Blue Turtle partner Quest Software extends popular Toad database development environment to support SQL Server databases

Quest Software, a leading provider of application, database and infrastructure management solutions, today announced version 1.0 of Toad for SQL Server, an easy-to-use development environment that increases the productivity of database developers and administrators.

A Microsoft Gold-certified Partner, Quest Software continues to expand its set of database management solutions for SQL Server databases to now develop and administer high-quality database application code to make database administration easier and application development faster.

"Microsoft SQL Server revenue is growing at a faster rate than any other major DBMS platform," said Carl Olofson, research director, IDC. "The complexity of enterprise-class databases including SQL Server requires advanced tools so that developers can quickly build optimised SQL code and DBAs can manage tasks across multiple servers with greater efficiency. Tools with a familiar interface can also be very useful for experienced DBAs that are new to SQL Server."

Building on the success of Toad for Oracle, Toad for SQL Server is designed to address the needs of both database developers and DBAs in the SQL Server community.

Database professionals can quickly create and execute queries, automate database object management and develop highly optimised SQL code more efficiently. Administration capabilities allow users to manage large projects, integrate with version control software, manage users and database security, and import/export data. Quest also supports Toad for SQL Server users by hosting an interactive community of peers and experts.

"Toad for SQL Server gives developers and DBAs the powerful tools they need to increase database performance and their productivity while lowering development and administration costs," says Martyn Healy, marketing director of Blue Turtle, the southern African partner of Quest Software. "Rather than having to search out multiple vendors to solve the issues related to SQL Server development, Quest provides our clients with a comprehensive solution."

Toad for SQL Server extends Quest`s deep expertise in database development and administration to SQL Server users. Key capabilities available in Toad for SQL Server include:

* Database administration - to simplify database administration and project management tasks when simultaneously creating and managing database objects, SQL code, users, logins and security across multiple servers.
* SQL editor - to accelerate stored procedure construction via an intuitive SQL Procedure editor and modeller with built in templates, code snippets and function builders.
* SQL debugger - to speed SQL debugging through integration with the SQL Editor window which accepts parameters and uses colour coded break-points to step through code.
* SQL tuning - to automate SQL statement tuning and optimisation by automatically rewriting, benchmarking and comparing the fastest alternate statements to the original SQL and eliminates the current manual, trial-and-error rewrite process.
* Knowledge Xpert - to reduce the amount of time spent digging through manuals to comprehend the logic of SQL Server syntax with Toad`s built in SQL Server knowledge base.

Quest Software provides two user communities, the Toad community and the Quest Pipelines, to support Quest solutions for SQL Server and to help SQL Server users acclimate to the platform. The Toad community offers a forum in which users have open communication with Quest Software developers and product managers to provide recommendations on product enhancements. The Quest Pipelines are available to anyone seeking database development and administration information from experts on major database platforms.

Quest offers a broad suite of innovative products for the SQL Server database lifecycle from design through production. Quest solutions for SQL Server include Toad for SQL Server for development and administration; Benchmark Factory for scalability testing; Quest Central for SQL Server for performance diagnostics and optimisation; Foglight for 24x7 unattended database monitoring, and LiteSpeed for SQL Server for backup and recovery.

Version 1.0 of Quest Toad for SQL Server will be available later this month. Customers interested in participating in the open Toad for SQL Server beta program can find more details by visiting: http://www.toadsoft.com/toadssbeta.html. For additional information, visit: www.quest.com/sqlserver.