinda follow similar setup. It is tricky because one has to have various settings just right or it won't work.
vanilla install of both VS and SQL with all correct options (how to do this is outside scope of this article)
full admin rights to entire environment and sysadmin rights to sql (fundamentally a development environment; you would not want to do this in a production environment)
i always debug .net web apps under full local IIS which is a windows feature installed from control panel
go .net project properties, web, use local iis web server (i also stick to default port 80)
while i develop my databases etc using VS sql server database project, i always work under full standalone local SQL; i use the schema compare to refresh that sql with changes made in VS (how to do this is outside scope of this article)
do not place your breakpoint on that copy of the sp; that version of the sp is only a blueprint and not the runtime version
go .net project properties, web, debuggers (at bottom) enabled for .net and sql server
view sql server object explorer (not server explorer)
click add sql server, add your full local sql server using sysadmin credentials (i always use sa for such work)
right click on your full local sql server and enable application debugging
there go find the sp and right click and view code, then add your breakpoint there; this is runtime version of sp (note that i never make changes to sp there, i go do these in my master copy under the database project)
rebuild solution, and execute .net web app in debug mode from within ide by clicking green arrow internet explorer
I hope I have not forgotten anything. If I have I'll come revised my post.
All this may sound complicated. It is. But with a little discipline and patience it is priceless.
Good luck.
I believe the easiest way to do this would be to add DB as a project to your solution. You can do this by right clicking on the DB in the SQL Server Object Explorer (SSOX). This is a really good way to develop and debug your DB's. After you have added the DB to your project, you can add breakpoints anywhere you want, and debug against LocalDB (or another target if you wish). The largest drawback to this approach is that your existing data will not migrate with you (although you will be able to easily publish any changes back to the SQL DB at will). See the documentation on SSDT on MSDN for further guidance.
The following in detail article explains exactly how to enable debugging of a Stored Procedure when a .Net application is executed.
http://www.sqlmag.com/content1/topic/debugging-stored-procedures-142054/catpath/sql-server

Best way to browse an mdf file from a local computer?

I'm working on an ASP.NET MVC site which will have a database. While I'm in this very early testing/concept phase I'm not hosting the database anywhere, just inside the local mdf file. What are some tools I can use to connect to the local test server so I can browse the tables and run test queries against the information in them without having to implement my own code/views? I'm interested in something like Sequel Pro for the Mac or phpmyadmin for linux (OS doesn't really matter since I'm working on a Mac developing inside a win 7 virtual machine).
Thanks!
(NOTE: I realize it is possible to get the table info dumped via Visual Studio, but it seems slow and not too useful... unless I'm missing a good way to use VS2010 the way I'd use one of the tools mentioned above?)
You can use SQL Server Management Studio Express to browse it, and do several other useful things as well, including table design and the like.
Consider using the built in tools right within Visual Studio. You'll need SQL Express installed, but you won't necessarily need Management Studio.
Go back to the Visual Studio installer (Repair or resintall features), and ensure that's selected as a feature.
Open Server Explorer, and create a new Data Connection.
Choose Microsoft SQL Server Database File
find your .mdf
Server Explorer then gives you a drill down of your Tables, Views, Stored Procedures, etc.

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