DDL data sources

SQL files that contain data definition language statements (DDL statements) can be used as data sources. As a result, you can reference all tables, columns and other objects defined in such files in the editor.

Check the following video that shows how to work with DDL data sources.

When you create a DDL data source, the folder with SQL files for this data source is automatically attached in the Files tool window.

You can do the other way around and attach a directory with SQL files that contain DDL statements and drag them from the Files tool window to the Database Explorer.

If you already have a DDL data source for the selected data source, you can choose whether to dump DDL files to the existing DDL data source or create a new one.

Use file scopes to filter the files and folders that are used as sources for the DDL data source. When you dump DLL files to the existing DDL data source, the excluded ones will be ignored.

Dump an existing data source to a DDL data source

In the Database Explorer ( View | Tool Windows | Database Explorer) , right-click a data source that you want to dump to a DDL data source and select Import/Export | Dump to DDL Data Source.
To configure code settings for the DDL data source, see Configuring DDL generation settings.
In the Data Sources and Drivers dialog, select the DDL data source, and click Add directories or DDL files.
In the file browser, navigate to the directory that will store DDL files of a data source and click Open.
Click OK.
When you dump files to a DDL data source, the folder with these SQL files is automatically attached in the Files tool window.

Create a DDL data source from existing files

Open data source properties. You can open data source properties by using one of the following options:
- Navigate to File | Data Sources.
- Press Control+Alt+Shift+S.
- In the Database Explorer ( View | Tool Windows | Database Explorer), click the Data Source Properties icon .
On the Data Sources tab in the Data Sources and Drivers dialog, click the Add icon () and select DDL Data Source.
In the Sources pane, click the Add button ().
In the file browser, navigate to the SQL file or files with DDL statements and click Open.
Click the Dialect link and select a dialect that you want to use for added SQL files.
Apply settings and click OK.

Filter files and folders using scopes

Open data source properties. You can open data source properties by using one of the following options:
- Navigate to File | Data Sources.
- Press Control+Alt+Shift+S.
- In the Database Explorer ( View | Tool Windows | Database Explorer), click the Data Source Properties icon .
In the Sources pane, click the Add button ().
To add and filter files and folders using scopes, select one of the following options:
- To use the existing scope, select it from the menu.
- To create a group of files specifically for the current DDL data source, select Anonymous Scope. This scope will not be stored among others.
- To edit the existing scope or create a new one, click Edit Scopes. For more information, refer to Scopes and file colors.
Apply settings and click OK.

If the Auto sync is selected, the DDL data source is automatically refreshed with changes to the corresponding files. To disable this behavior, clear the checkbox.

Reference objects in a data source

You can create an index in the DDL data source that references a table in a usual data source. In your code, this table will be correctly referenced and the table with the index will appear in the database tree.

Open data source properties. You can open data source properties by using one of the following options:
- Navigate to File | Data Sources.
- Press Control+Alt+Shift+S.
- In the Database Explorer ( View | Tool Windows | Database Explorer), click the Data Source Properties icon .
Select a DDL data source that you want to extend.
Click the Add icon (), select Extend Data Source and select the data source that you want to reference.

Set a dialect for SQL files in the DDL data source

Open data source properties. You can open data source properties by using one of the following options:
- Navigate to File | Data Sources.
- Press Control+Alt+Shift+S.
- In the Database Explorer ( View | Tool Windows | Database Explorer), click the Data Source Properties icon .
Click a DDL data source that you want to modify.
On the Sources tab, click the Configure SQL Dialect icon ().

Creating objects in the DDL data source

In the Database Explorer ( View | Tool Windows | Database Explorer) , right-click a node of the DDL data source and navigate to New. In the list of objects, select the object that you want to create.
Right-click a directory of the DDL data source in the Files tool window (View | Tool Windows | Files) and select New | SQL File. Type a CREATE statement in the created SQL file.

Configuring DDL generation settings

You can configure code settings for files that are generated for the DDL data source.

Open data source properties. You can open data source properties by using one of the following options:
- Navigate to File | Data Sources.
- Press Control+Alt+Shift+S.
- In the Database Explorer ( View | Tool Windows | Database Explorer), click the Data Source Properties icon .
On the Data Sources tab, select the DDL data source.
Click the New File Layout tab.

Settings of the New File Layout tab

Option	Description
Layout	Defines the way how to store and generate DDL files. File per object by schema: generate separate files for each object and place them in folders with schema names. File per object: generate separate files for each object and place them in one directory. File per object with order: generate separate files for each object and add a numeric prefix to a filename.
Root path	Defines the location directory for DDL files.
Code style	Applies the code style to generated DDL files.
Qualify objects with schema names	Adds a schema name to the table name. You can qualify a table when you have two and more tables with identical names in different schemes. This option has the following parameters: Auto: automatically qualifies table names if you have more than two identical table names in different schemes. Never: never qualifies table names. Always: always qualifies table names.
Place constraints	Defines where to place FOREIGN KEY, UNIQUE, CHECK, and other constraints. Inside column: into the column definition when the constraint is based on one column. When the constraint is based on two or more columns, place constraints into the table definition after all the columns. Inside table: into the table definition, after all the columns. After table: after the table definition, using ALTER TABLE ADD CONSTRAINT.
Regenerate database-provided code of property definitions	Regenerate property definitions that are provided as a part of source code by the database.
Reformat generated code	Reformat generated code with the current code style profile. This option affects generated code only and does not affect the code received directly from the server.
Default schemas/databases	Set a default schema or database for objects in the DDL data source. DDL data sources has unnamed databases and schemas. The following table allows you to set the default schema name.

Last modified: 21 June 2023