management studio | Sam Vanga

This is by far the simplest and silliest post ever, but i just figured how to create vertical tabs in management studio. When I learn something, you have to read it. I apologize, but you have to read it. As Ellen DeGeneres says, “if I see something… you have to see it” (YouTube Video).

When I want to compare scripts, I would open management studio in two separate windows and compare them. I knew there is an easier way, but didn’t know how to do that until recently.

Right click on a tab and choose – New Vertical Tab Group.

Split vertical tabs can be seen in the image below.

Note that you won’t see the new tab group options unless you have more than one tab open. Horizontal tabs can be created by clicking on New Horizontal Tab Group.

When done, you can reset the tabs to the original position by clicking on Move to Previous Tab Group.

I’m sure you know this – but like I said earlier, if I learn something…!

@me.

And the trick i share for this month’s T-SQL Tuesday is… Distraction free management studio.

If you’re an avid writer, you might be using Writeroom. It’s a full screen distraction free writing application, which gets your computer out-of-the-way so that you can focus on your work. Dark Room is a similar app for Windows.

Distraction free! Focus on your work! Isn’t that amazing?

So how about a similar app for management studio where you spend most of your time, writing queries? Wouldn’t it be nice to focus on queries alone and not worry about new email pop-ups or any other windows on your computer?

I did a quick search, and results, nada. But, better yet, this experience can be achieved by modifying a few options.

Add line numbers. From management studio, choose Tools, options. Expand Text Editor and expand Transact-SQL. In the general properties check Line numbers under Display and click ok.
Change background color. Again from options expand Environment and choose Fonts and Colors. Click ok.
View query window in full screen. Click view and choose full screen when writing queries. This will bring SSMS to the foreground and closes object explorer too. To exit from full screen again click view and deselect full screen.
Hide results window. Finally, press Ctrl+R to hide the results window. Press Ctrl+R again to display results window.