DDL data sources

Enable the Database Tools and SQL plugin

This functionality relies on the Database Tools and SQL plugin, which is bundled and enabled in JetBrains Rider by default. If the relevant features aren't available, make sure that you didn't disable the plugin.

Press Control+Alt+S to open the IDE settings and then select Plugins.
Open the Installed tab, find the Database Tools and SQL plugin, and select the checkbox next to the plugin name.

DDL data source is a virtual view of a database structure based on SQL files that contain data definition language statements (DDL statements). You can reference all tables, columns and other objects defined in such files in the editor. Diagrams are also supported.

DDL data source lets you maintain database versioning. Keep the SQL files under a VCS system and regenerate them every time your database structure is updated.

Once created, DDL data sources are available in Database tool window ( View | Tool Windows | Database) . You can create and manage the SQL files with statements in the Solution Explorer tool window ( View | Tool Windows | Explorer) .

DDL data source in Database tool window and SQL files with statements in Project tool window

In JetBrains Rider, you can create a DDL data source by dumping an existing data source and by using existing SQL files:

When you dump an existing data source to a DDL data source, the folder with SQL files for this DDL data source is automatically attached in the Database tool window.
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.
To create a DDL data source using existing SQL files, add the directory with the SQL files to your project and drag them from the Solution Explorer tool window to the Database tool window.

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.

Create a DDL data source

Dump an existing data source to a DDL data source

In the Database tool window ( View | Tool Windows | Database) , 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, refer to 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.

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:
- In the Database tool window ( View | Tool Windows | Database) , click the Data Source Properties icon .
- Press Shortcut is missing.
In the Data Sources tab of the Data Sources and Drivers dialog left pane, 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.

Work with DDL data sources

Filter files and folders using scopes

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 .
- Press Shortcut is missing.
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 about scopes, 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:
- In the Database tool window ( View | Tool Windows | Database) , click the Data Source Properties icon .
- Press Shortcut is missing.
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:
- In the Database tool window ( View | Tool Windows | Database) , click the Data Source Properties icon .
- Press Shortcut is missing.
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 tool window ( View | Tool Windows | Database) , right-click an item under the DDL data source node and navigate to New. In the list of objects, select the object that you want to create.

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:
- In the Database tool window ( View | Tool Windows | Database) , click the Data Source Properties icon .
- Press Shortcut is missing.
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 by schema and database: generate separate files for each object and place them in folders with schema names. Places folders with schema names in folders with database 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. File per object by schema and type: generate separate files for each object and place them in folders with type names. Place folders with type names in folders with schema names.
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 have unnamed databases and schemas. The following table allows you to set the default schema name.

Last modified: 25 October 2023