[Looking for Charlie's main web site?]
Have you sought a keyboard shortcut to "open table" in SQL Server 2005 Mgt Studio?
I'm a huge fan of keyboard shortcuts, so imagine my dismay when I noticed that the new SQL Server 2005 "open table" option, available in Management Studio when you're viewing the tables in a database, had no keyboard shortcut (or Admin menu equivalent). The feature opens an editable grid of data in the table, which is a great when you need to do a quick fix of the data. But you have to right-click to see the option--I wonder how many never even notice it?
So I asked around and got an answer to my keyboard dilemma which actually is a generic windows solution. Did you know that you can get the equivalent of the right-click by using Shift-f10? Whatever you have the keyboard focus on, it will open its corresponding context menu. Very nice.
So in SQL Mgt Studio, open the database, then its tables, then select the table (all of which can be done with the keyboard), and then use shift-F10. You'll suddenly see that each context menu option shows the standard underline under the key to hit to execute that command (it's the "o" for open table).
Hope that may help others.
As I'm sure you've noticed, there are many resources out there outlining what's new, including a MS site devoted to what's new, including a "top 30 features" list and much more:
http://www.microsoft...
Of course, just as with an upgrade of CF, there is often much more of interest underlying the upgrade than just the "top marketing features", so you do need to dig deep.
Sorry, couldn't resist Charlie ;) Just kidding.
I'll certainly continue to offer my help for free in all sorts of ways (the blog, mailing lists, user group talks, and more--including a podcast I have planned, different from any ones current or planned that I've heard about).
Of course, the difference may seem about whether I'm "pushing" info, but as I said I mentioned mailing lists, so I'll still be participating in them (as an example) where people will freely raise questions (and expect free answers!).
The difference in the pay per minute service is just about when someone needs help right away and can't wait for those to deliver (whether from me or others), or finds that they don't deliver (and perhaps I'm not on the list to offer help for free).
Bottom line: I'm not QUITE like Lucy who charged her own brother Charlie for advice. :-) I'll still be helping my brothers and sisters for free in plenty of ways. :-)
Today I use a circa 1996 keyboard that Gateway distributed simply because it has the F1-10 keys to the left of the Tab/Caps Lock/Shift/etc. (in addition to the top). It is also a programmable keyboard. My only complaint about it is that it does not have a key for the context menu (as newer keyboards tend to have). But now I've learned Shift-F10 is my fix for that. And with the F-keys to the left, Shift-F10 is not even a stretch of the hand.
Thanks again.
My goal originally in seeking out an answer to this dilemma was to hope to find some dedicated menu or keystroke for that "open table" option, but in learning instead to use a keystroke for the context menu, I hope to remember (and remind all) the more generic solution so as to apply it to all such dilemmas. Hope it's helpful to future readers finding this in a web search. :-)