pgadmin4/docs/en_US/query_tool.rst

.. _query_tool:

*******************
`Query Tool`:index:
*******************

The Query Tool is a powerful, feature-rich environment that allows you to
execute arbitrary SQL commands and review the result set.  You can access the
Query Tool via the *Query Tool* menu option on the *Tools* menu, or through the
context menu of select nodes of the Browser tree control.  The Query Tool
allows you to:

* Issue ad-hoc SQL queries.
* Execute arbitrary SQL commands.
* Displays current connection and transaction status as configured by the user.
* Save the data displayed in the output panel to a CSV file.
* Review the execution plan of a SQL statement in either a text or a graphical format.
* View analytical information about a SQL statement.

.. image:: images/query_tool.png
    :alt: Query tool window
    :align: center

You can open multiple copies of the Query tool in individual tabs
simultaneously.  To close a copy of the Query tool, click the *X* in the
upper-right hand corner of the tab bar.

The Query Tool features two panels:

* The upper panel displays the *SQL Editor*. You can use the panel to enter,
  edit, or execute a query. It also shows the *History* tab which can be used
  to view the queries that have been executed in the session, and a *Scratch Pad*
  which can be used to hold text snippets during editing. If the Scratch Pad is
  closed, it can be re-opened (or additional ones opened) by right-clicking in
  the SQL Editor and other panels and adding a new panel.
* The lower panel displays the *Data Output* panel. The tabbed panel displays
  the result set returned by a query, information about a query's execution plan,
  server messages related to the query's execution and any asynchronous
  notifications received from the server.

Toolbar
*******

The toolbar is described in the following subsections.

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 2

   query_tool_toolbar

The SQL Editor Panel
********************

The *SQL editor* panel is a workspace where you can manually provide a query,
copy a query from another source, or read a query from a file. The SQL editor
features syntax coloring and autocompletion.

.. image:: images/query_sql_editor.png
    :alt: Query tool editor
    :align: center

To use autocomplete, begin typing your query; when you would like the Query
editor to suggest object names or commands that might be next in your query,
press the Control+Space key combination. For example, type "\*SELECT \* FROM\* "
(without quotes, but with a trailing space), and then press the Control+Space
key combination to select from a popup menu of autocomplete options.

.. image:: images/query_autocomplete.png
    :alt: Query tool autocomplete feature
    :align: center

After entering a query, select the *Execute/Refresh* icon from the toolbar. The
complete contents of the SQL editor panel will be sent to the database server
for execution. To execute only a section of the code that is displayed in the
SQL editor, highlight the text that you want the server to execute, and click
the *Execute/Refresh* icon.

.. image:: images/query_execute_section.png
    :alt: Query tool execute query section
    :align: center

The message returned by the server when a command executes is displayed on the
*Messages* tab.  If the command is successful, the *Messages* tab displays
execution details.

.. image:: images/query_tool_message.png
    :alt: Query tool message panel
    :align: center

Options on the *Edit* menu offer functionality that helps with code formatting
and commenting:

* The auto-indent feature will automatically indent text to the same depth as
  the previous line when you press the Return key.
* Block indent text by selecting two or more lines and pressing the Tab key.
* Implement or remove SQL style or toggle C style comment notation within your
  code.

You can also **drag and drop** certain objects from the treeview which
can save time in typing long object names. Text containing the object name will be
fully qualified with schema. Double quotes will be added if required.
For functions and procedures, the function name along with parameter names will
be pasted in the Query Tool.

The Data Output Panel
*********************

The *Data Output* panel displays data and statistics generated by the most
recently executed query.

.. image:: images/query_output_data.png
    :alt: Query tool output panel
    :align: center

The *Data Output* tab displays the result set of the query in a table format.
You can:

* Select and copy from the displayed result set.
* Use the *Execute/Refresh* options to retrieve query execution information and
  set query execution options.
* Use the *Download as CSV* icon to download the content of the *Data Output*
  tab as a comma-delimited file.

All rowsets from previous queries or commands that are displayed in the *Data
Output* panel will be discarded when you invoke another query; open another
Query Tool tab to keep your previous results available.

Use the *Explain* tab to view a graphical representation of a query:

.. image:: images/query_output_explain.png
    :alt: Query tool explain panel
    :align: center

To generate a graphical explain diagram, open the *Explain* tab, and select
*Explain*, *Explain Analyze*, or one or more options from the *Explain options*
menu on the *Execute/Refresh* drop-down. Please note that *EXPLAIN VERBOSE*
cannot be displayed graphically. Hover over an icon on the *Explain* tab to
review information about that item; a popup window will display information
about the selected object:

Use the download button on top left corner of the *Explain* canvas to download
the plan as an SVG file.

**Note:** Download as SVG is not supported on Internet Explorer.

.. image:: images/query_output_explain_details.png
    :alt: Query tool graphical explain plan
    :align: center

Note that the query plan that accompanies the *Explain analyze* is available on
the *Data Output* tab.

Use the *Messages* tab to view information about the most recently executed
query:

.. image:: images/query_output_error.png
    :alt: Query tool output messages
    :align: center

If the server returns an error, the error message will be displayed on the
*Messages* tab, and the syntax that caused the error will be underlined in the
SQL editor.  If a query succeeds, the *Messages* tab displays how long the
query took to complete and how many rows were retrieved:

.. image:: images/query_output_messages.png
    :alt: Query tool output information
    :align: center

Use the *Query History* tab to review activity for the current session:

.. image:: images/query_output_history.png
    :alt: Query tool history panel
    :align: center

The Query History tab displays information about recent commands:

* The date and time that a query was invoked.
* The text of the query.
* The number of rows returned by the query.
* The amount of time it took the server to process the query and return a
  result set.
* Messages returned by the server (not noted on the *Messages* tab).

To erase the content of the *Query History* tab, select *Clear history* from
the *Clear* drop-down menu.

Query History is maintained across sessions for each database on a per-user
basis when running in Query Tool mode. In View/Edit Data mode, history is not
retained. By default, the last 20 queries are stored for each database. This
can be adjusted in `config_local.py` by overriding the `MAX_QUERY_HIST_STORED`
value. See the :ref:`Deployment <deployment>` section for more information.

Use the *Connection status* feature to view the current connection and
transaction status by clicking on the status icon in the Query Tool:

.. image:: images/query_tool_connection_status.png
    :alt: Query tool connection and transaction statuses
    :align: center