Work You Can Do With the Visual Database Tools

The Visual Database Tools let you connect to a database and view and manipulate its structure and data. There are five tools in this tool set, each providing its own set of features. For information on which features are available in your edition of Visual Studio see Visual Database Tools Editions.

Note Note

Visual Database Tools works best with Microsoft SQL Server databases. If you are not using a Microsoft SQL Server database some features may not be available.

This version of Visual Database Tools does not support Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 and earlier.

  • Use Solution Explorer to:

  • Add database references to a Database project.

  • Save Change scripts, Create scripts, and Queries to a Database project.

Use Server Explorer to:

  • Create, modify, delete, and refresh database connections.

  • Create a new Microsoft SQL Server database.

  • Create new database objects, such as diagrams, tables, views, triggers, stored procedures, and user-defined types.

  • View and access database objects.

  • Generate Create scripts for various database objects.

  • Execute/Debug Transact-SQL/SQLCLR routines.

Use Database Diagram Designer to:

  • Show all or part of the structure of a database.

  • View relationships between database tables.

  • Modify the structure of a database.

Use Table Designer to:

  • Create new tables.

  • Open tables for editing.

  • Edit column properties.

  • Create or modify relationships.

  • Set primary and unique keys.

  • Create or modify indexes, including XML and full-text indexes.

  • Create or modify constraints.

  • Create Change scripts.

Use Query and View Designer to:

  • Create views and queries, including Select, Update, Delete, Make Table, Insert Values, and Insert Results queries.

  • Return results for modification.

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