"Favorites" or "macros" in SQL Server Management studio?

I am developer of SSMSBoost add-in and it has exactly what you need: is allows to manage the list of preferred servers/databases and quickly switch between them via custom Combobox on the toolbar, you can also say, if you want all servers to be opened in ObjectExplorer upon start-up and if a new query window should be opened for them (per-server setting).

SSMSBoost also allows you to define aliases (instead of server8273128 > MainServer, server231232> BackupServer etc..) It has more features - but they are out of scope of this topic.

Look at the picture - you can see Quick Connection Switch combobox with some Servers from preferred connections, "SSMSBoostDemoServer" - is an alias for the server, next name - is original.

One more thing - add-in is available in free edition.

SSMSBoost toolbar


Have you tried creating a registered server?

Take a look at the "Registered Servers" view (Ctrl-Alt-G). Define a server connection. Set the password, and click the "Remember Password" checkbox if you're not using Windows Authentication. On the "Connection Properties" tab, set your preferred database. Save the server registration.

Now, to connect to that database on that server (assuming you've got the Registered Server pane always visible, as I do), you just need to select that registration node and hit Ctrl-N.

That should save you at least 43 seconds a day.


I haven't read through the whole thing yet, but this article is about creating an add-in for SSMS, which you might be able to do in order to automate what you want.