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Query results in SQL Server Management Studio

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW) SQL analytics endpoint in Microsoft Fabric Warehouse in Microsoft Fabric SQL database in Microsoft Fabric

When you run Transact-SQL (T-SQL) statements in the Query Editor in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), you can control the output of the query results. You can also export the results to different file formats, depending on your requirements.

Choose a query results destination

The results destination applies to the current Query Editor window. By default, results appear in the grid, but you can choose to send them to text, or to a file. When you select a different option, SSMS uses it the next time you execute a query in that window.

Select a destination in one of the following ways:

  • On the SQL Editor toolbar, select Results to Grid, Results to Text, or Results to File.

  • In the Query Editor, open the context menu and select Results > Results to Grid, Results to Text, or Results to File.

  • Use the keyboard shortcuts listed in the Keyboard shortcuts section.

Change the default output for results in Tools > Options > Query Results > SQL Server > General using the Default destination for results dropdown list.

Results to grid

Results to grid returns query results as one or more tabular grids in the Results window. This option is the default for new Query Editor windows.

Use grid results when you want to:

  • View data in a tabular format with column headers.
  • Copy selected rows, columns, or the full result set, with or without headers.
  • Save the grid contents to a file from the grid context menu.

To send results to a grid:

  1. On the SQL Editor toolbar, select Results to Grid.
  2. Or, in the Query Editor context menu, select Results > Results to Grid.
  3. Execute the query.

By default, the grid appears in the lower pane of the Query Editor window. If the query returns multiple result sets, each result set appears in its own grid tab.

Export results

If you don't save results directly to a file, you can choose to export them to a file from the results grid. Right-click anywhere in the results grid and select Save Results As.... In the Save Grid Results dialog, enter a file name and select the Save as type dropdown list to select the file type for the results.

In SSMS 22.3.3 and earlier versions, you can export results to CSV and TXT file types.

Starting in SSMS 22.4.1, you can also export results to JSON, XML, Excel, and Markdown file types.

You can change the default location used when you export results in Tools > Options > Query Results > SQL Server > General > Query results directory. This default location is the same location used when saving results to a file.

Results to text

Results to text returns query results as plain text in the Results window. Each column is separated by a delimiter, and rows appear as lines of text.

Use text results when you want to:

  • Quickly scan smaller result sets without grid features.
  • Copy results as formatted text into emails, issue descriptions, or scripts.
  • Compare textual output more easily with tools that expect plain text.

To send results to text:

  1. On the SQL Editor toolbar, select Results to Text.
  2. Or, in the Query Editor context menu, select Results > Results to Text.
  3. Execute the query.

You can change text output formatting, such as column separator and maximum column width, in Tools > Options > Query Results > SQL Server > Results to Text.

Results to file

Results to file writes query results directly to a file instead of displaying them in the Results window.

Use file results when you want to:

  • Capture large result sets without rendering them in the UI.
  • Save results for later analysis or archiving.
  • Share result data as a file.

To send results to a file:

  1. On the SQL Editor toolbar, select Results to File.
  2. Or, in the Query Editor context menu, select Results > Results to File.
  3. Execute the query.
  4. In the Save Results dialog box, in Save in, select the folder where you want to save the file.
  5. In File name, enter a file name.
  6. In Save as type, choose the output file format.
  7. Select Save.

By default, SSMS saves results as a report file with the .rpt extension. For advanced options, select the down arrow on the Save button, and then select Save with Encoding.

You can change the default location for saving results in Tools > Options > Query Results > SQL Server > General > Query results directory.

Keyboard shortcuts

The following keyboard shortcuts change the results destination for the active Query Editor window.

Destination Keyboard shortcut
Results to grid Ctrl+D
Results to text Ctrl+T
Results to file Ctrl+Shift+F

After you select a destination with a shortcut, execute the query (for example, by pressing F5) to send the results to the chosen target.

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