Is there any way to view whitespace in the query editor for SQL Server Management Studio Express 2005?

Question

I have it enabled in Visual Studio 2008, but I'd really like to enable this feature in SQL Server Management Studio 2005 Express. Does anyone know if its possible? Maybe in a later version?

EDIT: Sorry, I meant specifically in the text/query editor.

Solution 1

In case you still need to know how to do this.

Edit the Registry Key in HKEY_CURRENT_USER:

Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\xx\Tools\Shell\Text Editor\Visible Whitespace

Where xx is the version you have (90 is 2005, 100 is 2008)

And set it to 1 to show. Or for SQL Server 2012 and up client tools it is also in HKCU:

Software\Microsoft\Microsoft\SQL Server Management Studio\v\Text Editor\Visible Whitespace

where v in SQL Server 2012 is 11.0 and in SQL Server 2014 is 12.0.

Solution 2

Try doing Ctrl R, Ctrl W (or activate from menu Edit > Advanced > View White Space).

This is Edit.ViewWhiteSpace command (you can see this in Tools>Options>Keyboard) and should be assigned to that keyboard combination. You can in fact also type this command in Command Window (Ctrl+Alt+A).

This worked for me with Server Management Studio 11.0.2100.60.

Solution 3

Starting in SSMS 2012 this is available in Edit > Advanced > View White Space

Solution 4

SSMS (2005, I don't know about 2008) does not provide this functionality.

However, you could use a font that uses visible glyphs for spaces and tabs, like this: http://imgur.com/944LZ

I used a free font editor called Type Light to make a copy of an existing font, with a visible space glyph.

I know it's a hack, but where there's a will there's usually a way...

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Comments

[Pandincus]

@Simon Chadwick Yeah, I figured it didn't have the functionality, but I just wanted someone to confirm it for me (couldn't find it anywhere on Google!) At any rate, that's a clever workaround -- I think I'll give it a shot!

[Pandincus]

Thank you! This was EXACTLY what I was looking for.

[Bernhard Hofmann]

I'm shocked and horrified that it takes a registry setting to change visibility of white space since the color of white space is so easy to set in the options. But you're right, so +1 to you sir.

[David Dowdle]

I found that this also exists under Edit > Advanced > View White Space in version 11.0.2100.60.

[Arowin]

For what it's worth, I found the option for SQL 2012 under: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\SQL Server Management Studio \11.0\TextEditor -> Visible Whitespace

[Jakub P.]

Can we also do the same for Results Grid View?

[Sebastián Vansteenkiste]

For anyone shocked as @BernhardHofmann, keep scroling, in new versions it can be done with a key combination now! :D