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#0220-SQL Server-Enable single-click URL navigation

December 10, 2012 9:00 AM

There are many productivity improving and usability tips and tricks related to the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). Ever since I started my blog (about 2 years ago), I have been writing mostly about these tips, and the list never ends! In today’s post, I will show how to configure the SSMS to recognize URLs within code comments.

One may place URLs in code comments for many reasons. Those that are applicable for me are:

Referencing a specification
Referencing a code defect/enhancement: The URL would point to the related TFS defect
A link to Sharepoint or any collaboration tool that development teams may be using
A link/citation to a website/blog that has been used as reference

For most languages & file extensions that the SSMS can handle, using Ctrl+click on any hyperlink opens the built-in web-browser and launches the associated page within SSMS. [One difference between SSMS for SQL 2012 and SQL 2008 is that the SSMS for SQL 2008 does not show the hyperlink in blue/underline].

The SSMS for SQL Server 2012 and below (tested for SQL Server 2008 and SQL 2008 R2), provide a text editor option – “Enable single-click URL navigation” that allows the user to control this behaviour. To access this option, go to Tools –> Options –> Text Editor –> All languages –> General (one can do this for specific languages too).

Toggling single-click URL navigation Options->Text Editor)” src=”http://media.beyondrelational.com/images.ashx?id=2e1b88231cf24e9c91c41ca0192eb778&w=-1&h=-1″ width=468 height=275>

Un-checking this option will cause SSMS to stop recognizing hyperlinks within code comments:

Hyperlinks not recognized when "Enable single-click URL navigation" is off. Options causes SSMS to stop recognizing hyperlinks.’ src=”http://media.beyondrelational.com/images.ashx?id=600b25791c0948408aec09821a2834b9&w=-1&h=-1″ width=510 height=148>

The benefit of keeping “Enable single-click URL navigation” checked is that when developing and reviewing T-SQL code, it becomes very easy to reference and reach out to related documentation. I trust you found this feature useful.

Until we meet next time,

Be courteous. Drive responsibly.