Database Engine Query Editor (SQL Server Management Studio)
Use the Database Engine Query Editor to create and run scripts containing Transact-SQL statements. The editor also supports running scripts that contain sqlcmd commands.
Transact-SQL F1 Help
The Database Engine Query Editor supports linking you to the reference topic for a specific Transact-SQL statement when you select F1. To do so, highlight the name of a Transact-SQL statement and then select F1. The help search engine will then search for a topic that has an F1 help attribute that matches the string you highlighted.
If the help search engine does not find a topic with an F1 help keyword that exactly matches the string you highlighted, then this topic is displayed. In that case, there are two approaches to finding the help you are looking for:
Copy and paste the editor string you highlighted into the search tab of SQL Server Books Online and do a search.
Highlight only the part of the Transact-SQL statement likely to match an F1 help keyword applied to a topic and select F1 again. The search engine requires an exact match between the string you highlighted and an F1 help keyword assigned to a topic. If the string you highlighted contains elements unique to your environment, such as column or parameter names, the search engine will not get a match. Examples of the strings to highlight include:
The name of a Transact-SQL statement, such as SELECT, CREATE DATABASE or BEGIN TRANSACTION.
The name of a built-in function, such as SERVERPROPERTY, or @@VERSION.
The name of a system stored procedure table, or view, such as sys.data_spaces or sp_tableoption.
Working With the Database Engine Query Editor
The Database Engine Query Editor is one of four editors implemented in SQL Server Management Studio. For a description of the functionality implemented in the Database Engine Query Editor and the main tasks you can perform using the editor, see Query and Text Editors (SQL Server Management Studio).
SQL Editor Toolbar
When the Database Engine Query Editor is open, the SQL Editor toolbar appears with the following buttons.
Connect
Opens the Connect to Server dialog box. Use this dialog box to establish a connection to a server.
Disconnect
Disconnects the current Query Editor from the server.
Change Connection
Opens the Connect to Server dialog box. Use this dialog box to establish a connection to a different server.
New Query with Current Connection
Opens a new Query Editor window and uses the connection information from the current Query Editor window.
Available Databases
Change the connection to a different database on the same server.
Execute
Executes the selected code or, if no code is selected, executes all the code in the Query Editor.
Debug
Enables the Transact-SQL debugger. This debugger supports debugging actions such as setting breakpoints, watching variables, and stepping through code.
Cancel Executing Query
Sends a cancellation request to the server. Some queries cannot be canceled immediately, but must wait for a suitable cancellation condition. When transactions are canceled, delays might occur while transactions are rolled back.
Parse
Check the syntax of the selected code. If no code is selected, checks the syntax of the all code in the Query Editor window.
Display Estimated Execution Plan
Requests a query execution plan from the query processor without actually executing the query, and displays the plan in the Execution plan window. This plan uses index statistics as an estimate of the number of rows that are expected to be returned during each part of the query execution. The actual query plan that is used can be different from the estimated execution plan. This can occur if the number of rows that are returned is significantly different from the estimate, and the query processor changes the plan to be more efficient.
Query Options
Opens the Query Options dialog box. Use this dialog box to configure the default options for query execution and for query results.
IntelliSense Enabled
Specifies whether IntelliSense functionality is available in the Database Engine Query Editor.
Include Actual Execution Plan
Executes the query, returns the query results, and the execution plan that was used for the query. These appear as a graphical query plan in the Execution plan window.
Include Client Statistics
Includes a Client Statistics window that contains statistics about the query and about the network packets, and the elapsed time of the query.
Results to Text
Returns the query results as text in the Results window.
Results to Grid
Returns the query results as one or more grids in the Results window.
Results to File
When the query executes, the Save Results dialog box opens. In Save In, select the folder in which you want to save the file. In File name, type the name of the file, and then click Save to save the query results as a Report file that has the .rpt extension. For advanced options, click the down-arrow on the Save button, and then click Save with Encoding.
Comment Selection
Makes the current line a comment by adding a comment operator (--) at the beginning of the line.
Uncomment Selection
Makes the current line an active source statement by removing any comment operator (--) at the beginning of the line.
Decrease Line Indent
Moves the text of the line to the left by removing blanks at the beginning of the line.
Increase Line Indent
Moves the text of the line to the right by adding blanks at the beginning of the line.
Specify Values for Template Parameters
Opens a dialog box that you can use to specify values for parameters in stored procedures and functions.
You can also add the SQL Editor toolbar by selecting the View menu, selecting Toolbars, and then selecting SQL Editor. If you add the SQL Editor toolbar when no Database Engine Query Editor windows are open, all the buttons are unavailable.
SQL Editor Toolbar
When a Database Engine Query Editor window is open, you can add the Debug toolbar by selecting the View menu, selecting Toolbars, and then selecting Debug. If you add the Debug toolbar when no Database Engine Query Editor windows are open, all the buttons are unavailable.
Continue
Runs the code in the Database Engine Query Editor window until a breakpoint is encountered.
Break All
Sets the debugger to break all processes to which the debugger is attached when a break occurs.
Stop Debugging
Takes the selected Database Engine Query Editor window out of debug mode, and restores the standard execution mode.
Show Next Statement
Moves the cursor to the next statement to be executed.
Step Into
The next statement is run. If the statement invokes a Transact-SQL stored procedure, function, or trigger, the debugger displays a new Query Editor window that contains the code of the module. The window is in debug mode, and execution pauses on the first statement in the module. You can then move through the module, for example, by setting breakpoints or stepping through the code.
Step Over
The next statement is run. If the statement invokes a Transact-SQL stored procedure, function, or trigger, the module is run until it finishes and the results are returned to the calling code. If you are sure there are no errors in the module, you can step over it. Execution pauses on the statement that follows the call to the module.
Step Out
Step back to the next highest calling level (function, stored procedure, or trigger). Execution pauses on the statement that follows the call to the stored procedure, function, or trigger.
Windows
Opens either the Breakpoint window or the Immediate window.