SSMS shortcut to navigate between open query windows

Here's my approach that get's me closer to coding utopia. Make sure you keep your SSMS query windows sorted by name from left to right. SQLQuery1.sql, SQLQuery2.sql, etc. These are the default names SSMS gives these tabs when you create them (by clicking New Query).

To change the current query window tab, press "alt" then "w" then "w". A window is shown listing all of your open query windows sorted by their names (which should be the same order in which you have them laid-out from left to right). Use the up and down arrow keys to highlight the tab you want to activate and press enter. Your desired tab should be open now.

This allows me to quickly change query windows while keeping my fingers on the keyboard (less mouse usage).

the equivalent of Ctrl+Tab in browsers for SSMS would be Ctrl+Alt+PageDown for next tab and Ctrl+Alt+PageUp for previous tab.

SSMS 2008

Ctrl+F6 will switch between two most recent tabs. And honestly, Ctrl+Tab / Ctrl+Shift+Tab work like next/previous except you have to hit Tab twice (you can ignore knowing what the name of the tab in the list is).

That said, have you considered upgrading to SQL Server 2012 Management Studio? A lot of its features are much more refined than the 2008 version (and you will still be able to manage your 2008 servers). A challenge you'll find here is what does "next" really mean? Since you can tear off tabs, split the UI, even move tabs onto different monitors, I think "next" and "previous" lose a little meaning unless you know what order they were opened in...

SSMS 2012

• Ctrl+F6 will cycle through open tabs in the order they are displayed, and Ctrl+Shift+F6 will cycle in the reverse direction.
• Ctrl+Tab / Ctrl+Shift+Tab will open a temporary window and allow you to cycle through open queries in the order they were last opened.