I was wondering if there are any alternatives to Microsoft's SQL Server Management Studio?
Not there's anything wrong with SSMS, but sometimes it just seem too big an application where all I want todo is browse/edit tables and run queries.
+6
A:
TOAD for MS SQL looks pretty good. I've never used it personally but I have used Quest's other products and they're solid.
brendan
2008-08-07 19:17:11
Hmm, I just downloaded their trial and it throws really bizarre exceptions all over the place... has anyone else encountered this?
Dmitri Nesteruk
2009-12-31 11:31:08
A:
I know how you feel. I was looking for an alternative for awhile because Red Gate SQL Prompt destroyed my copy of SQL Management Studio. I tried using Database Workbench Pro 3. It was awful. Still looking for an alternative.
Shawn Simon
2008-08-07 19:17:47
+2
A:
There is an express version on SSMS that has considerably fewer features but still has the basics.
You may also look at the list of 3rd party tools here.
Paul G
2008-08-07 19:25:57
A:
Thanks for the responses. Toad for SQL definatly look like something I might use. I'll have to try it out soon. Cheers
GateKiller
2008-08-07 19:32:23
A:
Just one thing to note on TOAD. They have gone freeware with it, so you can download and use to your heart's content. There is a link to the beta right below the big "Get Toad" button on the link mentioned above.
So you can get either the latest release or the latest beta free of charge, no need to worry about "beta" status.
Dillie-O
2008-08-07 19:35:03
+1
A:
If you are already spending time in Visual Studio, then you can always use the Server Explorer to connect to any .Net compliant database server.
Provided you're using Professional or greater, you can create and edit tables and databases, run queries, etc.
Daniel O
2008-08-07 23:47:57
+5
A:
A new option is Versabanq Squel. I find its tabbed editing and schema view to be much more convenient than using Microsoft Sql Studio's way of doing things. And the download is tiny compared to the alternatives (about 2MB).
Full disclosure: I wrote it :) But people at work agree with me that it saves them a lot of time.
apenwarr
2008-12-12 22:53:18
I've just given this a try, I really like it! Is it still under active development? You could do with syntax highlighting an a few other small things.
DisgruntledGoat
2010-06-30 12:02:13
I also just tried it. It seems to be pretty dead for development though.. is there any hope of this being open sourced? I'd love to work on improving some things in it
Earlz
2010-07-02 05:22:08
Yes, we're planning to open source it. We have to get rid of the use of a proprietary library first, though. (We have an unlimited binary distribution license for the library, but not a source distribution license.) It's not completely dead - but the development is a bit slow.
apenwarr
2010-07-09 22:05:29
+1
A:
You can still install and use Query Analyzer from previous SQL Server versions.
le dorfier
2008-12-12 23:17:16
Can you get it for free (legally) somewhere? Or is that only for people who already owned the old version?
apenwarr
2008-12-12 23:22:22
If you have an old version, but an old free copy of Developer Edition would do, for instance.
le dorfier
2008-12-12 23:24:36
@Le Dorifer: I was looking for software that is better than SSMS not worse!!
GateKiller
2008-12-16 09:43:44
I know for a fact that Gert Draper, one of the the MS SQL gurus uses Query Analyzer, but then again, he wrote it :)
edosoft
2009-09-17 08:10:11
A:
Oracle has a free program called SQL Developer which will work with SQL Server as well as Oracle & MySQL.
aef123
2008-12-12 23:22:18
+2
A:
Seems that no one mentioned Query Express (http://www.albahari.com/queryexpress.aspx) and a fork Query ExPlus (also link at the bottom of http://www.albahari.com/queryexpress.aspx)
BTW. First URL is the home page of Joseph Albahari who is the author of LINQPad (check out this killer tool)
Piotr Owsiak
2010-02-26 10:11:38