SQL SERVER – Development Productivity Tool – dbForge Studio for SQL Server

I have talked a little bit about dbForge before, but I would like to do a full product review now. Devart’s dbForge Studio for SQL Server is a fantastic tool for SQL Server development, as soon as I installed it I found so many things to learn.

First off, it will increase SQL coding almost instantly. There is very little to learn, you are not just memorizing codes to “cheat” off of. DbForge Studio provides code completion options and automatic SQL formatting, so that you know your code will work. One of my favorite feature is “snippets,” which stores parts of code that you use over and over to cut down on typing and searching – because you know there always a few commands you use again and again! Another time saver is the hint option, which will show you information about objects, and the navigation tool that allows toggling between items using only the F12 key.

Of course, all these features would simply be interesting trivia if you couldn’t design and alter tables, too. But dbForge Studio has that covered as well. Tables are always the hardest part, but with Table Designer, you can quickly set the properties using the visual table editors, then edit the script and rebuild as needed, previewing changes before going live. It really takes a lot of the stress out of altering tables.

Changing your database and the information stored there can also be a stress-filled event. But with Database Diagram tool, you can also edit and manipulate your database quickly and preview changes.  Scaling, grouping, and printing are no problem with Database Diagram. You can also build virtual connections to help visualize your data.

Of course, coding and modifications can seem simple in comparison to tackling the data within the database, especially when there is a complex structure and multiple dependencies. With Schema Compare, you can synchronize your database, even when they are extremely complex. You will also be alerted if there are problems so you can solve problems early, before they become catastrophes.  Schema Compare takes “snap shots” of your SQL Server database for easy comparisons later, which heads off drift. And if you are thinking that this is too good to be true, Schema Compare also has deployment script that help target different SQL Server editions, so it doesn’t matter what version you use, you can still use this tool.

DbForge Studio also allows automating deployment of the database to the production server. There are multiple tools available to help with this, including T-SQL Debugger, Query Profiler, Query Builder, and Data Import & Export. All of these tools can be scheduled and automated, and use easy “point and click” options rather than tedious coding.

While all this automating sounds great, anyone who has had to create and deal with reports is probably wondering if this can be automated, as well. The answer is yes! The Data Report Designer will compile your data and create a report in any of nine formats, so you have the perfect feedback. You can also schedule automatic report delivery.

And last, but certainly not least, let’s deal with the security features in dbForge Studio . I cannot say enough about how important security is, and how well Devart’s tool deals with this subject. The Security Manager feature allows the user to create visual editors for users, log-ins, and roles, and provides a feature for batch editing of objects. Of course, one of the most difficult tasks in security is fine-tuning the security to each individual user. You probably see where I am heading with this – the Security Manager allows setting up different privileges per schema object.

I hope this quick review has convinced some DBAs (and non DBAs!) to give dbForge Studio for SQL Server a try. I am sure you will not be disappointed. I certainly was not! Check out – dbForge Studio for SQL Server.

Reference: Pinal Dave (https://blog.sqlauthority.com)