Any comments on third party SQL dev tools?

Question

Hi friend,

I heard about Toad and it seems like it provides a debug tool... in my prevuouse thread SQLUSA has pointed out manual way of debugging that is well suited for a SQL restarter like me :) however, any comments Toad tool?

thanks

Answer 1

Hi,

Toad is good recommended and user friendly tool.. Most of the software companies use this tool..

But this tool is used more for oracle than MS sql server..

As a beginner my personal concern is to use the microsoft provided sql server tool and its goodway to learn....

Thanks,
Gnana

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Gnanasekar Babu Note: Please click on the vote button if the answer helps you

Answer 2

Links on SQL Server 3rd party tools (administration, development, operations):

http://www.ssw.com.au/ssw/Standards/DeveloperGeneral/sqlservertools.aspx

http://www.sqlserverportal.com/software/development/development.htm

http://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/archive/2006/05/25/9989.aspx

http://vyaskn.tripod.com/thirdparty.htm

http://forum.sqlknowledge.com/index.php?board=17.0


I had good experience with 3rd party tools. With some, it is important that you master the customer service process, a real challenge occasionally.

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Kalman Toth SQL SERVER 2012 & BI TRAINING
New Book: Beginner Database Design & SQL Programming Using Microsoft SQL Server 2012

Answer 3

Yepp - native SSMS is the best tool.

I have used TOAD and ApexSQL but have come to conclusion, that for most common tasks it is safer to use SSMS - it is stable and predictive. Third-party tools tend to build additional connections to your databases and sometimes do not show you all results, if some complicated errors happen in your scripts/stored procedures (print of selects can be ommited)... Apex is doing a better job - my oppinion.

Generally, there are only a few features that you need for your daily life, so, you can try to find them in some available add-ins.

I have written SSMSboost(.com) add-in for most important feature for me: place text cursor on object, F2 - > see object source code (like go-to definition in VB or C#) - it is also available in context menue - see pic.