PhpStorm 2024.3 Help

Cannot find a database object in Database tool window

If you see no objects below the schema level, cannot find changes in objects, experience broken tables or any other visualization problems, try the following steps to resolve the problem.

Step 1. Refresh the database state

If someone changed the remote database data or view, the local view of the database might differ from the actual state of the database.

  • To synchronize the database state automatically, in the Database tool window (View | Tool Windows | Database), click the Data Source Properties button the Data Source Properties button and select the data source that you want to change. On the Options tab, select the Auto sync checkbox.

    If the Auto sync checkbox is cleared, the view of the data source in the Database tool window (View | Tool Windows | Database) is synchronized with the actual state of the database only when you click the Refresh icon the Refresh icon or press Ctrl+F5.

    Refresh the database state

Step 2. Verify that the necessary schemas are selected

When you create a data source, the data source is created with no schemas selected. You need to select schemas with which you plan to work.

To select the schemas, do one of the following:

  • In the Database tool window (View | Tool Windows | Database) , right-click a data source and navigate to Tools | Manage Shown Schemas. Select or clear checkboxes of schemas that you want to display or hide. Press Enter.

  • Click the N of M link near the data source name. In the database and schema selection window, select or clear checkboxes of schemas that you want to display or hide. Press Enter.

    Show and hide schemas and databases

The Default schema or Default database is a schema or a database that will be current in connection to a data source. The current schema is a schema that is current in a session. You can change the current schema by using SET CURRENT_SCHEMA. The default schema depends on database settings and data source settings that you set in the JDBC URL.

You can change this default in connection settings of a data source. To change the default, click the Data Source Properties icon The Data Source Properties icon in the Database tool window (View | Tool Windows | Database). From the list of data sources, select your data source. In the Database field, type the name of a schema or a database that you want to use as a default.

Step 3. Verify that the tree filter is off

If the items of the object kind are filtered out from the view, the objects wil be hidden in the Database tool window.

To make sure the database object is not filtered out from the view, do the following:

  1. In the Database tool window toolbar, click the View Options icon View Options.

  2. Select the Filter icon Filter.

  3. Navigate to the database object kind and make sure that the checkbox is ticked.

The green dot in the corner of filter icon indicates that the filter is on and some objects are filtered out.

Only views and tables are selected to view in Database tool window
All items are selected to view in Database tool window

Step 4. Force refresh schema information

The Force Refresh action clears the data source information from cache and loads it again from scratch.

  • In the Database tool window (View | Tool Windows | Database) , right-click a data source and select Diagnostics | Force Refresh.

    Force refresh schema information

Step 5. Clear and synchronize the schema cache

Collect information by using Diagnostic tools

To profile the introspection and diagnose possible issues, PhpStorm can generate three files that include information about the following:

  • dataSource.txt: the data source.

  • introspector.txt: a module that was used to load the metadata from the database.

  • model.xml: a part of the database model.

This information might be helpful when introspection works incorrectly. For example, when you see something outdated or do not see new objects.

  1. Right-click a data source and navigate to Diagnostics | Generate Introspector Diagnostic Files.

  2. PhpStorm will generate three files with the introspector diagnostic info.

    Notification message with a link to introspection diagnostic files

    Click the link in the Diagnostic information collected notification message to navigate to the directory with generated files.

Introspection diagnostic files in the file browser window

The following screenshots show the example output of these three files.

  • dataSource.txt

    Example of the dataSource.txt file
  • introspector.txt

    Example of the introspector.txt file
  • model.xml

    Example of the model.xml file

Switch to the JDBC-based introspector

Consider this step as a temporary workaround. If you cannot see objects in the Database tool window, you might have a bug. Collect troubleshooting materials and send them to our support team.

Temporarily enable introspection with JDBC metadata

  1. Open data source properties. You can open data source properties by using one of the following options:

    • In the Database tool window (View | Tool Windows | Database) , click the Data Source Properties icon The Data Source Properties icon.

    • Press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S.

  2. On the Data Sources tab, select the data source that you want to modify.

  3. Open the Advanced tab.

  4. From the Expert options list, select the Introspect using JDBC metadata checkbox.

  5. Synchronize the view (see Step 1. Synchronize the database state).

Last modified: 14 November 2024