Every SQL Server type has its own file extension. Owing to my personal experience so far, I can undeniably say that Microsoft Windows products are outstanding. One of the reasons that make them exceptional is their little nifty tricks. For instance, every time I double click myfilename.sql it opens Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). The reason how Windows discerns that it has to open SSMS is because the extension of file I had clicked is .sql. I explored and found that SQL Server has few more filetypes associated with it, which are as follows.
SQL Server – .sql
SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP1 – .sqlce
SQL Server Analysis Service – .mdx, .xmla
Moving on, I would like to talk about another command that can open SQL Server Management Studio. Just type sqlwb in command prompt to open SSMS and bring credential prompt on screen.
I hope you find this article useful. Let me have your feedback so that we can take this topic further.
Published by Pinal Dave on SQLAuthority. More of my work at pinaldave.com.
4 Comments. Leave new
I fail to see what is so impressiva about recognising file types by extension. It is one of the many CP/M features copied by microsoft when they originally produced MS/DOS. I think you would find file association with programs to be a common feature if you ventured outside your Windows only environment
Great Post Pinal, thanks :)
let me just add a little note: if you type profiler90 on command prompt (or on the StartMenu->Run dialog) u’ll get a brand new SQL Server Profiler window :)
This is a tool that i really like about SQL Server. It helps a lot on debugging ASP.NET WebApps :)
I agree with you. another thing, it will improve the performance which i care most.
Pinal – Have you come across a scenario where every time you open a “.sql” file it opens a new instance of SQL Management Studio? I am using Windows 7 with SQL Denali (2011). Do you know how to make it open in the same instance?
I think it has got to do with the file extension setting in registry.
Thoughts?
Cheers,
Deepan S,