SQL Server Studios Overview
Microsoft SQL Server consolidates server administration and business object creation into two integrated environments: SQL Server Management Studio and Business Intelligence Development Studio. Both studio environments use solutions and projects for management and organizational purposes. Both also offer fully integrated source control functionality (if a source control provider such as Microsoft Visual SourceSafe is installed).
Although both studio environments use the containers and visual elements established in Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 (for example, projects, solutions, Solution Explorer, and Toolbox), these environments are not in themselves a part of Visual Studio 2005. Instead, the studio environments included with SQL Server are separate environments that are designed for business application developers who work with SQL Server, SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP1, Analysis Services, Integration Services, and Reporting Services. You cannot use these tools to build custom applications or support large development projects.
SQL Server Management Studio
SQL Server Management Studio is an integrated environment for accessing, configuring, managing, and administering all components of SQL Server. SQL Server Management Studio combines a broad group of graphical tools with a rich script editor to provide access to SQL Server to developers and administrators of all skill levels.
SQL Server Management Studio combines the capabilities of Enterprise Manager and Query Analyzer, included in previous releases of SQL Server, into a single environment. In addition, SQL Server Management Studio provides an environment for managing Analysis Services, Integration Services, Reporting Services, and XQuery. This environment provides developers with a familiar experience and gives database administrators a single utility to complete their tasks with the ease of graphical tools and a rich scripting experience.
Business Intelligence Development Studio
Business Intelligence Development Studio is an integrated environment for developing business intelligence constructs, such as cubes, data sources, reports, and Integration Services packages. Business Intelligence Development Studio includes project templates that provide a context for developing specific constructs. For example, you can choose an Analysis Services project if your objective is to create an Analysis Services database that contains cubes, dimensions, or mining models.
In Business Intelligence Development Studio, you can develop projects as part of a solution that is independent of any particular server. For example, you can include an Analysis Services project, a Integration Services project, and a Reporting Services project in the same solution. You can deploy the objects to a test server for testing during development, and later you can deploy the output from the projects to one or more staging or production servers.
Solutions, Projects, and Items
Both SQL Server Management Studio and Business Intelligence Development Studio provide projects, which are organized into solutions. SQL Server projects are saved as SQL Server Scripts, Analysis Server Scripts, and SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP1 Scripts. Business Intelligence Development Studio projects are saved as Analysis Services Projects, Integration Services Projects, and Report Projects. You should open projects in the same tool that created them.
Choosing Between SQL Server Management Studio and Business Intelligence Development Studio
SQL Server Management Studio is designed for developing and administering database objects, and for administering and configuring existing Analysis Services objects. Business Intelligence Development Studio is designed for developing business intelligence applications. If you are implementing a solution that uses SQL Server database services, or if you are administering an existing solution that uses SQL Server, Analysis Services, Integration Services, or Reporting Services, you should use the SQL Server Management Studio. If you are developing a solution that uses Analysis Services, Integration Services, or Reporting Services, you should use the Business Intelligence Development Studio.
The following table lists additional topics that provide more information about both studio environments and about solutions, projects, and items:
Topic |
Description |
|---|---|
Provides more detailed information about SQL Server Management Studio. |
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Discusses the tool windows and other user interface elements available in SQL Server Management Studio and Business Intelligence Development Studio. |
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Covers the concepts of solutions, projects, and items, as well as the advantages of managing your development projects and items using SQL Server Management Studio. |
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Provides more detailed information about Business Intelligence Development Studio. |
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Provide more detailed information about how the Reporting Services tools work together. |
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Describes the Integration Services tools for package creation, execution, and management. |
See Also