9 best tools for working with Microsoft SQL Server

Preamble

This information gives a summary of the top nine tools used by administrators and programmers to work with Microsoft SQL Server.

Azure Data Studio

An open-source, cross-platform tool for working with Microsoft SQL Server databases is called Azure Data Studio. Since Azure Data Studio’s main purpose is to write, edit, and run SQL queries—that is, it is an SQL code editor—it is based on Visual Studio Code and made for SQL developers.

You can work with Microsoft SQL Server databases, SQL Azure, as well as other databases, such as PostgreSQL, using Azure Data Studio.

Main features

• Cross-platform free
• Tool (support for Windows, Linux, and macOS)
• Orientation for SQL Developer
• Advanced SQL Editor (SQL code fragments, IntelliSense technology)
• Extensibility (support for extensions built-in)
• Utilize additional DBMS
• Data can be uploaded natively in CSV, XML, JSON, and Excel formats.
• Server Connection Grouping
• Charts and graphs for data visualization Support for a variety of color schemes
• Built-in terminal with sqlcmd, powershell, and bash
• Notebooks

Shortcomings

• Not a table builder
• The ability to change an object’s properties does not exist
• Being incapable of managing security
• No ability to import or export using DACPAC
• Most administrative tasks are not functional

SQL Server Management Studio

Microsoft’s SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is a free, graphical environment for managing SQL Server’s infrastructure. It is used to manage infrastructure for SQL Server.

You can create databases, carry out T-SQL commands, and manage Microsoft SQL Server using SSMS. A fundamental, common, and fully functional tool for working with Microsoft SQL Server, SQL Server Management Studio is intended for both developers and SQL Server administrators.

Main features

• Wednesday is uncharged
• The setting is completely functional for using Microsoft SQL Server
• suitable for both database administrators and developers

Shortcomings

• Only Windows is used to implement the environment
• For the most part, neither typical developers nor administrators need the functionality
• The instrument weighs enough

SQL Server Data Tools

For the development of SQL Server relational databases, Visual Studio has a separate component (workload) called SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT).

SSDT is created for database design development using all of Visual Studio’s features and benefits as well as its functionality and interface, which are both well-known to developers. SQL Server Data Tools are created for developers who work in the Visual Studio environment to create applications.

Main features

• Built into Visual Studio
• Familiarity with the interface and features of Visual Studio
• Focus on database development
• You can work with a database project or a connected database instance. Coverage of all database development stages
• GUI Table Creator
• By using a code
• Cognitive Technology
• Reassembling and testing
• Refactoring databases
• Modifications to the Transact-SQL editor’s declarations

Shortcomings

• The tool can only be used with Windows
• Without Visual Studio, the tool cannot be utilized
• Not ideal for simple SQL query creation, editing, and execution
• Unsuitable for managing SQL Server

The mssql extension for Visual Studio Code

The official Microsoft extension for working with SQL Server in Visual Studio Code is called “mssql,” and it’s for Visual Studio Code’s “mssql” extension.

The mssql extension for Visual Studio Code supports connections to SQL Server and advanced features for creating, editing, and running SQL queries.

Main features

• The tool is free
• Equipped with Visual Studio Code
• Cross-platform (support for Windows, Linux, and macOS)
• Development orientation for T-SQL code
• Advanced SQL Editor (SQL code fragments, IntelliSense technology)
• Data can be uploaded automatically in Excel, JSON, and CSV formats.

Shortcomings

• Administration of databases and SQL servers lacks functionality
• There isn’t a constructor for tables
• There is no capability to work with object properties
• There is no capability for security management
• No potential for DACPAC export or import
• It is not possible to use the tool without Visual Studio Code

dbForge Studio for SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server databases can be created and managed in Devart’s dbForge Studio for SQL Server.

Both SQL developers and SQL Server administrators can work with Microsoft SQL Server using dbForge Studio for SQL Server.

Principal characteristics

• SQL editor with advanced features (autocomplete, code templates, formatting)
• Version management
• Creating queries and tables in graphical constructor
• Editable graphic data editor for the resulting data set
• Database schema
• T-SQL code debugger
• Both a server event profiler and a request profiler
• Comparability of data and schemes
• Data Generator
• Documenting tools
• Data import and export capabilities built-in in Excel, XML, JSON, TXT, DBF, CSV, and PDF formats
• Database management
• Data reports
• Linked Table Viewer

Shortcomings

• The tool is paid
• The tool can only be used with Windows
• Some of the functionality is not necessary for administrators or developers to use on a daily basis

Navicat for SQL Server

Navicat for SQL Server is a tool that lets you create and manage databases in Microsoft SQL Server using a graphical interface.

With this tool, you can build and run SQL queries and instructions, create, edit, and delete any database object, and view data in tables, including binary and hexadecimal data.

Main features

• Cross-platform (support for Windows, Linux, and macOS)
• SQL editor with advanced features (code autocomplete, code fragments)
• Object Designer
• The capacity to synchronize and compare data in databases
• Built-in data design and simulation capability
• Data visualization with charts and graphs
• Data import and export capabilities built-in in Excel, XML, JSON, TXT, DBF, and CSV formats
• Theme dark mode

Shortcomings

• The tool is paid

EMS SQL Management Studio for SQL Server

An all-in-one database development and management solution for Microsoft SQL Server is offered by EMS as SQL Management Studio for SQL Server.

Main features

• Creating queries in a visual editor
• Data Generator
• Built-in Excel, XML, JSON, TXT, DBF, CSV, and PDF data import and export functionality
• The ability to synchronize and contrast data in databases
• Database administration

Shortcomings

• The tool is paid
• The tool is only compatible with Windows

DataGrip

All popular databases, including Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, Sybase, and DB2, are compatible with DataGrip, a database management tool.

The developer of DataGrip is JetBrains.

Main features

• Advanced SQL Editor
• Working with multiple DBMS
• Support for diagrams
• Tabular Data Editor
• Colour schemes
• Code Generator

Shortcomings

• The tool is paid
• Not oriented towards Microsoft SQL Server (the tool is intended for many DBMS)

SQLCMD

SQLCMD is a standard console tool for working with Microsoft SQL Server from Microsoft.

Because it is primarily designed for some service tasks, script execution, and other similar tasks, you won’t be able to use this tool as the primary tool for SQL Server development and administration.

Main features

• Standard and free tool
• Task orientation

Shortcomings

• The tool can only be used with Windows.
• No graphical interface.
• Limited functionality
• There are no sophisticated choices.

Rating of Microsoft SQLS tools submitted by our readers

About Enteros

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