SQL Server Management Studio

The Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio, shortly called as SSMS is a Flexible and most
powerful tool to work with SQL Server. The SQL Server Management Studio is not the actual
server, but it provides an opportunity to connect and work elegantly. In this section, we will
cover most of the options that are available in this SQL management studio tool.

How to start SQL Server Management Studio?

To open or Start the SSMS, type SQL Server Management Studio on the start page, or open
the Run dialog box and type SSMS.exe

Alternatively, you can navigate yourself to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start

Menu\Programs\Microsoft SQLServer 2014 for 64 bit, and
C:\ProgramData(x86)\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft SQLServer 2014
for 32-bit and click the application.
Once you click on the SQL Management Studio, a new window called Connect to Server will
open.

TIP: Please refer to Install SQL to understand the steps involved in installing SQL Server
completely. And refer to Install SSMS to follow the steps involved in installing SQL Server
Management Studio only.

SQL Management Studio will help you to connect with four different Server Types

1. Database Engine: To work with relational databases. Here, we use the Transact-sql
queries to communicate with the server.
2. Analysis Services: This is to work with Analysis Services (SSAS).
3. Reporting Services: This type is to work with Reporting Services (SSRS).
4. Integration Services: To work with Integration Services (SSIS).

Let me select the Server type as Database Engine

Server Name: It is nothing but a Instance Name.
Default Instance: If you installed with Default instance, then you can use localhost,
system IP Address, ., computer name.
Named Instance: If you installed with Named Instance then you have to specify the
instance name., For example, if your system name is PRASAD, and your instance name
is John then use PRASAD\John

SQL Server Management Studio Authentication: You have to select the Authentication that
you want to use for connecting to the server.

Window Authentication: If you are the system admin, and if you installed on the local
computer, then you can use this option.
SQL Server Authentication: In real-time, we always have to use this mode of
authentication. It will ask the user to enter the Username and Password to connect.
Here I am using SQL Server Authentication and provided my login credentials

SQL Server Management Studio Interface

By clicking the Connection, the below-shown window will open. It is what we call as SQL
Server Management Studio or SSMS. If we want to write a Query against any database, then
you have to click the New Query button.
Once you click the New Query button, the query window will open in the SQL Server
Management Studio.

1. Object Explorer: It is a Tree view structure that will display all the database Objects in a
Server.
Databases: Holds the databases that are available on the server. It includes
databases that belong to Database Engine, Analysis Services, Reporting Services,
and Integration Services.
Security: It contains all Security related things. Use this folder to Create Logins,
Server Roles, etc.
Server Objects: This folder contains information about Linked Server, Service
Brokers, System Endpoints, Database Mirroring, etc.
Replication: This folder contains information about Subscriptions and publications.
Management: Use this folder for maintenance such as Checking Server Logs,
Session health, etc. This folder is used to create Maintenance Plans
2. Query Window: To write a query against any database. Or you can use Query Builder
to build your query graphically
Let me show you the list of Databases present in Databases folder

From the SQL Server Management Studio Object Explorer also you can Connect and
Disconnect from it. Here, there is a Refresh button, and you can use this button if you don’t
find the changes you made
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SQL Server Management Studio Standard Toolbar

The list of available buttons in SQL Server Management Studio and their uses in the Standard
toolbar

1. New Project: This will create a new project such as Black Solutions, Scripts, and
Analysis Services Scripts
2. Open File: To navigate within the file system to select the script file
3. Save Query: Use this to save the current query window in the file system.
4. Save All: This will save all the query windows in the file system.
5. New Query: If we want to write a Query against any database, then you have to click
this New Query
6. Available Databases: This drop-down list will display all the databases that are
available on this server. You can select the database that you want to work on.
7. Database Engine Query: Opens a New Query window along with Connect to database
Engine window. First, you have to connect with the Database Engine, and then you can
use the query window to write your query.
8. Analysis Services MDX Query: Opens a New MDX window along with Connect to
Analysis Services window. First, you have to connect with Analysis Services, and then
use the MDX query window to write your MDX query against Cube.
9. Analysis Services DMX Query: Opens a New DMX window along with Connect to
Analysis Services window.
10. SSAS XMLA Query: It opens a New XMLA window along with Connect to Analysis
Services window.
 11. Cut: This button will cut the selected text.
12. Copy the selected text.
13. Paste the Cut or Copied content
14. Undo the changes
15. Redo the changes in the query window
16. Navigate Backward: Use this button to Navigate Backward
17. Navigate Forward: To Navigate Forward
18. Activity Monitor: Please click this button to see the activity monitor. It contains
information about the process, Resources, data Files, etc.
19. Start Debug: To debug your code.
20. Find in Files: Use this to find your files.
21. Find: To find the required text in a query window
22. Solution Explorer: By clicking this, Solution Explorer Window added to SSMS
23. Properties Window: By clicking this button, Properties Window added to SSMS
24. Toolbox: By clicking this button, Toolbox added to the left side

As we said before, if you click on the New project button following window will open. Here
you can select Scripts, Analysis Services Scripts or a Black Solutions
When you click on the Find and Replace button, the following window will be opened. Use
this to replace anything.

The Solution Explorer will show you the file information. And the Properties Window will
show all the information about the query such as Connection, Query execution time,
Duration, returned rows, etc.
SQL Server Management Studio Editor Toolbar
Let me show you the list of available buttons in the SQL Management Studio and their uses
in the Editor toolbar
1. Connect: Used to connect to Server
2. Change Connection: You can change the existing connection by clicking this button
3. Available Databases: This drop-down list will display all the databases that are
available on this server. You can select the database that you want to work on.
4. Execute: It executes the query inside the query window and returns the result in the
result pane.
5. Debug: Help you to debut your code.
6. Stop: It will stop the running query. It will help you to stop the long-running query.
7. Parse: Use this to check whether then Query is parsed or not.
8. Display Estimated Execution Plan: This will display the Estimated Execution Plan for
this particular query
9. Query Option: Use this button to set the ROWCOUNT, TEXTSIZE, and execution
timeout.
10. Intellisense Enabled: By clicking this, you can enable SQL Server Management Studio
Intellisense for this query window. It will help you to find the syntax errors, and it will
auto-suggest the function names.
11. Include Actual Execution Plan: Enabling this option will include the Actual Execution
Plan along with query results. It will help you understand the execution
12. Include Client Statistics: Enabling this option will consist of the Client Statistics
(Execution type, Bytes sent and received etc) along with query result. It will help you
 understand the execution
13. Result to Text: Result will display as text.
14. Result to Grid: Result will display in table format or grid format. It is the default one
15. Result to File: Use this option to save the query result in a text file.
16. Comment out the Selected Line: Click this button to comment on the current line.
17. Uncomment the Selected Lines: Click this button to uncomment the current line or
selected line.
18. Decrease Indent: Used to decrease the distance
19. Increase Indent: Use this to increase the distance. Use Decrease Indent, and Increase
Indent to organize the code accurately.
20. Specify Values for template parameters: Used to specify Values for template
parameters

SQL Server Management Studio File Menu

Use the File menu to Connect Object Explorer, create a new Project, Open existing projects
and files, to save the queries, and to close.
SQL Server Management Studio Edit Menu
It is used to perform Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Replace, etc. We already explained them in
Standard Toolbar section

SQL Server Management Studio View Menu

It is one of the crucial menus in SQL Server Management Studio. The following screenshot
will show you the list of the available option on this menu.

If your SSMS is not displaying the Object Explorer window, then click the Object Explorer
sub-menu will restore the window for you. SQL Server Management Studio can show you the
report for each object that you select. To get this information you have to choose the Object
Explorer Details sub-menu in SSMS

Use the Forward and Backward navigation to move forward and backward.
Let me select the Registered Servers sub-menu from View menu

It displays the server that you manage frequently. By clicking the Cube, you can see the
Analysis. Clicking the report button will show the reporting, and the last button is to display
the Integration.
Let me select the Template Explorer sub-menu from SQL Server Management Studio View
menu
Once you pick the Template Explorer sub-menu, Template browser added to SQL Server
Management Studio

Under the SQL Server Management Studio Template browser, you can see all the existing
templates and their definitions.
Under the Analysis Services Templates, you can see the DMX templates, XMLA templates,
and MDX templates. By clicking on an individual item, you can see their definitions.

SQL Server Management Studio Query Menu

We already explained all these options in the Editor Toolbar section
SQL Server Management Studio Debug Menu
Use the Debug menu to Start Debugging and to work with Breakpoints in SQL Server
Management Studio.

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SQL Server Management Studio Tools Menu
Use this menu to personalize the designer view, or to choose the third-party toolbox items,
etc. For now, we will explore the Options… sub-menu so, let me select the same

By clicking the options.. the following window will be opened. Use this window to change the
default color, Fonts type, Size, weight, Keyboard shortcuts, etc.
I suggest you explore all the options, but remember to note down the changes you made. If
anything wrong happens, then this will help you to recover quickly. Or, use the Restore
Defaults button on each page to restore the settings to default settings.
Query Execution: You can set the default ROWCOUNT, TEXTSIZE, and execution timeout.

Query Result: You can alter the default destination of the Query result

Result to Text: Result will display as text.

Result to Grid: Result displayed in table format or grid format. It is the default one
Result to File: Use this option to save the query result in a text file.

Designer: Use this page to change the table option

SQL Server Management Studio Windows Menu
If you are new, you might have accidentally positioned some of the windows (panes) in the
wrong position. In this situation, you can use the Reset Window layout to restore the SQL
Server Management Studio to its original position.

TIP: Please refer to Uninstall SSMS to understand the steps involved in removing or
uninstalling SQL Management Studio only.