SSMS plugin - Registered Servers access

Question

I'm building a plugin for SSMS and am having problems with one area.  We want to be able to build a macro level plugin that can access multiple instances, not just a plugin that appears once someone has launched a connection into Object Explorer.

 

I want to base it on the connection information that someone has already stored by registering a server.  I do NOT want to have the actual credentials as that would be a security violation and I'm not looking to try to hack the encrypted passwords.  What I would ideally like to be able to do is fire a request that spawns a connection very similar to right clicking in the Registered Servers task pane and selecting Connect | New Query that would simply hand me the connection handle back that I can then utilize.

 

Is there any way to accomplish this?

Answer 1

Given that SSMS does not support plug ins I don't think there is a way to do this.

 

Note I said support, not whether it can or can not be done.

Answer 2

I'm REALLY confused.  If there isn't any support for this, then why are there all kinds of plugins floating around out there?  Quest has one that gives you access to SQL Litespeed functionality within SSMS, codeproject.com has dozens of these that you can install into SSMS, and there are hundreds more floating all over various sites.

 

Plug-in, add-in, whatever you want to call them.  Little bits of code that I can install into SSMS to add features to it that are not shipped with the product.

 

So, the question remains, is there a way for me to interact with the instances that someone has already taken the time to register in order to spawn a connection and have the connection handle given back to me to use?

Answer 3

Well, it finally just hit me.  Thanks Euan for exactly the answer that I needed instead of the one that I actually asked.    We'll design our own capabilities for this, because that capability shouldn't be available.

Answer 4

Just found your old question, maybe I can help you, but actually - your question is not 100% clear to me: what do you need exactly ?

I have created the add-in for ssms: ssmsboost that allows to manage list of preferred connections. This list is saved then into XML File. It is saved, using native MS Serialization of UIConnection object - so in XML file you can see all connection parameters, only Password is hashed. You can check it and - then please tell me - is it enough, that add-in already has, or you need more functionality ? I am pretty flexible - it is possible to add features that you need, if they are useful ;)

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SSMSBoost - ssms add-in adds quick source code navigation to SSMS, quick connection management & switching, shortcuts, auto replacements and object search. www.ssmsboost.com