MSSQL convert star or asterisk to column names

So you've opened someones stored procedure up and look! They've used the asterisk to select the column names, not only is it slow but it's annoying to look at too. Isn't it much better to have all the column names at the top of your select statement? Before you answer... Yes it is. ;) Delete the asterisk or star, whatever you want to call it.

Expand the table on the right panel that lists all the tables and drag the columns folder straight in front of your select statement within the stored procedure... It'll add all the column names for you without having to type them up manually. Life saver! Definately takes some of the dross out of writing select statements for tables that have a lot of columns.

If you want to speed things up further, take out the column names you don't need selected, it'll save bandwidth and load on the server.

A useful video on this can be found below:

I take no credit for the video.