Using Management Studio gets easier once you know where to look. This first tour of SSMS 22 covers the connection dialog, Object Explorer, the query window, running a query, reading the results and saving a .sql file, with one small demo script to follow along.
Checking Which Connections Use TDS 8.0 and Strict Encryption
TRUE in encrypt_option does not mean strict mode. Here is how to read the protocol value on your server and what to test before you enforce anything.
Connecting to SQL Server From Home Without Exposing Port 1433
Keep port 1433 off the public internet by checking external reachability and using VPN, a jump host, Bastion, and trusted encryption.
Connection Pooling Problems: Timeouts, Leaks and Max Pool Size
Diagnose connection pooling timeouts with session counts, sleeping activity, open transactions, and client settings that divide pools.
Remove a Cached Connection in SSMS: SQL in Sixty Seconds #049
To remove a cached connection from the SSMS Connect dialog, delete the entry from the Server name list. The tests here show that the list lives on the client, how three entries can reach one server, and how to check where an old entry points before you delete it.
Enable SQLCMD Mode in SSMS: SQL in Sixty Seconds #048
To enable SQLCMD mode in SSMS, use the Query menu or set it as the default for new windows. This post tests :connect, :setvar, :r, !! and :on error exit with sqlcmd.exe on SQL Server 2025 and shows the Msg 102 error you get when the mode is off.
Moving Databases to a New Server Behind a SQL Server Alias
Move databases behind a SQL Server alias or DNS CNAME by planning name redirection, backup and restore, Kerberos SPNs, and connection tests.