Toad for SQL Server Wins Best of TechEd 2010 in the Database
Development Category
Toad and I go way back. I first started
with Toad as a user on the Oracle DBMS back in the early 1990's. When I
started at Quest Software back on January 2nd of 2002, one of the first
products I tackled as a SQL Server product architect was Toad. How do
we make this very popular Oracle product one that users in the SQL
Server world will love too? And this challenge was made that much
harder by the fact that Microsoft SQL Server ships with
fantastic tools right there in the box. I haven't worked directly on
Toad for many years now, but the tool marches on with new features and
capabilities that push the envelop with each new release.
I want
to applaud the product manager, David Gugick (center below), the
developers and testers, and the active and supportive community who
loves and embraces Toad. It's always a thrill when your hard work
and efforts are recognized. And a big thanks to the fine folks at SQLMag and Windows ITPro Mag for making this happen.
L to R: Jason Hall, Qsft head of SC's; David
Gugick, director of Architecture; and me
Want
to try Toad for SQL Server for free?
The 5.0 version of Toad
for SQL Server that we showed at TechEd is the latest beta, available at
ToadWorld.com
(build 387 at the time of this writing). It can coexist with Toad for
SQL Server version 4.6, if you're already using it. The beta is quite
stable and has a bevy of new features, including:
- SQL Azure
support for most modules including data compare and schema compare,
including comparing regular SQL Servers to SQL Azure and back, also with
Firewall management (under Server Security properties panel).
- Much
improved code completion (and it was already rockin'!) that’s faster and allows for column
selection, multi-table selection, with tooltips for parameters. Don't
forget, all of these features work on SQL Server 2000, 2005, 2008, and
2008 R2.
- Updated Schema Compare with better exposed
snapshots.
- Group Execute enhancements that include
database-level selection so you can execute across databases, an option
to only show selected servers/databases, option to merge results (or
not), improved merging, etc.
- New Idle Connection Timeout – to
close connections after a period of inactivity.
- Result Set
Pinning.
- Improved Trace support with features like Import
Trace File to Table and Open in Profiler capabilities.
- New
Debug Trace – traces all activity occurring inside of Toad, including
storing all variable info in a replayable file.
- Twitter
Integration (under the View – Collaboration panel) with Yammer
integration coming in a future beta release.
You can
also see a lot more details about the tool here.
And my long-standing offer still stands. If you want to try Toad for
SQL Server or its brethren (such as Toad for Data Analysts, Toad Data
Modeler, or Benchmark Factory), drop me an email and I'll get a
long-term license key straight over to you.
But wait,
there's more!
There are so many great resources for you to
tap into. And best of all, they're all free! Check these out:
White
Paper: How Managers Can Help Their Developers Write Excellent
Code
In this white paper, renowned Oracle PL/SQL expert and fellow O'Reilly
author Steven Feuerstein provides
dev managers with guidance on how to help developers write the best
software possible.
Live
Product Demo: Toad®
Data Modeler
Date: Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Time: 11:00 a.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. ET
Modern
Analyst Webinar: Stress-free
SQL Queries for the Analyst
Date: Thursday, June 17, 2010
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST
Live
Product Demo:
Toad® for Data Analysts
Date: Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Time: 11:00 a.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. ET
Live
Product Demo: Benchmark
Factory® for Databases
Date: Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Time: 11:00 a.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. ET
I look forward to
hearing from you. Enjoy!
-Kevin