Automatically formatting your T-SQL code

It is good business practice to format your T-SQL code in order to make it more readable to others. The accepted standard includes capitalizing keywords, applying indentations before certain clauses, using appropriate spacing, and others. However, many developers find it inconvenient to be format-conscious while trying to code, especially if they have a lot of code to type and limited time.

SQL Server 2000's Query Analyzer now includes several advanced formatting options. However, there is no single function that can take your entire script and automatically apply all these formatting standards in one easy step. If you would like an easy way to accomplish this, follow these steps:

1. Open up a table in Enterprise Manager (any table will do), and click the SQL button on the toolbar.

2. Copy/paste your code into the top pane and click the checkmark icon on the toolbar. This will parse your code, and will automatically format it with appropriate capitalizations, indentations, spacing, and parenthesis.

3. Copy/paste your newly-formatted code back into Query A...

Digg This!     StumbleUpon     Del.icio.us

RELATED CONTENT SQL/Transact SQL (T-SQL) Using DELETE and TRUNCATE TABLE statements to delete data in SQL Server SQL language crash course (just enough to be dangerous) Working with IntelliSense in SQL Server 2008 Management Studio SQL Server Mailbag: Stored procedures, triggers and SSRS reports Working with sparse columns in SQL Server 2008 Determining the source of full transaction logs in SQL Server New GROUP BY option provides better data control in SQL Server 2008 Using the OPENROWSET function in SQL Server Loading data files with SQL Server's BULK INSERT statement Importing and exporting bulk data with SQL Server's bcp utility SQL/Transact SQL (T-SQL) Research Database Management and Administration Password cracking tools for SQL Server Using traces in SQL Server Profiler Meet compliance requirements with improved database security practices Hardening the network and OS for SQL Server security Securing the server and database in SQL Server How SQL Server 2008 components impact SharePoint implementations Troubleshooting Distributed Transaction Coordinator errors in SQL Server Achieving high availability and disaster recovery with SharePoint databases Clearing the Windows page file and its effect on server performance Deploying a SQL Server virtual appliance for Microsoft Hyper-V

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary ACID  (SearchSQLServer.com) Collaboration Data Objects  (SearchSQLServer.com) commit  (SearchSQLServer.com) container  (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

nalyzer and save it.

For More Information

• What do you think about this tip? E-mail the Editor at tdichiara@techtarget.com with your feedback.
• The Best SQL Server Web Links: tips, tutorials, scripts, and more.
• Have an SQL Server tip to offer your fellow DBA's and developers? The best tips submitted will receive a cool prize--submit your tip today!
• Ask your technical SQL Server questions--or help out your peers by answering them--in our live discussion forums.
• Check out our Ask the Experts feature: Our SQL, Database Design, Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, metadata, and data warehousing gurus are waiting to answer your toughest questions.