SQL document overview

A SQL document is a workspace where you can write, edit, execute T‑SQL statements against SQL Server databases, debug database objects, and view or manage the results those statements return.

A SQL document uses a .sql file extension and includes the main views:

  • SQL Editor – Lets you write and execute SQL queries, statements, stored procedures, and scripts. It supports syntax highlighting, context‑sensitive code completion, code formatting, SQL snippets, Go To Definition, parameter information, and SQL query history.
  • Data Editor – Displays query results and lets you perform SQL operations directly from the grid, including viewing, sorting, and filtering data; copying it to the clipboard; saving the data to a file or exporting it to CSV format.
  • Bottom panel – Lets you switch between document views and view the status of the executed query, the connected server, database, and user.

SQL document

Open a SQL document

To open a SQL document, do one of the following:

  • On the Start Page, click SQL Development > SQL Editor.
  • On the top menu, select File > New > SQL.
  • On the top menu, select File > New > File > SQL Server > SQL File > Create.
  • On the standard toolbar, click New SQL.

  • In Database Explorer, right-click a required server connection or a database, then select New SQL.

  • On the standard toolbar, click New File New File, then click SQL Server > SQL File > Create.

  • Press Ctrl+N.

Document layout

SQL document supports two types of view layouts: Split Layout (default option) and Combined Layout.

Combined layout

To switch to a combined document layout, in the bottom-right corner of the SQL document, click Combined Layout Combined Layout.

The combined layout lets you see only one view at a time.

Combined document layout

Split layout

To switch to a split document layout, in the bottom-right corner of the SQL document, click Split Layout Split Layout.

In the split layout, a SQL document is divided into two areas:

  • Text – SQL Editor, you’re working with.
  • Data – Results grid.

Split document layout

SQL Editor shortcut menu options

Right-click anywhere in the SQL Editor and select the required option.

Name Description
Insert Snippet Inserts a code snippet at the cursor location.
Shortcut: Ctrl+K, X.
Cut Cuts the selected fragment from the script.
Shortcut: Ctrl+X
Copy Copies the selected fragment to the clipboard.
Shortcut: Ctrl+C
Paste Inserts the copied fragment into the script at the cursor location.
Shortcut: Ctrl+V
Execute Executes the script.
Shortcut: F5
Run on Multiple Targets Opens the Run on Multiple Targets dialog, where you can select multiple databases to run the script on.
Execute Current Statement Runs only the SQL statement, where your cursor is currently positioned.
Shortcut: F8
Execute To Cursor Executes a script to the current position of the cursor.
Shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+F10
Start Launches the current script in debug mode.
Shortcut: Alt+F5
Run To Cursor Debugs code until execution reaches the cursor, where the debugger pauses so you can step through the code.
Shortcut: Ctrl+F10
Insert Breakpoint Inserts a breakpoint in the code at the cursor location.
Go To Definition Navigates to the Object Editor for the object, where the cursor is placed.
Shortcut: F12
Jump Between Syntax Pairs Navigates between paired syntax constructions, such as BEGIN...END, BEGIN TRY...END TRY, BEGIN CATCH...END CATCH, CASE...END.
Shortcut: Ctrl+F12
Disable Code Completion Disables the code completion feature.
Refactoring > Rename Allows you to rename the object identifier where the cursor is placed.
Shortcut: F2
Refactoring > Insert Semicolons Inserts semicolons.
Shortcut: Ctrl+K ;
Convert EXEC to Script Replaces the EXEC statement with the inline SQL code that the stored procedure contains.
AI Assistant > Explain SQL Creates a request in a new AI chat to explain the selected code fragment.
AI Assistant > Optimize SQL Creates a request in a new AI chat to optimize the selected code fragment.
AI Assistant > Fix SQL Creates a request in a new AI chat to identify potential issues and suggest fixes for the selected code fragment.
AI Assistant > Send Selection To New Chat Opens a new AI chat and inserts the selected fragment into the input field.
Analyze Code Enables the T-SQL Code Analyzer that validates your code.
Format > Format Document Formats the query document.
Shortcut: Ctrl+K, D
Format > Format Selection Formats the selected query document or code fragment.
Shortcut: Ctrl+K, F
Format > Format Current Statement Formats the current SQL statement.
Shortcut: Ctrl+K, S
Format > Active Format Profile > format profile Applies the chosen format profile to the current SQL statement or selected code fragment.
Format > Active Format Profile > Edit Format Profiles Opens the Options > Text Editor > Format > Profiles dialog, where you can edit a format profile, create a new one, or set a profile as active.
Settings > Query Execution Options Opens the Options > Query Execution > General dialog, where you can set up query execution options.
Settings > Options Opens the Options dialog, where you can manage and personalize the environment, editors, execution settings, and IDE behavior to match your preferences.

Data Editor shortcut menu options

Use the toolbar above the results grid to adjust the data appearance in the grid.

To work with a specific row, right-click it and select the option.

The table describes the shortcut menu options.

Name Description
Refresh Updates the results grid to reflect any changes.
Shortcut: F5
Copy Copies the data from the selected row to the clipboard.
Shortcut: Ctrl+C
Copy With Headers Copies columns with their headers.
Shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+C
Copy Data As Copies the selected data from the grid into different formats, allowing you to paste it elsewhere, such as Excel, a text editor, email, or a report.
Copy Data As > Copy Column Names Only Copies only the column headers as text.
Copy Data As > Copy Column Names and Types Copies column headers along with their data types.
Copy Data As > CSV Copies the selected data as a .csv file to the clipboard or saves it to a file.
Copy Data As > XML Copies the selected data as an .xml file to the clipboard or saves it to a file.
Copy Data As > HTML Copies the selected data as an .html file to the clipboard or saves it to a file.
Copy Data As > JSON Copies the selected data as a .json file to the clipboard or saves it to a file.
Copy Data As > EXCEL Copies the selected data as an .xls file to the clipboard or saves it to a file.
Paste Inserts the copied data into the grid.
Shortcut: Ctrl+V
Paste As New Records Inserts the copied data as new records instead of replacing existing rows.
Set Value To Lets you set the value of the selected cells to a common default or special value.
Set Value To > NULL Sets the cell value to NULL.
Shortcut: Ctrl+0
Set Value To > Empty String Sets the cell value to an empty text string ('').
Set Value To > Now Sets the cell value to the current date and time.
Set Value To > Zero Sets the cell value to 0.
Append Adds a new empty row at the bottom of the grid for entering new data.
Shortcut: Ins
End Edit Finishes editing the current cell and saves the changes.
Cancel Edit Discards the editing and reverts the cell to its previous value.
Delete Deletes the selected row from the grid.
Shortcut: Ctrl+Del
Quick Filter Instantly filters rows in the grid based on the selected values or conditions.
Select the required option from the shortcut menu.
Visible Columns Opens the Visible Columns dialog, where you can clear the checkboxes next to the columns you want to hide.
Clear Sorting Clears column sorting.
Data Layout > Grid View Displays data in the grid view.
Data Layout > Card View Displays data as cards.
Auto-search mode Enables the auto-search mode.
Shortcut: Ctrl+I
Data Viewer Opens the Data Viewer window.
Shortcut: Ctrl+W, R
Export Data Opens the Data Export wizard to export data to a required file format.
Generate Script As Creates ready‑to‑run SQL scripts of database objects without writing them manually.
Generate Script As > INSERT Generates an INSERT script of the selected object to a new SQL document, a file, or to the clipboard.
Generate Script As > BULK INSERT Generates an INSERT script of the selected object to a new SQL document, a file, or to the clipboard.
Generate Script As > INSERT #tmpTable Generates an INSERT statement that inserts data from the query result into a temporary table - #tmpTable.
Generate Script As > WHERE IN() Generates a WHERE script of the selected object to a new SQL document, a file, or to the clipboard.
Generate Script As > WHERE AND OR Generates a WHERE clause combining selected cell values with AND (within rows) and OR (across rows) to a new SQL document, a file, or to the clipboard.
Generate Script As > UPDATE Generates an UPDATE clause of the selected object to a new SQL document, a file, or to the clipboard.
Send to > Query Builder Opens your current SQL query in the Query Builder diagram.
Send to > Data Report Opens your current SQL query in the data report.
Send to > Chart Designer Opens your current SQL query in the chart.
Send to > Pivot Table Opens your current SQL query in the pivot table.
Print Opens the Preview, where you can print, export, or view data.
Shortcut: Ctrl+P
Options Opens the Options > Data Editor > General dialog, where you can customize the Data Editor settings.

Bottom panel

In the bottom panel, you can:

  • Switch between document views.
  • Open additional document views, such as Query Builder, Profiler, or Pivot table.
  • See the connected server, database, and username.
  • View the status of the executed query - whether it ran successfully or failed with errors.
  • View the query execution time.

Swap document views

To swap document views, click Swap main and additional document views Swap main and additional document views.

Open a new document view

To open a new document view, click Open document view Open document view, then select the required view on the menu.

Hide a view

1. Select the view you want to hide.

2. Click Open document view Open document view, then select Hide on the shortcut menu.

Show all views

To show all views, click Open document view Open document view, then select Show All Views on the menu.

Save changes

An asterisk (*) in the document name on the tab title indicates unsaved changes.

To save and apply them, on the standard toolbar, click Save As Save As, or press Ctrl+S. In the dialog that opens, specify the path to store the file and its name, and click Save.