Specify Values for Template Parameters — command

Question

When I create a stored procedure in SQL Server 2008 by using the template, the comments specify a hot-key combination that no longer works:

-- Use the Specify Values for Template Parameters 
-- command (Ctrl-Shift-M) to fill in the parameter 
-- values below.

I can use the keyboard combination ALT+Q, S to get the same results. How can I update the template so that it references the working combination rather than the deprecated one?

I sometimes go for long stretches between working with stored procedures, and I don't always remember the correct combination. It would be nice not to have to search for it each time this happens.

EDIT: I tried Jon's suggestion of opening up the template from the template explorer. I was surprised to find the correct combination listed in the template. Is there a way to force SSMS to use the correct template?

Answer 1

I take it back! Just stop using the Template Explorer. You can edit the files here:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\VSShell\
  Common7\IDE\SqlWorkbenchProjectItems\Sql\

For example if you edit the file:

Stored Procedure\Create Stored Procedure (New Menu).sql

Then right-click Stored Procedures and select New... and you will see the changes you made. I'm not sure why the Template Explorer exposes that item to you when it's not the one used in the menu. I couldn't figure out why making changes to the template didn't reflect what I was getting when I right-clicked in Object Explorer.

I'll leave the rest of the answer here for posterity. Especially the part about SQL Server 2012, since it handles snippets in a much more intuitive and useful way.

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I don'tdidn't believe you cancould interfere with what Management Studio adds to the template when you open them... as far as I cancould tell that comment is injected internally.

But I have a better recommendation anyway: use SQL Server 2012 Management Studio and its new Snippets feature. Some benefits over templates:

• You can store snippets in a network location, and all of your users can point their custom snippets folder to the same place. This means that if you want to change the template for your stored procedure, let's say, you change it in one place and everyone's next use is up to date - you don't have to distribute an updated template to every single user.
• No hokey VB6-looking template parameters dialog. You can just use tab to cycle through and replace tokens in the snippet. You should try it out, I can almost guarantee you'll like it better. (Plus you'll get a bunch of other enhancements, such as IntelliSense that actually starts to live up to its name.)

Back in January, I wrote a detailed tip about setting up snippets:

http://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/2589/use-sql-server-code-snippets-to-encourage-consistent-conventions/

Answer 2

Right-click the template in the Template Explorer and click Edit.

EDIT: If you inspect the path to the template files, they are stored buried in your user profile folder. If your AD profiles are out of sync, or the original machine you installed the management tools had different settings, this could account for the difference. You still should be able to edit the templates, though.