10,000 foot overview question on SQL Server query composition

Question

I've just migrated from Access where I would "write" SQL constantly and quickly using their GUI layout. I'm very new to SQL Server and am puzzled why is there no query GUI in SQL Server. Is it just that much more powerful that a GUI wouldn't be able to address the majority of queries? Or is it like a purist thing where once one is no longer in watered down databases like Access that he or she should just know SQL well enough to write it on the fly. Or am wrong altogether, and there IS a graphical way that most programmers compose SQL?

Sorry for the umbrella question, but I think some theory here would help me understand the big picture better.

Answer 1

Actually there is a GUI-Designer for Views and Queries. Just use the SQL Server Management Studio.

For Example on the "Views" right-click and choose "Add View...". The view GUI is looking very similar to the one in access.

Answer 2

I think there is a Query Designer as part of Sql Server Management Studio: see for example SQL Server 2005 Management Studio Query Designer.

Answer 3

The SQL Server is a database server. That it self does not have any editor text or GUI. You can mange it from the console, or any dedicated software that might have or not a query designer.

The main difference between Access and SQL Server or any other database, is that the MS Access is application that store the data in a file, when You close "Access" anything can happen inside the database by it self, while you are using SQL Server it is alway on You only connect to it. That why access have build nice query, report form designers. The SQL Server has totally different job to do and does not need this. With SQL Server we have Sql Server Management Studio, whit serve to global management not only for table creation and query design, there is a lot of background staff going on right there for example user management, rights jobs.

So it is not that SQL Server does not have a query designer, You just don't use proper software to work with it. A power full application is SSMS that ChrisW presented.

Answer 4

AFAIK about MySQL. Earlier there was the MySQL suite of tools and now there is the MySQL Workbench.

Say what you may, but it's definitely a timesaver.