I’m always a little afraid to recommend specific software here, lest you, dear reader, conclude there is some undeclared conflict of interest. Therefore I must immediately declare that I do have a vested interest, albeit quite indirectly. I write for Red Gate’s web site, and am paid to do so. I do not write about Red Gate’s software. Instead, I have been given the freedom to write about pretty much anything I want, so long as it pertains at least vaguely to SQL.
However, the software I am about to recommend is 100% free. Therefore it’s safe to assume you could not possibly infer that I have a vested interest.
The product in question offers Intellisense for SQL. That is, run Query Analyzer or any VS.NET application and create a query. Select a table, type a dot and then you immediately have a list of the columns. The app copies the name of the column you select and pastes it into the window. Type a keyword (such as FROM) and immediately the list is restricted to known tables and views and UDFs.
Maybe you can spell perfectly, and also remember the names of hundreds of tables, views and UDFs. I try to name my objects intelligently, but sometimes I forget what is named what. Intellisense is a godsend.
Red Gate Software acquired this technology and is now working on a significant upgrade to it. Meanwhile, in a magnificent gesture to the community, the company is offering the current version free: this is not an evaluation copy; it is the current version of the software. The firm is offering it, to be sure, in hopes of addicting you, so that you will feel compelled to upgrade to the forthcoming version.
You don’t have to be inept at typing to profit from SQL Prompt. If you’ve used Intellisense in any product such as Visual Studio or any VBA implementation (Word, Access, Excel, etc.), then you already know why Intellisense is so wonderful. Now you can have that power from Query Analyzer.
To download SQL Prompt, visit www.red-gate.com and select the SQL Prompt item. It’s 100% free and I am confident that it will enhance your development experience.
Run the installation program. You won’t notice anything happen – until you open Query Analyzer or Management Studio, that is. Figure 1 shows what happens in Query Analyzer when you choose the Northwind database and type the first part of a command.
Figure 2 shows SQL Prompt in use when creating a new query in Management Studio, using the AdventureWorks Product table. With a rich table like this one, SQL Prompt is even more valuable.
After only a few minutes with SQL Prompt, I think you will feel trhat your life as a developer or DBA has improved significantly. Best of all, it’s free, other than the few seconds or minutes required for the download and installation. Thereafter, it will appear like magic at the appropriate moments. Enjoy!