Your favorite database development/administration third party helper tools (preference to free ones)

  • In order to share some of my own experience of third party SQL Server tools (mostly free) and In hope of learning about some new ones

    I would like to start a listing about my favorite third party SQL Server development tools/helper scripts.

    What tools/scripts do you use and why ? What are the highlights that you like the most ?

    1) SSMS Boost - great free adding to ssms (requires refresh once 90 days) -> http://www.ssmsboost.com/[/url]

    highlights:

    - it is able to replace short codes in ssms window as you write code for example ssf -> select * from

    - really nice feature that allows you to script the output of grid for for example insert into statement, select statement (I use this to move records)

    - nice viewer of binary columns (pdf, word)

    - sql formatting capabilities in the script window

    2) Apex SQL Complete - free edition addin to ssms -> http://www.apexsql.com/[/url]

    highlights:

    - has the best SQL statement execution history log (before the best was in SSMS tools but now it not free anymore)

    - the free edition has auto-complete capabilities that is able to suggest full joins, it think no other free too has this, does not work too good thou on my db (~ 2000 tables)

    3) SQL Complete by DevArt - free addin to ssms -http://www.sqlsentry.com/products/plan-explorer/sql-server-query-view#download

    - a very nice alternative to build in ssms plan explorer

    - at core presents the same data as the built-in MS plan explorer but this one does this from different perspectives making spotting issues much easier

    5) SandboxDatabaseManager - free administrative/development helper tool, web based (requires refresh once 60 days) -> http://sandboxdatabasemanager.com/[/url]

    highlights:

    - one of a kind tool capable of moving database from one server to the other in few clicks

    - we use this offload database administrators and allow developers to copy/clone databases themselves in a controlled way

    - very nice features of searching data across all servers, track data changes

    - helpful in monitoring

    - installation a little complex

    6) MaintenanceSolution.sql by Olga Hallengren - free script -> https://ola.hallengren.com/[/url]

    - a maintenance script to rebuild statistics, very configurable

    7) Who is Active by Adam Machanic - free script -> http://sqlblog.com/blogs/adam_machanic/archive/2012/03/22/released-who-is-active-v11-11.aspx

    - an activity reporting script, very useful

    - is able to pool for a period of time and report on resource consumption in that period

  • I simply won't try doing anything production-related without SQL Prompt Pro installed. It is by no means free but it's worth every penny. My snippet library is extensive and my format-style settings have been groomed and tweaked over the years and are perfect (for me). I do not work for redgate, I just love the software.

    There are no special teachers of virtue, because virtue is taught by the whole community.
    --Plato

  • Orlando Colamatteo (12/4/2015)


    I simply won't try doing anything production-related without SQL Prompt Pro installed. It is by no means free but it's worth every penny. My snippet library is extensive and my format-style settings have been groomed and tweaked over the years and are perfect (for me). I do not work for redgate, I just love the software.

    100% agree...

  • Another thumbs up for SQL Prompt Pro from me.

    SSMS Boost has some features which I also use frequently:

    1) Connection shortcuts. Define connections to different databases on different servers and from then on you can switch by selecting your desired connection from a drop-down.

    2) Collapsible regions. For tidy coders who work with long scripts.

    3) Data grid scripting. Many uses for this.


  • I blogged on this a few years back including some of my favs 🙂

    https://tsqlninja.wordpress.com/2012/07/25/tools-of-the-trade/

    Should really update it 🙂

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