Best tool to edit/view SQL Server 2008 database

Question

What would be the best tool to view and edit an SQL Server 2008 database "directly".

I am thinking more or less about a very friendly interface like "Microsoft Access" where I can open a table, insert new rows, remove rows or change data in a row/column. With also a prompt where I can launch store procedures, run SQL commands and view the results, etc.

Having this would help a lot during development and in testing our requests/design. I would also be a good ACE IN THE HOLE with the database maintenance, fixing issues, cleaning up data, etc.

I don't have a lot of experience with SQL Server and its administrative tools. I tried finding something relevant but can't figure out what would be the best choice.

Anybody can point me in the right direction?

EDIT: Unless I am mistaking something, this is quite limited. I can edit like the top 200 results, but cannot sort the columns or go looking for something. As least, not easily without making a custom query. And even then, the query results seems not editable.

Answer 1

You're looking for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

Answer 2

Definitely SQL Server Management Studio!

Answer 3

+1 for SQL Server Management Studio. Everything you've asked to do is available there. True, the context menu Edit Top 200 Rows is limited to just the result set by default, but you can click on the Show SQL Pane button and edit the query and still return an editable result.

To show the SQL Pane, either turn on the Query Designer toolbar, and click the button labeled SQL, or it's avalable from the Query Designer menu, Pane, then select SQL, or press Ctrl-3.