1.1. Starting Microsoft SQL Server and SQL Server's Management Studio

To start Microsoft SQL Server and open up SQL Server's Management Studio, follow these steps:

From the Start menu, go to All Programs, select Microsoft SQL Server , and then SQL Server Management Studio (as shown in the Figure 1-1).

You will get the screen shown in Figure 1-2. This screen allows you to connect to Microsoft SQL Server . If the server type and server name are different from the defaults that came up, enter the appropriate server type and server name, and select Windows Authentication. Then, click Connect.

Figure 1-1. Opening Microsoft SQL Server and SQL Server Management Studio

Your system may require a username and password for each SQL Server instance.

Once connected to the server that you typed in, you will get the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio screen (Figure 1-3) that we will be using throughout the rest of the book.

Figure 1-2. Connecting to Microsoft SQL Server

Figure 1-3. Connected to Microsoft SQL Server's Server

The Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio screen contains the Object Explorer on the left portion of the screen and, to start with, a Summary tab on the right portion of the screen. The Object Explorer provides a hierarchical view of objects. For example, you can navigate through a database, table, column, or other types of objects, as we will soon show you.