Manage database connections

dbForge Studio for SQL Server offers a visual, quick, and simple way to manage database connections from Database Explorer.

Open Database Explorer

By default, Database Explorer opens when you start dbForge Studio. If it is closed, you can open it in one of these ways:

• Navigate to the View menu and select Database Explorer.
• Press Ctrl+W, L.

Database Explorer displays recently used database connections. When opening Database Explorer for the first time, no connections are shown.

Open a database connection

Open a database connection in one of these ways:

• In Database Explorer, double-click a connection that was closed.

• In Database Explorer, right-click the closed connection and select Open.

• On the Database Explorer toolbar, select for the closed connection selected in Database Explorer.

In Database Explorer, the connection icon is changed to , and the connection node displays a list of databases assigned to the connection.

Close a database connection

Close a database connection in one of these ways:

• In Database Explorer, right-click the open connection and select Close.

• On the Database Explorer toolbar, select for the open connection selected in Database Explorer.

In Database Explorer, the connection icon is changed to .

Edit a database connection

1. In Database Explorer, right-click a connection you want to edit and select Modify Connection.

2. In the Database Connection Properties dialog, edit the connection parameters.

3. To save the changes, click Connect.

Delete a database connection

1. In Database Explorer, right-click a connection you want to delete and select Delete.

2. In the pop-up window, select Yes to confirm the deletion.

To cancel dropping, click No.

View database connection information

1. In Database Explorer, right-click a connection and select Properties or press F4.

2. The Properties pane opens, displaying information about the connection properties.

Tabs and connection coloring

Using colored shapes across connections, databases, and tabs ensures fast visual recognition of the connected server.

To add colored shapes, open the Database Connection Properties dialog and select a specific colored shape for the server connection in the Environment Category list.

Customize category settings

You can customize category settings by choosing colors and shapes, editing, adding, or deleting categories. You can also assign colors to all or specific schemas within a connection. This can be done in the Options dialog on the Environment > Categories page.

To open the Environment > Categories page, do one of the following:

• In the Environment Category list of the Database Connection Properties dialog, click the ellipsis (…).

• Navigate to the Tool menu and select Options. Then, go to the Environment > Categories page.

Note

Tab coloring and categories affect execution warnings.

Assign coloring to an environment category

1. Next to the Environment Categories grid, select .

2. In a new row, specify a server and/or a schema name and environment.

3. To save the changes, click OK.

Note

Categories are not associated with a specific connection. They are determined by rules configured through connection attributes, such as a data source (a name or network address of the SQL Server instance to connect to) and a database name. If two connections share identical values for these attributes, they are assigned the same category.

Alternatively, you can create a DNS alias for the connection to assign a unique environment category.

Remove coloring from an environment category

1. Select the color match you want to remove.

2. Next to the Environment Categories grid, select .

3. To save the changes, click OK.

Add a new category

1. Next to the Category Settings grid, select .

2. In a new row, specify an environment name and choose a shape and a color.

3. To save the changes, click OK.

Delete a category

1. Select the category you want to delete.

2. Next to the Category Settings grid, select .

3. To save the changes, click OK.

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