In my work with external customers, I collaborate with some excellent DBAs & Architects. But I've noticed many of them are not aware that you can capture column headers from query results to grid in SSMS.
When a very bright engineer I work with—not a SQL SME yet one of the smartest guys I know—told me he didn't know about it either, I decided to document the simple protocol. I'm not the first person to post this topic, but I wouldn't need to do so if everyone already knew about it.
There are two ways to get the column headers from SSMS into, say, Excel.
The Hard Way
You can simply type out the column names by hand.
The Right Way
Make it the SSMS default:
As my friend the cellist says, "Viola!"
The steps are the same for SQL Server 2005 & 2008.
Additional Resources
Explore these topics for additional information on SSMS options & increase your SSMS productivity.
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Jimmy May, MCDBA, MCSE, MCITP: DBA + DB Dev | Senior Performance Consultant: SQL ServerA.C.E.: Assessment Consulting & Engineering Serviceshttp://blogs.msdn.com/jimmymay Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but SQL Server is delightful! —Brian Moran This post was written with the PracticeThis.com plugin for Windows Live Writer
Jimmy May, MCDBA, MCSE, MCITP: DBA + DB Dev | Senior Performance Consultant: SQL ServerA.C.E.: Assessment Consulting & Engineering Serviceshttp://blogs.msdn.com/jimmymay Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but SQL Server is delightful! —Brian Moran
This post was written with the PracticeThis.com plugin for Windows Live Writer