Context-based prompts for SQL database objects and statements

Last modified: January 30, 2025

dbForge Studio for SQL Server provides smart prompts for database objects and SQL statements and auto-completes the current code.

Prompts overview

Context-based prompts for different object types

When you type a query, dbForge Studio for SQL Server displays names of all valid databases. It also displays objects from the specified database or schema, or column names from the specified table. Object types have different icons, so you can easily recognize them.

Context-based prompts for keywords

dbForge Studio for SQL Server provides a list of expected keywords to use in the current position of your code. For example, if you type SELECT *, the list shows all available keywords that match the context.

Context-based prompts for linked servers

dbForge Studio for SQL Server displays names of the following linked servers:

• SQL Server
• SQL Azure

Context-based prompts for function parameters

When calling any built-in or user-defined function in a query, a hint with information about the function and parameters it requires appears.

Context-based prompts for JOIN clauses

For JOIN clauses, dbForge Studio for SQL Server can suggest a full JOIN clause that is based on foreign keys, or conditions that are based on column names and foreign keys. This suggestion is available after JOIN and ON keywords.

Determine a current database or schema

dbForge Studio for SQL Server displays a list of database objects from a current database or schema even when their names are not specified in a query. Also, the tool finds USE statements in code and changes the current database for subsequent SQL statements.

Code completion in the SQLCMD mode

This feature ensures that values of variables are taken out from the document and object suggestions work as with an ordinary SQL script when scripts are executed with the help of the command line utility.

Column picker for quick list building

This feature allows defining column lists for selecting, grouping, sorting and inserting without typing any code at all.

Note

* These features are available in the Standard edition of dbForge Studio for SQL Server only.

** The Express edition of dbForge Studio for SQL Server offers partial support of these features. Full support is available in the Standard edition only.

Refresh Suggestions

If you connect to multiple databases in the same session, dbForge Studio loads objects for each database as required, without unloading previously stored objects. This allows you to go back to the previous queries and continue receiving suggestions for any database you have connected to. Since the tool stores database objects in memory to provide suggestions, connecting to multiple databases with a large number of objects may lead to high memory usage. To reset the memory at any time, select Refresh Suggestions on the Text toolbar.

Object types supported by the prompt list

Below is the list of objects that are supported by the prompt list of dbForge Studio.

Databases

Linked Servers

Schemas

Tables

Views

Encrypted Views

Columns of table objects

Scalar functions (including CLR), CLR aggregate functions

Table-valued (including CLR) functions

Built-in functions

Table level trigger

Encrypted table level trigger

Database level trigger

Encrypted database level trigger

Server level trigger

Encrypted server level trigger

Sequences

Synonyms for supported objects

XML Schema Collection

Aliases for table objects (table, view, stored procedure, function, synonym, sub-query)

Suggested conditions for JOIN statements

Suggested keywords

Built-in data types

User data types

Built-in functions starting with @@

Local and cursor variables

Function and procedure in parameters

Out parameters for procedures

Collations

Cursors

Labels

Languages

Snippets

Procedures

Users

Roles

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