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SSMSBoost for SSMS 2008

Build date: 15 Apr 2013
v.2.9.4853.26259

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SSMSBoost for SSMS 2012

Build date: 15 Apr 2013
v.2.9.4853.26263

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Latest News

• SQL Editor contents history
• Recent tabs, with autorecovery functionality
• Executed statements logger
• lots of fixes and improvements
• Read Changelog for more information

• Results Grid scripting runs 4x faster
• Spatial types support added to Results Grid scripting
• Find in Results Grid improvements
• Read Changelog for more information

News archive

• Find in Results Grid feature added.
• UI & behaviour improvements
• Read Changelog for full list of changes

• Improved ResultsGrid Scripter functionality. Now it allows to export Results Grid to Excel.
• GoTo BEGIN/END functionality: Ctrl-Shift+UpArrow/DownArrow
• Community update period extended to 120 days
• Added support to Registered Servers functionality
• Important: Please Read Changelog to learn about new functions. Descriptions on website will be added this week.

• This release focuses on UI improvements & fixes. Read Changelog for full list of improvements
• If you still use v2.3 uninstall it before installing v2.5

• ResultsGrid Scripter feature added
• ResultsGrid Visualizer feature added
• 'Important DB' Alert feature added
• See full list of improvements in changelog

• feature added
• Copy original cell contents feature added
• Improved Connection coloring feature
• Added Option to select trigger (space, enter, tab or all)
• Fixed invalid behaviour of Formatter on Unicode strings
• Fixed incorrect add-in behaviour when debugging SQL statements

• New article: How to create add-in for SSMS 2012
• Joined Twitter: Follow @SSMSBoost

• SQL Statements formatter added
• Usability improvements

• SQL Server 2012 fully supported
• added free community edition mode
• new Sessions feature

Add-in Overview

SSMS Boost add-in is designed to improve productivity when working with Microsoft SQL Server in
SQL Server Management Studio. The main goal of project is to speed-up daily tasks of SQL DBA and T-SQL developers.
You will realize, that plug-in will save you hundreds of mouse-clicks and key strokes every day !

Add-in is available as full featured, free edition and as a professional edition.
You do not need to compare editions: they are the same in the functionality.
Buying the Professional license you greatly support our project and give us the possibility to improve it further !

After first public release in April 2012 our add-in rapidly gained popularity among SQL Server developers and DBA's, looking for stable, convenient and lightweight environment to work with SQL Server. The key point is that such environment already exists: SQL Server Management Studio is most stable and compatible tool because it is being developed by Microsoft itself and SSMSBoost just does some tuning to make it even better. And the best is that both SSMS and SSMSBoost can be installed and used for free. Such constellation brought us

Bronze in Best Database Development Product category
in SQL Server Pro Magazine 2012 Community Choice Awards.

Just to mention, that Gold and Silver were won by products with prices starting over 1000$. Actually, part of our Bronze belongs to developer team of SQL Server Management Studio, as far they have built it over past years.

Read below the overview about all features currently present in add-in.

Features added to SQL Server Management Studio by SSMSBoost Add-In:

Script Object from SQL Editor: "Go To Definition" for SQL Objects

Script object located at cursor position directly from SQL Editor.
Keyboard Shortcut: [F2]

SQL Server Management Studio currently lacks a feature present in other Visual Studio Editors - "go to definition".
SSMSBoost plug-in solves this problem by adding a tool what you need: Script object located at the cursor position to a new window.

You can invoke this feature by

• pressing Keyboard Shortcut [F2]
• right-clicking the identifier and selecting "Script object" from the context menu

SSMSBoost performs search for valid identifiers at cursor location and allows you to select, which one you want to script. If you select part of the identifier - SSMSBoost will perform no search and will use selected text as object identifier.
If you would like to change the default Keyboard Shortcut for the "Script Object" feature you can do that using Shortcuts Editor feature of SSMSBoost (required only in SSMS 2008 as far as SSMS 2012 has built-in shortcuts editor).

By default objects will be scripted as CREATE. If you want to generate ALTER scripts you can use "Script as ALTER" command also provided by our add-in. Use Extras->Settings->"Shortcuts & Macros" to redefine F2 shortcut to this command.

Locate Object in Object Explorer focused in SQL Editor

Locate object in Object Explorer located at cursor position directly from SQL Editor.
Keyboard Shortcut: [Ctrl-F2]


An often need is to know more information about object under the cursor: its columns, parameters (for function or procedure), other properties. If a database has hundreds of objects, locating an object in the Object Explorer can take some time. SSMSBoost allows to locate object in seconds! Just place the cursor on the identifier and

• press Keyboard Shortcut [Ctrl-F2]
• right-click the identifier and select "Locate object" from the context menu

SSMSBoost performs search for valid identifiers at cursor location and allows you to select, which one you want to locate. If you select part of the identifier - SSMSBoost will perform no search and will use selected text as object identifier.
Object fill be focused in Object Explorer and it's node will be expanded. So that you can easily access it's properties and, for example,drag-n-drop parameters of stored procedure into SQL Editor window. If you want to change the default Keyboard Shortcut of "Locate object" feature you can do that using other feature of SSMSBoost - Shortcuts editor (needed only in SSMS 2008, as far as SSMS 2012 finally has built-in shortcuts editor)

Quick Connection Switch

Quick Connection Switch adds missing functionality to SSMS: possibility to quickly switch connections between databases on different servers.

It allows switching between

• Preferred connections
• Connections within current server

Preferred Connections is another feature of SSMS, allowing you to predefine frequently-used connections (detailed description will be added shortly).
Quick Connection Switch combobox is updated everytime you switch between different servers: additionally to preferred connections it shows databases from current server.

If you wish to switch connection of current SQL Editor window to any other database on any server - pick it in Object Explorer, right-click and choose "Set as active connection" menu item. This function is also brought to you by SSMSBoost add-in.

IF @var = 2
	SELECT *
	FROM table1 a
	INNER JOIN table2 b
	WHERE a.id = b.id
ELSE
	SELECT *
	FROM table1

Find in Results Grid

Find in Results Grid allows you to search for values using wildcards in current grid, all grids or selected block.
Feature is accessible via right-click in Results Grid. Pictures below show initial view and multiple results representation.

SSMS Results Grid Visualizers

Feature allows to export & view files or some big amounts of text or XML data from tables (like files from document storage of sharepoint services). Required data should be simply output to ResultsGrid. By right-clicking the cell with required value and selecting "Visualize As->.." you can tell to save data to file with predefined name and open it with custom or default application. No matter than SSMS truncates long data from VARBINARY/VARCHAR fields when outputing them to ResultsGrid: SSMSBoost works with internal storage of SSMS and extracts complete cell value. Below you can see how a picture from [LargePhoto] field of [Production].[ProductPhoto] table from [AdventureWorks] database is being visualized:



There is actually no magic: in Settings dialog you can configure list of Visualisers. You define Visualizer name, file extension for saving data and also an application, used to open saved files. If you leave Application path empty SSMSBoost will perform "Shell.Open" - forcing windows to open file using associated application.
There is a trick for using this feature: if your field keeps images of different types like .bmp, .png, .jpg, etc., then you do not have to define own visualiser per type. Just define visualizer "Picture" and extension to save ".pic". Then associate in Windows .pic with windows picture viewer. Picture viewer will analyse contents of .pic and display image correctly, no matter if it is .jpg or .bmp. This trick might also work with other picture viewers or other programs.

ResultsGrid Scripter (Flexible Template-based Scripting)

Results Grid Scripter allows to script data using flexible scripting templates to clipboard or to disk.
For example, to export & open contents of results grid in Excel you need a few clicks (also see picture below):

• Right click results grid
  
• Select "Script data as" command
• Select "Excel (MS XML Spreadsheet)"
• Choose between "All grids", "Current grid" or "Selection"
• Choose "To Disk"
• After scripting is done click displayed link to open created document in Excel (this step is not displayed on the picture)

Existing templates can be fully customized and new templates can be added under:
Extras->Settings->"ResultsGrid:Scripter Templates".

Results grid scripter feature is shipped with following predefined templates:

• Property:Value - copies results as ColumnName:Value
• WHERE Column=Value - selected values are copied as 'WHERE (ColumnName=Value) OR ...' allowing to generate WHERE filters quickly by selecting required column values
• WHERE ColumnName IN (value1,value2..) - generates WHERE ColumnName in (Value1,..) filter based on selected values
• Excel (MS XML Spreadsheet) - saves results in MS XML Spreadsheet format, that can be easily opened in MS Excel.
  Values preserve their data types: If you export telephone numbers to Excel, they will not be treated as formulas anymore !
• INSERT INTO #tmpres EXEC sp_storedProc - quickly generates temporary table declaration, that can be used to insert execution results of stored procedure.
• SELECT - scripts results as SELECT VALUES statement. It is some kind of table data exported as script. Datatypes are preserved.
• XML - results are saved as pure XML document
• HTML table - results are saved as HTML Table

It is reasonable to try each provided template at least once to understand it's purpose better.

Copy Results Grid Headers (Column Names)

Wanted ever to copy Column names (Headers only) from Results Grid of SQL Server Management Studio ?

SSMS Boost adds appropriate command to context menu of grid results pane. You can choose between "Copy all Headers" or "Copy selected Headers".

Image shows Results Grid context menu extended by our add-in with appropriate menu items.

Copy cell data from ResultsGrid 1:1 (preserving linebreaks)

If SQL Query outputs long strings of data (for example from TEXT, NTEXT, VARCHAR or NVARCHAR fields) SQL Server Management Studio truncates them when outputing to results grid. Truncated string will be also copied to clipboard, if you use native copy command.

SSMSBoost introduces "Copy current cell 1:1" command: select cell you want to view/copy, open context menu -> "Copy current cell 1:1" and full data will be copied to clipboard - all bytes and without any modifications.

Session management

Work often with different document sets ?
Want load certain documents at start-up, connected to specific databases ?
Have to go home quickly, and want to have all currently opened documents loaded next day again ?
This feature is for you:

• Save list of opened documents including their connections to named session
• Freely define new named sessions
• Manage sessions: add additional documents, re-define connections per document
• Easily restore saved session

Custom SSMS window title (caption)

Originally, SSMS displays static caption "Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio". If you have several instances open and try to switch between them using Alt-Tab or task-bar, you will not be able to see the difference between instances. SSMSBoost add-in allows to re-define the caption of the window, so that you will be able to see current document name and connection information. You can also define your own pattern to be used for window title.
Available pattern parameters: @FileName, @Server, @Database, @User
Picture on the right shows you how different SSMS instances will be displayed on the task bar. Pictures below show how caption of SSMS looks like and how windows appear in Aero Peek.

Aero Peek with modified SSMS caption

Track current database

When working with lots of opened scripts connected to different servers/databases, sometimes it is useful to locate current database in Object Explorer.
Just hit the button on the toolbar and current Server/Database will be focused in Object Explorer.
This feature can be used as single-time action or you can switch "track current database permanently", which will always focus current database whenever you change connection of your script or switch between scripts. Generally - it is something like "synchronize table of contents" function in windows help, or like "syncronize solution explorer" in Visual Studio.

Advanced objects search

Search for objects using wildcards and across several database/servers. Script source code of found objects, locate them in object explorer, copy identifier to current cursor position in sql editor.

Autoreplacements

Auto replacements allows you to write frequently used SQL commands more quickly. Type "sel" and press space, enter or tab (configurable in Settings) - and it will be replaced by "select * from". "upd" will be replaced by "update # set where". "#" defines, where cursor will be placed after replacement is done. Add your own Auto-replacements ! See samples below.



How it works - sample for "sel" token


How it works - sample for "upd" token

Create simple macros in SSMS re-using existing commands

SSMSBoost add-in allows you to create new macro-commands, combining existing SSMS commands (and also commands of other add-ins). The best example are 2 macros that we have already created for you:

Execute to Grid [F5] - executes statements and outputs results to Grid pane
Execute to text [F6] - executes statements and outputs results to Text pane

For example Execute to Grid is created as a sequence of 2 existing SSMS commands: Query.ResultsToGrid and Query.Execute and assigned a shortcut: [F5]. All shortcuts can be redefined using SSMSBoost - see description of the next feature.
To find out which commands are built-in into SSMS and other installed add-ins use our Trace SSMS commands and Shortcuts feature, located under Extras menu. It will make a full dump of all commands with shortcuts registered in SSMS. You can use all of them to create own macros. Be creative, help yourself!

Manage keyboard shortcuts

Allows you to define new and redefine existing keyboard shortcuts.
This feature is useful in SSMS versions till v 2012. In SSMS 2012 Microsoft has finally added native shortcut editor, but you can still use both of them.

Additional Scripting options for SQL objects scripting

SSMS shows not all scripting options by default. For SSMSBoost operations we provide you all internal scripting options structure available in SSMS. Be careful - some of them might not work, some of them can stop scripting option working. For experts use.

Very useful feature that you miss...