Object information

dbForge Studio for SQL Server lets you view extra information about any object without generating a script or opening the table column list.

Getting quick information can be helpful in several cases. For instance, if you are writing a query with a WHERE clause that filters out data from a particular column, you can check the index information on that column and see whether your query will run fast.

Quick object overview

You can view information about any existing object by hovering over it.

View object information

The quick object overview appears in a tooltip and provides the following information:

  • The name of the schema to which the table belongs.
  • Column data types.
  • Constraints.
  • Indexes.
  • Primary and unique keys.
  • Foreign keys.
  • Additional column properties, such as NOT NULL and IDENTITY attributes.
  • Estimated row count.

You can also view quick information for an asterisk (a shorthand for all columns of a table).

Tip

To make the tooltip semi-transparent, press and hold the Ctrl key.

For columns, the quick object overview includes:

  • The related table.
  • The type of data.
  • Nullability.
  • The extended properties for the column.

View column information

A green plus next to an object icon means the object has been created in a script, not in a database.

View information for the object with the green plus

A shield icon next to a column name indicates metadata about its sensitivity classification:

  • Red – Critical sensitivity rank.
  • Yellow – High sensitivity rank.
  • Blue – Medium sensitivity rank.
  • Green – Low sensitivity rank.
  • Black – No sensitivity rank.

View sensitivity classification for the object metadata

Parameter information

The parameter information tooltip appears when you type an opening parenthesis for a function or after a procedure name.

The active parameter is displayed in bold. The description of the parameter is displayed if it was added during the creation of the function or procedure in extended properties.

Example for a procedure.

Parameter info: procedure

Example for a function.

Parameter info: function

The arrows indicate function overloading, meaning the function can have two or three parameters.

Parameter info: function overloading

Column information in VALUES

The column information tooltip appears when you type an opening parenthesis after VALUES in an INSERT statement. The active value is displayed in bold.

Column info in the VALUES statement

Supported objects

For a list of supported objects, see Types of suggested objects.