Hi again,

I'm looking for a comprehensive sql developer tool for MS sql server. Ideally it would be something similar to Quest Software's SQL Navigator. (Unfortunately SQL Navigator is only for Oracle.)

I suppose something akin to TOAD would be ok, but was just wondering if anyone knows of anything a little more feature rich. (I wouldn't doubt it if MS sold their own, even that would be fine as long as it worked well.)

I'm thinking of a well layed out GUI interface with db objects arranged in a tree like structure, parsed out by owner, with drill downs for tables, stored procs, views, etc. that would tell you more about each object. For example:

TABLES
|_table1
  |_columns
  |_constraints
  |_indexes

If the tool could tell you which columns make up the primary key, show you foreign keys, and produce a listing of constraints, and be able to extract DDL for stored procs that would be a good start.

Thanks again

What about MSSQL enterprise manager? If you have SQL Server installed, you have that.

Yes, you're right and I looked at it. It appears to be more of a DBA tool than a developer tool but I may be wrong. The tool I'm looking for should be something that any SQL developer who doesn't have DBA privs should find useful. Can MS Ent. Mgr. be set up to allow multiple developers access to view db objects, constraints, and the like w/o having the capability of dropping objects or changing object privs and roles themselves?

Yes, apply the User with the privs you want, and use that to register the sql server on EM. Those restrictions are applied to the EM based on the user priv with which the user REGISTERS the SQL server and logs in.

Hope that helps.
Cheers!

_________________________
- Vijay G
Strive for Perfection

From my experience, SQL Enterprise Manager IS the development tool. Aren't DBAs database developers? (Perhaps I have a horribly distorted idea of DBAs.) Your DBA should be able to provide you with a login that would allow you to view and possibly edit objects but not let you drop them or create them. Not being a DBA, I don't really know the finer details of SQL Server security. In organizations I have been part of, the developers have administrator rights because we are often the ones who need to create and change the database architecture.

If you happen to be using Microsoft development tools, some of them have SQL "browsers" built in. They are really just a integrated (and watered down) version of Enterprise manager. These can be found in many of the Visual Studio environments.

Thank you for your replies. I will look further into EM.

Regards

To those who recommended EM. I was able to play with it more yesterday and found it decent. I'm use to my old tool (Quest Software SQL Navigator) which is a bit more feature rich, but for what I need to do write now EM works well (and it's already installed!)

Thanks again

You might want to look into the embarcadero suite of products. they are pricy but I like them.

There is a product called SqlEditor. Its at http://www.sqleditor.com/.

Some developers at our place liked it.

Have you looked at Query Manager? (one of the supplied tools) Activate the Object Browser using the Tools menu option to show the drill-down hierarchy you are looking for.

I agree that Enterprise Manager is geared toward DBAs. QM is much more approptiate for developers. Be sure to review "Show Execution Plan" and "Server Statistics" for query efficiencies.

There is a lot of power in QM. I have not found a need for a 3rd party application.