Tag: Redgate

I learned something new recently about SQL Prompt. I was working on documenting and experimenting with snippets and found a quicker way to write code.

One of the things I think is great is to use the TRY..CATCH structure. I don’t do it enough, but I want to do this more, and make it smooth. SQL Prompt includes a tc snippet, which gives me this code when I type t-c-TAB.

You’ll notice that my cursor is in the CATCH block. Why? Well, if you pause after t-c, you’ll see the snippet and code (unless you’ve turned off the window). Notice the $CURSOR$.

This means the cursor appears there. Not too handy. However, also notice the $SELECTEDTEXT$ snippet. This is handy.

Let’s change our code and include an update statement. For example, suppose as part of a procedure, I’m writing this code:

I’ve got a procedure, and I’ve forgotten to include TRY..CATCH. Certainly I can surround the highlighted code with the structure, but that’s cumbersome, even using Prompt’s intellisense.

There’s a better way.

Notice the little SQL Prompt icon in the side bar. Prompt is active, and if I click CTRL, I’ll get this:

I’ve activated SQL Prompt in the context of my highlighted text. Now I can type t-c and see the snippet.

If I hit TAB, I get this:

Pretty cool. My update is surrounded by the snippet code, and placed where the $SELECTEDTEXT$ placeholder was used.

Use this. Write code quicker and make it better.

Try a SQL Prompt evaluation today and then ask your boss to get you this productivity enhancing tool, or if you’re using the tool, practice using ii the next time you need to insert some data.

You can see a complete list of SQL Prompt tips at Redgate.

I love SQL Prompt, since it makes T-SQL coding quicker and easier. One of the handiest things is the Snippet Manager. I’ll show you how this works.

When I type something, like “cl”, I get a list of things, as shown below..

I see CLOSE, which has “cl” in it, as well as a number of functions. However there are two items (cl and clrp) that have a description to the right. They also have a scroll to the left. These are snippets. If I hit Tab, the highlighted snippet, cl, will be replaced with code. This is shown below.

This is all custom code I put into my Snippet Manager. I can now replace these parameters with new values, or just execute this code as is to create a new login and user. Note I typed three things (c, l, TAB) to get lots of code here.

The Snippet Manager

To access the Snippet Manager, click the SQL Prompt menu item and look down towards the bottom.

This will bring up the Snippet Manager (part of SQL Prompt options in 7+). Note that I have a folder where I store snippets at the top, various snippets below that (with new/edit/delete buttons) and then the snippet code the the highlighted snippet at the bottom of this image.

The snippet is highlighted, and if I type, I get completion here. So, I’ll type C-D, and jump to the “cdb” snippet. Note I’ve skipped over cci.

I can then edit or delete this snippet. If I edit it, I’ll get a dialog with the snippet and the placeholder parameters listed. This is shown below.

Note: I’ve customized this code, so it isn’t the SQL Prompt default.

I can also create new ones. For example, on one of our Redgate VMs, we keep some demo snippets. I’ll can create a new one by clicking “New…”

I’ll then get this dialog.

I can give this a name, a description, and type any code into the code window. I’ve added a few items below.

Now if I save this, close the Snippet Manager, and go back to a Query Window, I can type d-e-m, and see this:

My new demoxpcmdi appears before the other “demo” snippets. I can also see my description to the right.

Hopefully, you’ll see the value in SQL Prompt and start using snippets to improve your ability to code quickly and take the hassles and guesswork out of cleanly building SQL Code. You can also read a similar piece I wrote on the Redgate blog.

Try a SQL Prompt evaluation today and then ask your boss to get you this productivity enhancing tool, or if you’re using the tool, practice using ii the next time you need to insert some data.