Advanced Intellisense for SQL Server developers & DBAs

SQL Complete: smart autocomplete for SQL Server developers & DBAs

dbForge SQL Complete is a useful add-in for SQL Server Management Studio 2000, 2005 and 2008 that offers powerful autocompletion and formatting of T-SQL code.

Besides extending List Members, Complete Word and Parameter Info features, SQL Complete adds SQL Formatter to enrich the developer toolkit and provide the fastest T-SQL query typing ever possible.

Key Features

Context-based code completion

SQL Complete thoroughly defines the context to predict what you want to type next. Smart intellisense prompts only relative keywords and names of database objects. Just type several symbols and see the required word in the suggestion list. It takes only to press Enter and go on with your query.

Parameter Info

When you type names of user-defined and built-in functions and procedures, dbForge SQL Complete will display their parameter information in a hint. Get the necessary information promptly without browsing external documentation.

Customizable SQL formatting

Produce clear and well-formatted code without worrying about all those indents, whitespaces, wrappings, line breaks, etc. Just keep typing your SQL and see it automatically transformed based on your preferences and formatting rules. With a wide selection of formatting options you can set any formatting style you need.

* These features are available in the Standard edition of dbForge SQL Complete only.

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

Context-based prompt of different object types

When you are typing a query, dbForge SQL Complete displays names of all valid database and other objects from the specified database or schema, or names of columns from the specified table. Object types are marked with different icons, so you can easily recognize them. The complete list of the supported types is available in the Types Supported in the Prompt List of dbForge SQL Complete topic.

Context-based prompt of keywords**

dbForge SQL Complete offers a list of expected keywords to use in the current position of your code. For example, when you are typing SELECT *, the list shows all available keywords that match the context.

   

Context-based prompt of function parameters

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

Word autocompletion

If you are typing first several symbols of a database object name, and dbForge SQL Complete finds only one match, it automatically inserts it to complete the word.

Automatic filtering of object in the suggestion list

dbForge SQL Complete automatically filters names of objects and keywords in the list based on what you are typing. Filtering rules include typed symbols, a whitespace, camel case, or a square bracket. For example, if you type SELECT * FROM PC, you will see the suggested compound names which elements start with the P and C characters (camel case).

Context-based sorting of suggestions in the list

dbForge SQL Complete sorts names of databases objects by type and displays most relevant suggestions at the top of the list, others are moved to the bottom.

Determining a current database or schema

dbForge SQL Complete displays a list of database objects from the current database or schema even when their names are not specified in a query. The names of the current database or schema are determined based on connection properties of the current SQL document. Besides, the tool finds USE statements in the code and changes the current database for subsequent SQL statements.

Supporting queries to various databases

Typing statements in the context of some database, you can get suggested objects of another database if you specify its name in the query text.

Automatic displaying suggestions while typing

From the first symbols that you are typing in the SQL editor, dbForge SQL Complete determines the most relevant suggestions in the current context and displays them in the list. You can cancel automatic display of suggestions or edit a delay time used to display them.

Two ways to insert a suggested word into a query

To insert a suggested word into code, you can select it in the list of suggestions or type previously specified symbol(s). See General Options topic for more details.

Usage of syntax highlight settings for the suggestions list

dbForge SQL Complete highlights keywords, built-in functions and other objects in the suggestion list based on corresponding settings of SSMS.

Query formatting**

It takes one click, and dbForge SQL Complete formats the style of your SQL statements, paying attention to case, line breaks, whitespaces, indenting, wrapping, etc. Statements with errors are skipped and are not formatted. You can tune formatting by applying a wide selection of formatting options.

Unformatted query:

Formatted query:

Support of various query types**

dbForge SQL Complete provides context-based suggestions and formatting in such queries like SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, USE, CREATE (table, procedure, function, view), control flow statements (IF, WHILE), BEGIN ... END blocks.

Semi-transparent view of the suggestion box

When your code is overlapped by the suggestion box, dbForge SQL Complete allows you to look at it without closing the suggestion box. Hold Ctrl to make the suggestion box switch to semi-transparent view. 

   

Inserting columns list on pressing Tab*

You may insert a list of columns available for the needed objects (tables, views, etc.) of the FROM list instead of the * symbol by pressing the Tab key. If such list can be inserted, a hint is displayed when the cursor is after the * symbol.

Suggesting methods for columns and variables*

dbForge SQL Complete can suggest methods for columns and variables of the varchar(max), nvarchar(max), varbinary(max), and xml types.

For columns and variables of the varchar(max), nvarchar(max), and varbinary(max) data types the WRITE method can be suggested.

For columns and variables of the xml data type, the query(), value(), exist(), modify(), and nodes()methods can be suggested.

All these methods can be suggested (except WRITE and nodes()) in the context of calculated expressions and after column identifiers of these types with a point.

Note:
The WRITE method can be called in UPDATE and SET statements only. The nodes() method can be called only in the FROM list.

Suggesting conditions for JOIN statement*

For JOIN statements, dbForge SQL Complete can suggest a full JOIN statement that is based on foreign keys, or it can suggest conditions that are based on column names. This suggestion is available after the JOIN keyword as well as after the ON one.

Automatic alias generation in SELECT statements*

dbForge SQL Complete can assign an alias to each table object (table, view, stored procedure, function, synonym, sub-query) available in the FROM list of your SQL statement automatically. You can learn more about alias generation in the Managing aliases in dbForge SQL Complete topic.

Sorting keywords by relevance*

Keywords in the suggestion list may be sorted by relevance. If the Sort keywords by relevance option is unchecked, keywords are sorted in alphabetical order. 

This feature allows grouping keywords in the suggestion list by the degree of relevance of a keyword to some specific context. This helps to single out the most appropriate keywords for commit.

The sample below demonstrates how this option works:

The Sort keywords by relevance property is on (keywords are sorted by relevance):

The Sort keywords by relevance property is off (keywords are sorted in alphabetical order):