Perform operations on database object nodes

Database Explorer allows you to create database objects and view, export, import, or filter data using the shortcut menu of the database object nodes.

Tables node

In Database Explorer, right-click the Tables node and select the required command from the shortcut menu.

Create a table

To create a table:

1. In Database Explorer, right-click the Tables node and select New Table.

2. In the Table Editor that opens, specify the table name, schema it belongs to, columns and their properties, and data. You can also add triggers or indexes and preview the generated script before saving the table.

For more information about settings you can enter to create a table, see How to work with Table Editor.

3. On the Table Editor toolbar, select Apply Changes to save the table.

Views node

In Database Explorer, right-click the Views node and select the required command from the shortcut menu.

Create a view

To create a view:

1. In Database Explorer, right-click the Views node and select New View.

2. In View Editor that opens, do the following:

• Under Query Text, enter the view name, select the schema it belongs to, enter the query, and select view options.
• Optional: Under Query Design, build the view query on the diagram.
• Optional: Under Indexes, add indexes for the view.
• Optional: Under Statistics, set up statistics.
• Optional: Under Triggers, add triggers.
• Optional: Under T-SQL, preview the generated script.

3. On the View Editor toolbar, select Apply Changes to save the view.

Synonyms node

In Database Explorer, right-click the Synonyms node and select the required command from the shortcut menu.

Create a synonym

To create a synonym:

1. In Database Explorer, right-click the Synonyms node and select New Synonym.

2. In a SQL document that opens, enter the CREATE SYNONYM statement.

3. At the bottom of the SQL document, select Apply Changes to save the synonym.

Procedures node

In Database Explorer, right-click the Procedures node and select the required command from the shortcut menu.

Create a stored procedure

1. In Database Explorer, right-click the Procedures node and select New Procedure.

2. In a SQL document that opens, enter the CREATE PROCEDURE statement.

3. At the bottom of the SQL document, select Apply Changes to save the stored procedure.

Functions node

In Database Explorer, right-click the Functions node and select the required command from the shortcut menu.

Create a table-valued function

To create a table-valued function:

1. In Database Explorer, right-click the Functions or Table-valued Function node and select New Table-valued Function.

2. In a SQL document that opens, enter the CREATE FUNCTION statement.

3. At the bottom of the SQL document, select Apply Changes to save the function.

Create a scalar function

To create a scalar function:

1. In Database Explorer, right-click the Functions or Scalar Function node and select New Scalar Function.

2. In a SQL document that opens, enter the CREATE FUNCTION statement.

3. At the bottom of the SQL document, select Apply Changes to save the function.

Create an aggregate function

To create an aggregate function:

1. In Database Explorer, right-click the Functions or Aggregate Function node and select New Aggregate Function.

2. In a SQL document that opens, enter the CREATE AGGREGATE statement.

3. At the bottom of the SQL document, select Apply Changes to save the function.

Database Triggers node

In Database Explorer, right-click the Database Triggers node and select the required command from the shortcut menu.

Create a DDL trigger

To create a trigger:

1. In Database Explorer, right-click the Database Triggers node and select New DDL Trigger.

2. In a SQL document that opens, enter the CREATE TRIGGER statement.

3. At the bottom of the SQL document, select Apply Changes to save the trigger.

Enable all triggers

To enable all triggers, right-click the Database Triggers node and select Enable All.

Deactivate all triggers

To deactivate all triggers, right-click the Database Triggers node and select Disable All.

Sequences node

In Database Explorer, right-click the Sequences node and select the required command from the shortcut menu.

Create a sequence

To create a sequence:

1. In Database Explorer, right-click the Sequences node and select New Sequence.

2. In a SQL document that opens, enter the CREATE SEQUENCE statement.

3. At the bottom of the SQL document, select Apply Changes to save the sequence.

Shortcut menu commands

The following table briefly explains the other shortcut commands available when you right-click an object node in Database Explorer. The table includes each command description and its availability for different database object types.

Command	Description	Available for database object nodes
Tasks > Export Data	Opens the Data Export wizard to export data to a file with the supported file extension.	Tables Views
Tasks > Import Data	Opens the Data Import wizard to import data from a file into a database.	Tables
Filter	Opens the Filter Settings dialog to filter which database objects appear in Database Explorer.	Tables Views Synonyms Procedures Database Triggers Sequences Assemblies (Rules and Defaults) External resources Service Broker Storage Security
Show Details	Opens Object Viewer to view object details.	Tables Views Synonyms Programmability External resources Service Broker Storage Security
Refresh	Updates the database object node to reflect the latest changes made in the database. Alternatively, press F5.	Tables Views Synonyms Programmability External resources Service Broker Storage Security
Unit Test > Add New Test	Opens the Add New Test dialog to create a unit test in the database.	Programmability Procedures
Unit Test > View Test List	Opens the Test List Manager to view unit tests in the database.	Programmability Procedures
Unit Test > Run All Tests	Runs all tests for the selected database.	Programmability Procedures
Find in Security Manager	Opens Security Manager with the highlighted database object.	Users Roles Application Roles Schemas