Manually rename tabs in SSMS

Question

I'm always getting confused as to which tab is which in SQL Server Management Studio 2008 R2. I don't find the default naming scheme of tabs very intuitive. Is there a way I can manually rename them?

Chaddie

If you save the tab as a file, then the tab takes on the file name. – Alitta

I've discovered an Add-In which automatically renames widows more intuitively: SSMS Plus. But I still want to manually rename them. – Chaddie

@GordonLinoff You're so right, I suppose that is all this add-in does. Go ahead and submit that as an answer and I'll accept it :P – Chaddie

Does this answer your question? In SSMS, how do I change a SQL query window's tab name? – Hanker

Answer 1

If you open your options screen and set the following flags under Text Editor > Editor Tab and Status Bar > Tab Text:

Include database name: False
Include file name:     True
Include login name:    False
Include server name:   False

Then save the query as something simple you may see the results you want.

Bigley

Note that if you have 'Include file name' set to false, the tab will contain the path AND tmp filename. (I had everything set to false). – Marine

Answer 2

You can manually rename tabs in SSMS with my Tabs Studio extension.

Right click on a tab and select Set SQL comment:

Type tab description:

And the comment will be added to the tab title:

If you want to completely replace the tab title with your custom name, in SQLComment add-in options change Transform replacement from default $_ ${SQLComment} to ${SQLComment}:

And the tab name will be fully replaced with your description:

Charismatic

Too bad there isn't a free version with basic functionality. – Janelljanella

Answer 3

then don't use tabs, switch to window view:

from the menu:
    tools - options
        in the dialog box, environment - general:
            click on the "MDI" environment radio button

I fought with the tabs and gave up, this works better for me. the tabs just show the first few characters, which ends up being the beginning of the database name, which was usless for me. You can use menu - "window" to see a list of your windows.

Ainslee

I'm not seeing "MDI" anymore (must've been removed sometime before v18.4, not sure when.) – Proxy

Answer 4

Best is to use Visual Studio - add in the SQL extensions then whatever comment you put in the first line of your SQL Query will be the name of your Tab

Visual Studio

Snug