In the Data Source Explorer, you can connect to existing databases
and view their designs and objects.
You
can browse database designs and import them to the Data Project Explorer,
where you can extend or modify the designs. You
can also run stored procedures and user-defined functions and view the results
in the SQL Results view.
Tip: There are some steps that you can take to improve performance
in the Data Source Explorer when you are working with large databases:
Using the Data Source Explorer, you can perform the following tasks. Some
of these tasks are not supported in some products that use the Data Source
Explorer.
- Create and manage database connections, and browse data objects in a connection:
- Define connection filters
- Connect to existing databases and view their designs
- Disconnect from a database connection if you are connected
- Edit database connection properties
- Use saved connection information to view objects in a database even if
you are not actively connected
- Refresh the database objects that are defined for a database connection
- Delete a database connection
- Import
or export database connection information to an XML file
- Highlight an object in a connection, and view its properties in the Properties
view
- Modify data objects, and manage changes:
- Create
or alter data objects using the Database Administration editor
- Drop data objects
- Compare
and merge two data objects
- Analyze
the impact and dependency of data objects
- Generate
DDL from a database, schema, or data object, and select the data objects that
you want to include in the DDL script
- Analyze
a data model to ensure model integrity
- Export
data object metadata to data projects, where you can modify and redeploy the
objects:
- Drag
and drop data objects, such as schemas or tables, to a data design project,
where you can modify and deploy them from a physical data model
- Drag
and drop stored procedures or user-defined functions into a data development
project, where you can modify and deploy the objects
- Create, run, and tune SQL queries and
routines:
- Create
and run SQL scripts using the SQL editor
- Create routines with the SQL editor or
the routine editor
- Debug
stored procedures using the integrated debugger
- Run
and view statistics for database objects, to plan and tune query access