Home > Ask the SQL Server Experts > Adam Machanic - SQL Server 2005 Questions & Answers > SQL Server 2005 T-SQL debugging alternatives
Ask The SQL Server Expert: Questions & Answers
EMAIL THIS

SQL Server 2005 T-SQL debugging alternatives

Adam Machanic EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Adam Machanic

Pose a Question
Other SQL Server Categories
Meet all SQL Server Experts
Become an Expert for this site


Expert advice on database development
Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us    Add to Google


>
QUESTION POSED ON: 01 June 2006
I recently read your response to the Query Analyzer having been replaced by the new SQL Server Management Studio. As it does not include a T-SQL debugger, what do you recommend as an alternative?

>
EXPERT RESPONSE
Unfortunately, you are correct: SQL Server Management Studio does not include the T-SQL debugger that was present in SQL Server Query Analyzer. Microsoft's solution is that developers wishing to debug T-SQL should use Visual Studio 2005, which does include a T-SQL debugger.

Personally, I am not a fan of step-debugging T-SQL at all. I find it a cumbersome process. The lack of visibility into temporary tables and table variables makes it less-than-ideal for most debugging scenarios I've encountered. I discussed some alternatives in an article Debugging with Macros and Assertions, which I wrote for SQL Server Professional magazine.


Sound Off! -   Be the first to post a message to Sound Off!


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us    Add to Google


RELATED CONTENT
Adam Machanic - SQL Server 2005
Stored procedure concurrency problems in SQL Server 2005
SQL vs. T-SQL
Database Snapshots: Creating read-only copies of a database
Upgrading SQL Servers
Determining number of servers needed for large member site
SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition vs. Standard Edition
Encryption failures when upgrading to SQL Server 2005
Upgrading to SQL Server 2005 while maintaining .adp access
Modifying a query to show navigation path
Viewing SQL Server 2005 data via Windows Forms

SQL/Transact SQL (T-SQL)
How to use rank function in SQL Server 2005
Create a computed column in SQL Server using XML data
Using the OUTPUT clause for practical SQL Server applications
Create DDL table in SQL Server 2005 to audit DDL trigger activity
SQL Server source code analysis and management adds database security
SQL and SQL Server Tutorial and Reference Guide
Retrieve XML data values with XQuery in SQL Server 2005
How to construct and use SQL OUTER JOINs optimally
How to use the LEFT vs. RIGHT OUTER JOIN in SQL
Using the FULL OUTER JOIN in SQL
SQL/Transact SQL (T-SQL) Research

SQL Server Administration
Recovery Model Options in SQL Server
Run SQL 2000 and SQL 2005 instances at the same time
SQL Server backup and restore fundamentals
SQL Server 2005 Books Online
SQL Server Sprawl: How to detect and cope with the proliferation of SQL Server databases
SQL Server Sprawl: A technical analysis of solutions
SQL Server Sprawl: SQL Server consolidation for more efficient management; a deep dive
SQL Server Sprawl: How a major organization saved time and money through consolidation
Better Management Techniques for SQL Server Environments
All-in-One Guide: SQL Server backup and recovery
SQL Server Administration Research

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS
Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary
ACID  (SearchSQLServer.com)
commit  (SearchSQLServer.com)
DAO  (SearchSQLServer.com)
fetch  (SearchSQLServer.com)
OLE DB  (SearchSQLServer.com)
query  (SearchSQLServer.com)
SQL  (SearchSQLServer.com)
T-SQL  (SearchSQLServer.com)

RELATED RESOURCES
2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems
Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts
Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary



Search and Browse the Expert Answer Center
Search and browse more than 25,000 question and answer pairs from more than 250 TechTarget industry experts.
Browse our Expert Advice

HomeNewsTopicsITKnowledge ExchangeTipsAsk the ExpertsMultimediaWhite PapersIT Downloads
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
SEARCH 
TechTarget provides enterprise IT professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective IT purchase decisions and managing their organizations' IT projects - with its network of technology-specific Web sites, events and magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Reprints  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2005 - 2008, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts