Free, open-source SSMS 22 extension

Do more in SSMS. Leave the repetitive work behind.

Axial SQL Tools adds the practical features database professionals reach for every day: better query editing, faster investigation, richer result exports, reusable snippets, query history, connection awareness, and focused health views.

Download the latest release View the source on GitHub

Free to use. No trial, license key, or contact form.

One extension for the work surrounding the query

  • Write
  • Investigate
  • Export
  • Operate
Built around real SSMS workflows

Useful improvements where you already work.

Axial SQL Tools stays inside SSMS and reduces the small interruptions that accumulate across a day of development, troubleshooting, and database operations.

01

Write and edit SQL faster

Format T-SQL with Microsoft ScriptDOM, expand SELECT * into explicit columns, select the current statement, toggle block comments, and script object definitions without breaking your flow.

Explore T-SQL formatting
02

Reuse the SQL that matters

Create and manage snippets, keep a shared query-template library, preserve indentation when inserting multiline SQL, and retrieve previously executed statements from Query History.

Explore templates and snippets
03

Find SQL across a database

Quick Search finds SQL text across one database or every accessible database on a server, reducing the time spent hunting through procedures, views, functions, and triggers.

Explore Quick Search
Results without the cleanup

Move query output into the format you need.

Export or transform result grids directly from SSMS instead of copying data through a chain of temporary files and manual formatting steps.

Excel and Google Sheets

Export grids to Excel with configurable file options, query text, AutoFilter, and data-type handling, or send results directly to Google Sheets.

Read the Excel export guide

Email-ready results

Prepare query results for email directly from SSMS, including recipient, subject, message, and the exported data your audience needs.

Read the email export guide

SQL and structured formats

Copy grid values as INSERT statements, a temporary table, an IN-clause array, CSV, JSON, XML, or HTML. Copy column names independently when building the next query.

See grid-copy formats
Performance and operational context

Understand more without leaving the query window.

The extension brings performance evidence, connection state, execution history, and server context closer to the work that depends on them.

Statistics Summary

Turn STATISTICS IO and STATISTICS TIME output into a structured view. Compare two captures and export the analysis as CSV, Markdown, or JSON.

Query History

Review detailed records of executed queries, filter the history, recover useful SQL, and optionally write entries to local JSONL files.

Explore Query History

Server Health Dashboard

Open a focused view of important SQL Server metrics and performance graphs when you need a fast operational overview.

Explore the Health Dashboard

Connection-aware tab colors

Color query tabs by connection and keep the status bar synchronized with the active connection, with readable foreground colors across supported themes.

Transaction and encryption warnings

See clear indicators when a transaction remains open or when Always Encrypted is enabled for the current connection.

See connection warnings

Precise execution time

Display query duration with millisecond precision in the status bar, making short-run comparisons easier to see.

Data movement and shared assets

Handle the work around SQL Server too.

Axial SQL Tools goes beyond editor commands. It includes focused utilities for moving data, managing reusable SQL, checking build information, and placing database definitions under basic source control.

Browse all documentation Browse the query library
01

Bulk data transfer

Copy data between supported systems through a simplified interface, including transfers to and from SQL Server, MySQL, and PostgreSQL with securely stored external connection details.

02

Practical query library

Start with templates for performance, security, storage, connections, blocking, Query Store, permissions, TDE, partitions, and other recurring SQL Server tasks.

03

SQL Server build information

Review SQL Server build and update information without interrupting the current workflow.

04

Sync database definitions to GitHub

Manually export database schemas to GitHub when a lightweight source-control workflow is sufficient.

What changed in 4.12

The current release focuses on flow and connection awareness.

Version 4.12 adds new editor commands and strengthens several features introduced in earlier SSMS 22 releases.

Expand SELECT *

Replace wildcards with explicit column lists, including queries that use aliases, joins, CTEs, table variables, temporary tables, and SELECT INTO.

Toggle block comments

Wrap or unwrap SQL block comments with a dedicated editor command.

Microsoft Entra authentication

Use proper Entra authentication support in features that open SQL Server connections.

Compare statistics captures

Use the improved Statistics Summary reliability and two-result comparison view.

Stronger tab coloring

Benefit from improved connection detection, readable colors, and immediate settings refresh.

Improved snippet workflow

Use the redesigned Snippet Manager and preserve editor indentation for multiline snippets.

Read the complete release notes

Review every change, contributor credit, known limitation, and the full comparison with the previous release on GitHub.

Open the 4.12 release notes
Install in a few minutes

Download the VSIX and add it to SSMS 22.

GitHub releases are the source of truth for the current package, release notes, compatibility, and any installation-specific instructions.

  1. Confirm SSMS 22

    The current extension targets SQL Server Management Studio 22. Older SSMS versions need older releases.

  2. Download the latest VSIX

    Open the latest GitHub release and download the attached Axial SQL Tools VSIX package.

  3. Install interactively

    Close SSMS, run the VSIX installer, and remove any older manually installed build first when the release instructions require it.

  4. Restart SSMS

    Enable the Axial SQL Tools toolbar and configure the features that fit your workflow.

Get the latest release Read installation details
Open development

Inspect it, suggest improvements, or contribute.

The project began in 2016 and continues to evolve through bug reports, feature ideas, documentation, testing, query-library additions, and code contributions.

Review the source

Inspect the implementation, dependencies, Apache 2.0 license, and NOTICE file before installation.

Open the repository

Report a reproducible issue

Describe the SSMS version, feature, steps, expected behavior, and what happened instead.

Open GitHub Issues

Propose or discuss an idea

Share a workflow problem, documentation improvement, query template, or feature proposal.

Open GitHub Discussions
Common questions

What to know before installing.

Is Axial SQL Tools free?

Yes. The project is free and open source under the Apache License 2.0, together with the additional statement described in the repository’s NOTICE file.

Which SSMS version does the current release support?

The current release targets SSMS 22. SSMS 21 is no longer supported by the current build, although older releases remain available in GitHub.

Does it replace a complete commercial SQL Server toolset?

No. Axial SQL Tools is a focused collection of practical SSMS improvements. It can complement other free or commercial tools rather than attempting to replace every specialized product.

Is support guaranteed?

No. The extension is community maintained and provided as-is without guaranteed support. Reproducible bug reports and contributions are welcome through GitHub.

When a tool is only part of the answer

Address the database problem behind the workflow.

If the real issue is slow applications, recurring incidents, fragile recovery, or inconsistent database operations, Axial SQL can help your team investigate and improve the underlying environment.

Database operations improvement

Turn monitoring, maintenance, recovery checks, and handoffs into repeatable practices.

Explore database operations

Start with the extension. Bring us the harder problem.

Download Axial SQL Tools freely. If the work points to a larger performance, reliability, migration, or operating challenge, tell us what is getting in the way.

Get in touch