When the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) was first introduced in SQL Server 2005, it received mixed reviews. Many DBAs have never totally embraced SQL Server Management Studio. With the launch of SQL Server 2008, Microsoft has succeeded in transforming the SSMS into a much more useful tool set. Microsoft has built in many new features to SSMS that make performing the routine DBA tasks easier and more intuitive to use.

In addition to the new features, SSMS in SQL Server 2008 has benefited from performance gains as a result of faster communications between SSMS and the SQL Server engine. Besides the core SSMS features and improvements outlined in this paper, there are other hidden nuggets that you will find along the way as you start working with SQL Server 2008. This white paper will explore the core improvements to SSMS in SQL Server 2008.