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Using Outlining to Hide Code

You can use the outlining feature in the SQL Server Management Studio query editors to selectively hide code when you edit queries. This enables you to more easily view the code you are working on, especially in large query files.

Outlining Overview

By default, all code is visible when you open a query editor window. Regions of the code can be collapsed to hide it from view. A vertical line on the left edge of the editor window uses a square with a minus sign (-) to identify the start of each collapsible code region. When you click a minus sign, the text of the code region is replaced with a box that contains three periods (…), and the minus sign changes to a plus sign (+). When you click a plus sign, the collapsed code appears and the plus sign changes to a minus sign. When you move the pointer over a box that has three periods, a tooltip appears that shows the code in the collapsed section.

System Outline Regions

Each SQL Server Management Studio editor generates a set of default, system-defined outline regions.

The MDX and DMX code editors create outline regions for each multiline statement. This is the only level of outlining that these editors support.

Analysis Services XMLA Query Editor Regions

The Analysis Services XMLA Query Editor generates an outline region for each multiline XML attribute. The editor nests the outline regions for nested tags. For example, the XMLA Editor creates three outline regions for the following document.

XML code showing outlining

When you click the minus sign on the <InnerTag> line, just the InnerTag is collapsed, as shown in the following illustration.

XML code with inner node hidden

When you move the pointer over the box that has the three periods (…), the code in the collapsed region appears in a tooltip, as shown in the following illustration.

XML code with tooltip showing hidden code

When you click the minus sign on the <MiddleTag> line, both the MiddleTag and InnerTag are collapsed, as shown in the following illustration.

XML code with inner and middle tags hidden

When you click the minus sign on the <OuterTag> line, all three lines are collapsed, as shown in the following illustration.

XML code showing all three tags hidden

Database Engine Query Editor Regions

The Database Engine Query Editor generates outline regions for each element in the following hierarchy:

  1. Batches. The first batch is the code from the start of the file to either the first GO command or the end of the file when there are no GO commands. After the first GO, there is one batch from each GO command to either the next GO command or the end of the file.

  2. Blocks delimited by the following keywords:

    • BEGIN - END

    • BEGIN TRY - END TRY

    • BEGIN CATCH - END CATCH

  3. Multiline statements.

For example, the Database Engine Query Editor creates three outline regions for the following query:

CREATE PROCEDURE Sales.SampleProc --Outline region 1
AS
BEGIN --Outline region 2 
  SELECT GETDATE() AS TimeOfQuery;
  SELECT * --Outline region 3
  FROM sys.transmission_queue;
  SELECT @@VERSION;
END;
GO

You can click the minus sign on the SELECT * line to collapse just that SELECT statement. To collapse the whole BEGIN - END block, click the minus sign on the BEGIN line. To collapse the whole batch to the GO command, click the minus sign on the CREATE PROCEDURE line. You cannot collapse the SELECT GETDATE() or SELECT @@VERSION lines individually because they are single line statements and do not get outlining regions.