Data Types
A user-defined data type is a data type created in the database using a CREATE TYPE statement.
In Database Explorer, you can perform operations on data types using the shortcut menu. Right-click a data type to access commands for specific tasks, such as generating scripts for data types.
Create a data type
You can create a data type in SQL Editor using:
- Code completion feature to write a script.
- SQL snippets to insert predefined or custom code.
Duplicate a data type
1. Right-click the required data type and select Duplicate Object.
2. In the Duplicate Object dialog, configure the object settings:
- In Destination connection, select the target server.
- In Destination database, select the target database.
- In Destination schema, select the target schema.
- In New object name, specify the object name.
- Select Drop destination object to drop the destination object if it already exists.
- Optional: Select Script Changes, then select To New SQL Window to open the generated script in a new SQL document, or To Clipboard to copy it to the clipboard.
3. Click OK.
Delete a data type
1. Right-click the data type you want to delete and select Delete.
Alternatively, press Delete.
2. Click Yes to confirm the deletion.
Note
You cannot undo the drop operation. Back up the database before you delete the data type from the database.
Generate a script for a data type
1. Right-click the required data type, select Generate Script As, then select the statement type.
2. Select one of the following options:
- To New SQL Window – Opens the script in a new SQL document.
- To File – Generates the script to a .sql file.
- To Clipboard – Copies the script to the clipboard.
For more information, see Generate the DDL and DML statements for database objects.
View properties of a data type
To view properties of a data type, right-click the data type or Data Types node and select Show Details.
Object Viewer opens and provides detailed information about the data type.
Refresh data types
To update the data type to reflect the latest changes, right-click the data type or Data Types node and select Refresh.
Alternatively, press F5.
Open the Properties pane
To open the Properties pane, right-click the data type and select Properties.
Alternatively, press F4.
Filter data types
1. Right-click the Data Types node and select Filter.
2. In the Filter Settings dialog, configure the filter parameters.
3. Click OK.
Note
When you open the Data Types node, the number of objects it contains appears in parentheses next to the node name. This number changes based on your filter settings.
Shortcut menu options for a data type
The following table describes the shortcut menu options available for a data type in Database Explorer.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Source Control > Source Control Manager | Opens Source Control Manager, where you can track and manage changes to database schema and static data. When Source Control Manager is already open, this option refreshes it. |
| Source Control > Commit | Opens Source Control Manager with all local changes (if any) selected and ready to commit. When Source Control Manager is already open, this option refreshes it and selects all local database changes. |
| Source Control > Get Latest | Opens Source Control Manager with all remote changes (if any) selected and ready to retrieve using Get Latest. When Source Control Manager is already open, this option refreshes it and selects all remote database changes. |
| Duplicate Object | Opens the Duplicate Object dialog to duplicate the data type. |
| Generate Script As | Generates a script for the selected object using the CREATE, DROP, and DROP and CREATE statements. The script can be saved to a new SQL document or to a file, or copied to the clipboard. |
| Show Details | Opens Object Viewer that displays object details. |
| Delete | Drops the selected data type from the database. Shortcut: Delete |
| Refresh | Updates the object to reflect the latest changes. Shortcut: F5 |
| Properties | Opens the Properties pane that displays the object information. Shortcut: F4 |
Shortcut menu options for the Data Types node
The following table describes the shortcut menu options available for the Data Types node in Database Explorer.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Source Control > Source Control Manager | Opens Source Control Manager, where you can track and manage changes to database schema and static data. When Source Control Manager is already open, this option refreshes it. |
| Source Control > Commit | Opens Source Control Manager with all local changes (if any) selected and ready to commit. When Source Control Manager is already open, this option refreshes it and selects all local database changes. |
| Source Control > Get Latest | Opens Source Control Manager with all remote changes (if any) selected and ready to retrieve using Get Latest. When Source Control Manager is already open, this option refreshes it and selects all remote database changes. |
| Filter | Opens the Filter Settings dialog to control which data types should appear in Database Explorer. |
| Show Details | Opens Object Viewer that displays object details. |
| Refresh | Updates the object to reflect the latest changes. Shortcut: F5 |
Note
The Source Control shortcut menu is available only after you link the corresponding database to a source control system.
Bulk operations
In Database Explorer, hold down Ctrl and select data types. Then right-click the selection and select the required option.
The following table describes the shortcut menu options available for multiple data types.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Source Control > Source Control Manager | Opens Source Control Manager, where you can track and manage changes to database schema and static data. When Source Control Manager is already open, this option refreshes it. |
| Source Control > Commit | Opens Source Control Manager with all local changes (if any) selected and ready to commit. When Source Control Manager is already open, this option refreshes it and selects all local database changes. |
| Source Control > Get Latest | Opens Source Control Manager with all remote changes (if any) selected and ready to retrieve using Get Latest. When Source Control Manager is already open, this option refreshes it and selects all remote database changes. |
| Source Control > Link/Unlink Static Data | Opens the Source Control Link Static Data dialog that displays the tables whose data you want to link. |
| Generate Script As | Generates scripts of the selected objects using the CREATE, DROP, and DROP and CREATE statements. The scripts can be generated to a new SQL document or to a file, or copied to the clipboard. |
| Delete | Drops the selected data types from the database. Shortcut: Delete |
