Take the Shortcut: Some of the Best Resources for SQL Server Shortcuts We Could Find

We all like to be faster and more efficient. We also like doing things the easier way, or slightly easier way. It’s human nature. So I have always been a huge fan of things like keyboard shortcuts. When you’re deep in the groove, the last thing you want to do is lift your hands from the keyboard to go mousing about looking for a toolbar command. Thankfully, at least when it comes to working with SQL Server, shortcuts abound.

There are the keyboard shortcuts everyone would use, regardless of the level at which you’re working in SQL Server, including:

• Ctrl-N to start a new file
• Ctrl-Shift-N to start a new project
• Ctrl-O to open an existing file
• Ctrl-Shift-O to open an existing project
• Ctrl-Alt-X to display the toolbox
• Ctrl-F2 to insert a toggle
• Ctrl-G to go to a line number
• Shift-F6 to switch panes

Here are four other great resources for more great SQL Server shortcuts:

SQL Server Management Studio Keyboard Shortcuts

This first list comes right from the source at Microsoft and is valid for SQL Server 2016 or later. Apparently first you’ll have to select your keyboard scheme though, as it can operate with the SQL Server 2016 scheme, with keyboard shortcuts based on Microsoft Visual Studio 2010. It can also use a keyboard scheme similar to the standard scheme from SQL Server 2008 R2.

11 Keyboard Shortcuts Every SQL Server Geek Should Know

This one narrows it down to 11. It might be a little dated, as it was posted in 2014, but I’m sure there are a great many older versions of SQL Server still charging hard out there. This one starts with the classic Ctrl-N and Ctrl-Tab to toggle between tabs, but also has some interesting ones like Ctrl-Space-Tab to list member and complete work in Intellisense, and comment and uncomment on lines of code with Ctrl-K, then Ctrl-C or U.

SQL Server Shortcut Keys Enlisted

It’s great to have a top 10 or top 11 list, but when it comes to something like keyboard shortcuts, I want as many as possible. With that in mind, this list is one of my favorites. It seemingly has everything, from some of the classic shortcuts mentioned above to all sorts of esoteric but important functions like database tuning, parsing queries, and connecting databases.

SQL Server Management Studio Keyboard Shortcuts

This two-part list from MSSQL Tips also has nice descriptions of what the shortcuts actually accomplish. The first section shows you how to quickly change databases with a Ctrl-U or Change Code Case with a Ctrl-Shift-U or ,Ctrl-Shift-L. Section two follows those up with shortcuts like refresh local cache with Ctrl-Shift-R and execute scripts with Ctrl-F5. You can find the first part here and the second part here.

There are plenty of other SQL Server shortcuts and tips and tricks on-line elsewhere. Stay tuned for part two coming soon!

Posted by Lafe Low on 02/23/2017