The final feature that I almost missed was an unobtrusive little button labeled SQL that is the second from the right.  This opens the dialog below:

Forget the syntax of anything, here it is.  Not only does this list the full syntax for everything in Transact SQL, but you can get information for a variety of other things like if..else constructs.  Forget the syntax to that system stored procedure or want to know what it is for, they are all here.  Not only is this done for every system stored procedure, but also for every extended stored procedure.  The extended stored procedures are significant, because more than half of them are not documented in BOL.

The other thing to watch for that will be released very shortly is a full featured debugger.  This will first be released for Oracle with Sybase and MS SQL Server being released later.  The presence of a debugger makes SQL-Programmer a complete no-brainer.  One other feature that will be debuted shortly is an improvement to the editing environment that gives keystroke access to objects within your scripts.  By simply placing the cursor over an object and pressing a particular hotkey, the object will be launched in its own editor.  This will give you the ability to quickly bounce around between objects to make modifications to dependent objects that might be impacted by your current modification or to get additional information about those objects.   For those who haven't seen this, simply placing your mouse over a function shows a "popup box" that looks like a tool tip with information about that function.  I'm told that you will also be able to launch an editor from this feature as well.

SQL-Programmer provides you with more than enough tools to dramatically improve and speed development efforts.  On the strength of a few features within SQL-Programmer such as reports, syntax checking, and the Help SQL, I could easily justify the purchase price.  Those features don't even begin to scratch the surface of what SQL-Programmer can do.  If you need more cost justification, take the cost of a version control product such as PVCS, SourceSafe, or MKS and compare that to the price of SQL-Programmer.   Why?  Because everyone needs source code control and nowhere is that more important than in your database.  SQL-Programmer gives you the functionality of these source code products as one small feature so that you don't have to spend the money for them.. If you already have source code control, more than likely SQL-Programmer will integrate with it.  No other SQL development tool I've seen so far can boast that.   I've probably only scratched the surface of this product and I'm sure I'll find more as I use it.  I was definitely impressed.

SQL-Programmer is the flagship product from Sylvain Faust International. SQL-Programmer with the new debugger will be introductory priced at $999US until August 31. After that it will go to it's normal retail price of $1299.

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