How do you debug or step through the code in SQL Server Management Studio 18?

Question

SQL Server Management Studio used to have Debug functionality that would allow to step through the code and watch the values etc. Referring to How to add the Debug button to SSMS v18?, I understand that the functionality is removed from SQL Server Management Studio V18.1.

But what is the alternative now? How do you step through the code to pinpoint a bug in the code?

Answer 1

You can use Visual Studio (the full IDE) to do it:

1. Use "Server Explorer" (Under the View menu) to connect to your DB
2. Right-click the DB and choose "New Query" (or find a stored procedure to debug)
3. Set a break point (F9 key or otherwise) on a line of SQL
4. Right-click inside the SQL editor and choose "Execute with Debugger"

Answer 2

Your best option is to not upgrade version 18.X, but stay on 17.9 until the Microsoft Product Manager gets sacked. A similar thing happened in going from SQL Server 2000 to SQL Server 2k5. Eventually, they capitulated and re-introduced the feature.