Tag: SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) Blog Post Archives: Includes tips and tricks for using SSMS, from an experienced Microsoft SQL Server Database Administrator.


  • The USE Database Statement in SQL Server

    The USE [database] command in SQL Server is used to switch the context to a specific database when running queries. This is useful when you need to work with multiple databases or change the active database during a session. When to use this statement:– When you want to…

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  • Disk Usage by Top Tables Report in SQL Server

    The Disk Usage by Top Tables Report in SQL Server is a quick way to get the sizes of all tables within a database. It’ll show all tables largest to smallest tables by total size on disk. If you notice that a database is growing larger in size,…

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  • Include Execution Trace Messages in SQL Server Error Logs

    Execution trace messages in SQL Server Agent error logs can be helpful for diagnosing issues. This guide explains how to enable this option. Logs are always important if you’re supporting systems. The SQL Server Agent is used very often by DBA’s and Software Devs, so writing execution trace…

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  • Resolving “Index was out of range” in SSMS

    This post is here to help if you’ve encountered the following error while performing a task in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS): Index was out of range. Must be non-negative and less than the size of the collection. Parameter name: index (mscorlib) In my experience, I’ve seen this…

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  • SSMS Import Flat File Feature

    The Import Flat File feature in SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio) was introduced in December 2017 (14.0.17213.0). This is a streamlined version of the Import Data feature and it minimizes the user intervention during a file import. Unlike the Import and Export Data Feature, you don’t have the…

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  • How to Change Connection Colours in SSMS

    SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is the go-to tool for running SQL Server queries. One of its handy features is the ability to change the colour of the query banner, providing a visual indicator of the server environment you are connected to. This feature can be especially beneficial…

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  • Exporting SQL Server Query Results to CSV

    This guide explains how to export a SQL Server query results to a CSV file using SSMS. SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is the primary tool used for managing SQL Server databases and running queries. By default, SSMS exports data in a column-aligned format, but to export data…

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  • Show Line Numbers in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

    This is a quick tip on how to show line numbers in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) query windows. Enabling line numbers can be useful, especially when you get an error message that points to a specific line in your code. While not strictly necessary, some developers prefer…

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