Why is SSMS IntelliSence Lame?

[stanlyn]

Hi,

Why is SSMS 2008r2 so lame when compared to Visual Studio or Visual Foxpro, to name a few? The only stuff it suggests is variables, table and object names and some properties. I'm missing the keyword, commands help when constructing a sql command, such as all the keywords available after you type the first word "select". I was expecting something like, field_list, fieldname, *, "top xx", and etc. I have found this extremely valuable, especially on the learning curve. Is there better tools?, plugins?

Thanks, Stanley

 

[cantor001]

I am not sure what the policy is for pushing a particular product on these forums but I use SQLPrompt

 

[stanlyn]

Is that from redgate?

 

[cantor001]

Yes

 

[gmmastros]

The policy on this forum...

It's frowned upon to promote your own product, especially if you could profit from it. It is perfectly acceptable to mention products that directly relate to the question. Mentioning SQL Prompt in this context is perfectly acceptable (in my opinion).

Just to be clear. I don't own this site and I have no vested interest in it. I have been around for many years. I've spoken with the owner and swapped emails on occasion. My point is... This is my opinion, but it's based on experience.

-George
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[jrbarnett]

Atlantis SQL Everywhere is a free IDE for SQL SErver. Its intellisense is far better than SSMS, but it doesn't offer all the features of Management studio (eg no means of running RDL reports).

John

 

[mrdenny]

IntelliSence for SSMS sucks so bad because it's a low priority. The sad fact is that as there are only so many man hours there's only so much stuff that can be worked on and IntelliSence is pretty low on the list (I'm good friends with the PM that owns IntelliSence among other parts of SSMS). IntelliSence in Visual Studio, FoxPro, etc. are very mature features that have been there for a VERY long time, unlike IntelliSence in SQL server which is only in it's second release, with the second release being pretty minor and it's third release coming up. Now the new SQL 2012 release is better, but it sure as hell isn't good. Now if you look at the new SQL Server dev tools that come with Visual Studio you'll probably find a much better IntelliSence feature in there as it's the native Visual Studio IntelliSence feature simply using the SQL Server objects.

It's not a great explanation, but it's the reality we have to deal with.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / SQL 2005 BI / SQL 2008 DBA / SQL 2008 DBD / SQL 2008 BI / MWSS 3.0: Configuration / MOSS 2007: Configuration)
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MCM (SQL 2008)
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[fredericofonseca]

SQL Prompt is quite good.. still with a few bugs while formatting SQL specially within merge statements and UDF calls.

But a hell of a lot better than native SSMS one

Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com

FAQ219-2884
FAQ181-2886

 

[SQLScholar]

Another product to look is this:

http://www.ssmstoolspack.com/

and the snippets may be able to help some of what you want to do. Its on the same lines as SQLprompt but free!

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