The Database Explorer pane displays information about open database connections. The Database Explorer contains the following options:

• Connection List —Displays the names of all open database connections. All data shown in the Database Explorer and all supported operations are applied to the connection selected from the drop-down list. Hovering over a connection displays the connection string.
• Database Object View —Displays the database objects that exist in the currently selected database in the following hierarchical manner. The view displays only the database objects the current user has permission to access, as defined in the database connection string.
  1. Databases—Lists the catalogs or schemas for the selected database. A "default" tag appended to a database name indicates the default database for the connection.
  2. System Databases—Lists all the system catalogs or schemas in the selected database.
     Note For MySQL and Oracle databases, the application lists only the default user schema as defined by the connection string. For Sybase, the application lists only the schema present in the default catalog as defined by the connection string.
  3. Tables—Lists all the tables contained within a catalog or schema.
  4. System Tables—Lists all the system tables contained within a catalog or schema.
  5. Views—Lists all the views contained within a catalog or schema.
  6. System Views—Lists all the system views contained within a catalog or schema.
  7. Columns—Represents the columns in a Table or View. The node displays the name, data type, and whether the column is nullable.
  The context menu includes the following options in different levels of the database object hierarchy:
  • View Data —Launches a new Execute SQL tab that contains a data grid that displays the contents of the database table or view.
  • Edit Data —Launches the Edit Data tab that contains a data grid that displays the contents of the database table. You can edit the contents of the table and submit the changes to the database. This operation is supported only in user databases.
  • Delete All Data —Deletes all the records present in the table. This operation is supported only in user databases.
  • Add Table —Launches the Add Table dialog box. This operation is supported only in user databases.
  • Add Column —Launches the Add Column dialog box. This operation is supported only in user databases.
  • Drop Column —Deletes the selected column from the table. This operation is supported only in user databases.
  • Drop Table —Deletes the selected table from the database. This operation is supported only in user databases.
  • Drop All Tables —Deletes all tables from the selected database. This operation is supported only in user databases.
  • Describe Table —Launches the Describe Table dialog box.
  • Generate Query —Generates the SQL query required to perform the chosen operation and creates a new Execute SQL tab with the SQL query set. You can execute the query to complete the operation.
    Note

    • Schema update operations that SQL queries execute from the Execute SQL tab do not update the Database Object View. The view updates the next time you refresh the connection.
    • The Generate Query option applies only to the Delete All Data, Drop Column, Drop Table, and Drop All Tables operations.

The Database Explorer also contains the following options:

• New Data Link —Launches the New Data Link dialog box in which you specify a new database connection.
• Save Data Link —Specifies a path to save the selected connection as a .udl file.
• Disconnect —When you close a connection, the Database Viewer removes the connection from the Connection List and closes any Execute SQL or Edit Data tabs associated with the connection. Any commands executing on the connection when you close it will be terminated or cancelled. For example, if you refresh a connection and then disconnect it, the Refresh command underway will be terminated.
• Refresh Connection —Retrieves all the database objects for that connection again and updates the Database Object View. You can also press F5 to perform this command.
• View Connection Information —Launches the View Connection Information dialog box.