Using the Object Explorer Pane in SQL Server Managment Studio

The Databases folder contains a list of all databases the currently logged in user has access to. Double-clicking a database's name displays all of the elements of the database.

Within each database, users can select tables to view. Each table contains a primary key, made up of one or more columns contained in the table.

	The Tables folder Within a database, the Tables folder lists all tables within the database. Opening a table lists additional elements including the Columns folder.
	The Columns Folder The Columns folder displays all columns within the table, as well as the table's Primary Key.
	The Primary Key Primary keys are used to uniquely identify a record. The Primary Key is displayed first and is represented by a key icon with the table's columns listed below.
	Columns The columns contained within the selected database table. At column level, users can view any constraints on the table, including whether the column accepts null values and each column's data type.

Within each database, users can configure database security constraints. Contained within the Security folder, is the Users folder which lists all users who have access to the selected database. Double-clicking a user (or right-clicking the username and selecting Properties from the submenu) will open the Database User Profile window. You can use the Database User Profile window to view and edit user schemas at the database level.

Within each server, users can view all logins for the current SQL Server connection. Double-clicking a login (or right-clicking the login and selecting Properties from the submenu) will open the Login Properties window. Users can view and edit login schemas at the server level using the Login Properties window.

• From the General page of the Login Properties window, set a password if one isn't currently set, edit an existing password, enforce password policy, and enforce password expiration.
• From the User Mapping page of the Login Properties window, users can view and change user mappings. Once a user is mapped to a database, they will have access to that database. Role membership should also be configured for each database the user has access to. Role membership options can be customized to restrict the user's access, from read or write only to full access and capabilities, with a variety of options in between.
  

Within each server, under the Management folder, are the SQL Server Logs. Double-clicking a log (or right-clicking the log and selecting Properties from the submenu) will open the Log File Viewer window. Users can view and export log files at the server level using the Log File Viewer window.

1. Expand the Management folder.
2. Expand the SQL Server Logs folder.
3. Select a log to export by double-clicking the log.
4. When the Log File Viewer window appears, click the Export button.
5. When the Export Last Fully Retrieved Log window opens, select a location to export the log to.
6. Enter a File name in the text field.
7. Click the Save button.