I\'m being driven to insanity trying to figure out why Intellisense just fails to work at all. The server I\'m using is local and is 2008, the database is set to 2008 compat
I don't want to suggest a product out of turn, since getting Intellisense running is probably the best option, but I've struggled with the accursed no intellisense on Management Studio for months. Reinstallation, CU7 update, refreshing caches, sacrificing chickens to pagan gods; nothing has helped.
I was about to pay for RedGate's SqlPrompt (pretty damned pricey, $195 US), when I found SqlComplete.
http://www.devart.com/dbforge/sql/sqlcomplete/?gclid=CN2xs_Lw7akCFcYZHAodpicXXw
There is a free version which does the basics, and the full version is only $50!
I'm a database architect, and while I can remember the commands, auto complete saves me heaps of time. If you're stuck and can't get Intellisense to work, try SqlComplete. It saved me hours of hassle.