Is there a simple free SQL Server client available?

Have you looked at Management Studio Express:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2005/mgsqlexpwssmse.mspx

Of course there is no such thing as free software - but it is free to download!

you can always use the sqlcmd tool that comes with SQL Server ...

If your definition of "free" gets you closer to the GPL than the MS product allows (I use and like Management Studio), there is http://sourceforge.net/projects/sqlqueryagent

I have used the latter in cases where, for licensing purposes, I have not felt free to load Management Studio.  If you do use SQL Query Agent, I suggest you grab the patch I posted that internationalizes it ... unless you're fluent in German. :-)

Thanks for the comments.  I have spent some time looking at each one.  I believe that there is no licensing issue because the machines that I am working with have SQL Server on them.  It is the database behind a POS system, which in this case is also a MS product.  The issue is that the POS software install doesn't seem to include any client tools for SQL Server.  I can't find sqlcmd, Management Studio or anything else.  Am I just missing something?

Still reading . . .

if a simple command line tool is needed, one could put together a little vb script and run queries in no time. the scripthost does not require any additional installation from Windows 2000 upward ;)

-- cheers

Yveau,

That's what I am looking for!

Thanks,

Todd

Glad I could be of any help !