That’s right, you can make life a whole lot easier for yourself by maximising your valuable time so you can concentrate on the good stuff and the best part is you can do so for free.

We all know that there are some great applications and tools out there for working with SQL Server. Polished enterprise grade products from the likes of those clever people at Quest and RedGate, for example. Products for managing and simplifying the most important of SQL Server tasks such as backups and performance monitoring. These products are awesome but “what can I get my hands on for free”, I hear you cry.

Here are my Top 5 Free SQL Server Tools.

1. BIDS Helper
2. SQL Server Management Studio Tools Pack
3. Sort SQL Server Project Files
4. ClearTrace
5. SQLPermissions

BIDS Helper

A Visual Studio.Net add-in packed full of features that extend and enhance the functionality of the SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008 BI Development Studio (BIDS). There is something for everybody here that uses BIDS to develop SQL Server solutions.

SQL Server Managment Studio Tools Pack

This is a fantastic add-on for SQL Server Management Studio that was developed by Mladen Prajdić.

Some of my personal favourite features include: Window Connection Coloring, Copy execution plan bitmaps to clipboard and Run one script on multiple databases.

Check it out here: http://www.ssmstoolspack.com/

Sort SQL Server Project Files

Just like all good Database Administrators, I like to ensure a little order to  my world by implementing structure and keeping things appropriately organised. Alright, I admit it, I’m a control freak. If I need to dive into my source code, or even worse someone else’s source code,  that has not been touched for quite some time, I do not want to have to wade through a mass of jumbled T-SQL scripts in order to find what I am looking for. You too may have noticed that one of the daft operational behaviours of the Project structure within SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is that all the files/scripts you create are stored within the project view in the order in which they were created.

This nifty little Add-In to SSMS called SortSQLProjectFiles can be used to sort the the files/scrips contained within your SSMS Project file, by simple choosing an option from the Tools menu or you can add two buttons to the SSMS menu.

Just be sure to save a copy of your project file before attempting to sort your content. Personally I have never had any issues using this Add-In but I certainly do not need to tell you people about the importance of backing up data right.

Clear Trace

Here’s a great tool for working with SQL Server trace files. ClearTrace imports SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008 trace and profiler files into SQL Server and displays summary performance information.

Get your hands on ClearTrace here: http://www.cleardata.biz/cleartrace/default.aspx

There is also a video demonstration for the tool on the site.

SQL Permissions

SQL permissions is a freeware tool that generates a customizable T-SQL script to configure logins and permissions on one server to match another. SQL permissions lets you move one login, or a group of logins and apply permissions across all databases on the target server, or a single database.

Get SQLPermissions here: http://www.idera.com/Products/Free-Tools/SQL-permissions/

There you have it, my Top 5 Free SQL Server Tools and I bet there are loads more out there too. What free tools do you use to increase your productivity when working with SQL Server?

More Fee SQL Server Tools

Still want more? Then check out this listing of even more Free SQL Server Tools.

Top 5 SQL Server Forums

As you no doubt already know, there is a ridiculously large amount of SQL Server Information available out there on the internet. Whether you’re browsing forums, web sites or blogs, knowing what the best sources of SQL Server information are and more importantly which one’s you can trust, can be tricky.

So to help you get started on the right track, below is my list of what I consider to be the Top 5 SQL Server Forums on the internet.

1. StackOverflow
2. SQL Server Central
3. ServerFault
4. Microsoft MSDN SQL Server Forums
5. SQLTeam

StackOverflow

There’s not a lot more I can say about this site that I have not done so already. Unlike the majority of technology forums currently out there, Stackoverflow covers more than just SQL Server, in fact a whole variety of technology related subject areas are catered for. I’m a real big fan of the site and for a detailed review read about my Stackoverflow Addiction.

SQL Server Central

I consider this site to be a one stop SQL Server shop. Not only does it have one of the best SQL Server Forums on the internet but also a tremendous volume of SQL Server articles, blogs and general content. This is must view site for all SQL Server professionals.

ServerFault

This is the sister site to Stackoverflow and is all about hardware and administration. Given the ridiculously high level of expert knowledge and experience of some of the posters on the forum, I consider ServerFault to be an essential reference tool for all serious SQL Server Database Administrators.

Microsoft MSDN SQL Server Forums

In my opinion this is the forum you go to when you have a seriously tough question you need answering. The community on this forum is quite close nit and perhaps a little cliquey at times but the quality of the detailed responses provided to queries is superb and the number of expert moderators on hand is second to none, thereby negating any down sides there may possibly be. There is also a separate forum for each SQL Server technology and feature, meaning that the community for each forum are experts in the specific subject area you need help on. Bottom line, if you cannot find an answer to your query elsewhere on the net then you will find it here!

SQLTeam

Another favourite of mine, this forum is well established and has been going for a good while now. That means that there is a wealth of knowledge there for you to get stuck into and a solid community of experienced SQL Server experts on hand to answer your queries.

There you have it, my Top 5 SQL Server Forums. I’m sure there are some other great undiscovered SQL Server resources out there. If you come across a great resource be sure to let me know!