Code Assist in Management Studio - SQL Server 2012

Question

I'm just getting started with the MS SQL Server 2012 Management Studio. I have been writing SQL for years so the language is not an issue. I am used to an IDE that has a code assistant that offers a list of column names whenever I type a table alias followed
by a dot anywhere in the select list or where clause, assuming I have assigned that alias in the from clause. I think this is called IntelliSense in SSMS world. Whatever it's called, I'm trying to understand this functionality in SSMS.
While working on one of my first queries in Management Studio I have seen this behavior a few times, but it seems very sporadic. Sometimes, after I type the alias and a dot and then start typing a column name, I have seen a list of column names from the
appropriate table, which start with the letters I typed. Sometimes, nothing happens.
In "the other IDE" if I started typing a column name sooner than a set time (e.g. 500 milliseconds) the code assist would not activate, but I could hit the F6 function key and, hey presto, there's the code assist. Is there a way in SSMS to manually
activate the code assistant?
Thanks
Gregory

Answer 1

Hi ThatOtherFella'sBrother,
According to your description, I test the IntelliSense in SQL Server 2012 Management Studio (SSMS) and find IntelliSense is work well. Based on my research, there are several potential reasons why IntelliSense doesn't work as below.
1.Your cursor may be inside a comment or a string literal, where IntelliSense parsing simply doesn't dare to venture.
2.The insertion point is inside a code comment. IntelliSense options are not available when the insertion point is within a comment in your source file.
3.The insertion point is inside a string literal.
4.The automatic options are turned off.
5.Your script isn't too large. SSMS will not try to parse a script that is larger than the size set in Tools > Options > Text Editor > Transact-SQL > IntelliSense > Maximum script size.
6.You may have been denied permissions on the object it may reside in a schema to which you don't have access.
To troubleshoot the issue, please pay attention to the points below.
1.Make sure to enable IntelliSense following the steps in the article:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms173743.aspx
2.Improve the value of 'Maximum script size' in Tools > Options > Text Editor > Transact-SQL > IntelliSense > Maximum script size if you are working with a very large script.
3.IntelliSense functionality does not cover database objects created by another connection after your editor window connects to the database. If objects are missing from IntelliSense features such as completion lists, you can choose one of these three mechanisms
below to refresh the cache of objects for your editor window.
a.Select the Edit menu, select IntelliSense, then select Refresh Local Cache.
b.Use the CTRL+Shift+R keyboard shortcut.
c.Disconnect your editor window from the instance of the Database Engine and reconnect.
4.Make sure that you have permissions on the object and the schema of the object.
5.Make sure that the connected instance is SQL Server 2008 or later. Since IntelliSense is only available when the Database Engine Query Editor is connected to an instance of the Database Engine from SQL Server 2008 or later.
There are two connect items for your reference.
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms173434.aspx
http://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/2591/troubleshooting-intellisense-in-sql-server-management-studio-2012/
Regards,
Michelle Li