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I have a multi monitor configuration and would like to be able to have my query editor on one monitor and the results pane on another.

Can this be achieved? Either by having the results pane vertically attached to the query editor instead of horizontally, or by having the results pane float completely separate from the query editor.

I am using SSMS 2008 R2 and can upgrade to 2012 if this is a new feature.

My current workaround is to have 2 SSMS instances open, both with the same .sql file open.

I make changes to one and save it, then switch to the other instance which prompts me to reload the script and I can then execute it with the results pane filling most of the monitor.

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  • I don't have the environment for it, but can't you just drag the result windows out of SSMS and to the other monitor?
    – harrymc
    Sep 6, 2013 at 19:42
  • not that I have found, SSMS does not seem to be MDI. Hence this question!
    – Shevek
    Sep 7, 2013 at 22:01
  • Look in the Tools menu / Options / Environment folder / General, if you can set "MDI environment" and relaunch SSMS. (source)
    – harrymc
    Sep 8, 2013 at 6:00
  • 1
    I have now installed SSMS 2012 and can confirm that it behaves in exactly the same was as 2008 R2, so it is not a solution to this problem
    – Shevek
    Sep 17, 2013 at 12:58
  • 2
    It's such a small thing. Multiple monitors is so common nowadays, especially for devs. Everyone on our team has at least 2, most have three (I have 4 :D)... This would be such an awesome feature.
    – Shevek
    Jan 24, 2014 at 7:29

4 Answers 4

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At least in the newer Visual Studio 2015, you can use the interface to work against a database, and have the results vertically, to the right. Just work through the SQL Server Object Explorer, and open the script, or start a New Query. You'll find a small icon with a vertical line between the script, which will switch the results to a vertical orientation, buying you precious screen space, especially if you use an ultrawide, like I do.

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12

Unfortunately the results pane can only be attached horizontally to your current editor window, this means there is no way to detach it and to move to another screen.

However, one improvement of SSMS2012 over 2008 is that you don't need to have two instances of it opened now to use several monitors: you can undock the editor window and drag it over to a second monitor.

Unfortunately, you can't duplicate the same query or re-open it. So, having two instances might be still an optimal solution for you. I am just used to quickly press

  • Ctrl-A (select everything in the editor window),
  • Ctrl-C (copy to clipboard),
  • Ctrl-TAB (switch to pre-last [data] window),
  • Release Ctrl briefly
  • Ctrl-A (select the complete content of the second, data window),
  • Ctrl-V (replace the content with the new content from),
  • F5 (to refresh the data)

It might seem long, but most of the sequence is done just with you minimal finger keeping Ctrl pressed, and for those who are experienced in computer fighting games this just reminds one of the "fatality" combos :)

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If it is a sql script you are editing you can edit the file from a different application save changes, refresh and reload your results. That way your results can be in their own window.

I'm using sublime on one screen and SSMS on another with the results pane moved toward the top of the window.

One downside with this is that it doesn't auto-refresh when I save so I have to manually accept the changes made each time I save but it is not too bad.

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  • Works in VS 2017 as well. Thanks! Oct 25, 2017 at 19:19
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Another "hack" to do this is to open your windows display settings and temporarily align your two monitor with one directly over the other. Then simply re-size your window so it covers both monitors. Set the divider between the query and results panes so the query portion is on one monitor and the results are on the second monitor. It actually works quite well as long as you're spending your day in the SQL world.

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