Database Explorer

The Database Explorer is the panel on the left of the Editor. Use it to find a database, table or column and put its name into your query without typing it from memory.

Open, hide and resize the explorer

The explorer is open the first time you open the Editor. While it is expanded, its header shows the title Query Editor.

1. To hide the explorer, click the panel button at the top of the explorer. Its tooltip reads Hide panel. You can also press Alt+1.
2. To show it again, press Alt+1, or click the panel button in the Editor's top bar. Its tooltip reads Toggle Database Explorer.
3. To change its width, drag the border between the explorer and the query. The explorer stays between 15% and 35% of the Editor's width.

Choose a role

The explorer lists the databases of one role at a time. The Role control at the top of the explorer shows the active role's name, or No Role when no role is active.

1. Click the Role control.
2. Under Active Role, choose the role you want.

The explorer, autocomplete and AI suggestions all use the role you pick. See SQL dialect and data scope for what the role changes.

If your user has no roles, the Role control does not appear.

Browse databases, tables and columns

1. Click a database to show its tables. Click a table to show its columns.
2. Read the number at the right of each row. A database shows how many tables it has, and a table shows how many columns it has.
3. Point at a column to read its full name and type. A column that is part of the primary key also shows (Primary Key).
4. Click Expand All to open every database, or Collapse All to close them all. Expand All opens databases only. Tables stay closed.

Expand All and Collapse All are unavailable while the list loads or updates, and when no databases are shown. If your role has PII_ databases, they are listed after the other databases.

Search the explorer

1. Click the Search button in the explorer's toolbar. A box opens with the placeholder Search tables, columns... and takes focus.
2. Type part of a name, or part of a column type. The search checks database names, table names, column names and column types, and it ignores letter case.
3. Click Clear search to remove the term. Clearing the search also opens every database.
4. To close the box, click the Search button again. Its tooltip reads Hide Search while the box is open.

Matching databases open. A table opens when one of its columns matches, so the matching column is visible.

Insert a name into your query

1. Put the cursor where the name should go in your query.
2. Point at the row you want. Click Insert into editor on the right of the row.

Table and column names are always wrapped in double quotes. Quotes keep names with capitals, spaces or special characters valid in the query.

Open a table's popup

Point at a table and click the icon just before Insert into editor. This is the table's popup button. Its tooltip reads Opens Warehouse table in popup for a database whose name ends in _WH, and Opens Lake table in popup for every other database.

For Lake tables, see Configure a table. For Warehouse tables, see Warehouse workspace tour.

Refresh the list

Click Refresh Schema in the explorer's toolbar to reload the list of databases, tables and columns. The button is greyed out and its icon spins while the panel is loading or updating.

Messages the explorer shows

• Loading schema: the list is loading. It shows on the first load and during a refresh.
• Updating view...: the panel is redrawing the list you already see, for example while Expand All or Collapse All runs.
• Couldn't load tables, with the reason underneath: the list did not load. Click Refresh Schema to try again.
• You don't have permission to view tables: your role has none of the view permissions for the data. See Permissions below.
• No databases found: the selected role has no database with tables you can see. Pick another role in Role.

For the full list of messages, see Editor troubleshooting.

Settings and defaults

The explorer's open or closed state, its width and the role you pick are remembered in this browser, not on your account.

Permissions

To see tables in the explorer, your role needs at least one of these permissions from the Data Layer category:

• View Lake Objects
• View Warehouse Objects
• View WriteBack Objects

Without any of them, the explorer shows You don't have permission to view tables.

To open the Editor at all, your role needs Execute Query or Add/Remove Consoles from the Query Editor category. These are separate permissions, so you can open the Editor and still be unable to see its tables. Administrators set permissions in Roles and permissions.

Limits

• The explorer lists only the databases of the selected role. These are the role's Lake and Warehouse databases, named for the role, and their PII_ versions when they exist.
• A database with no tables you can see is not listed.
• A newly added table can take about five minutes to appear without a refresh.

Questions, answered

Why does the explorer say "No databases found"?

The selected role has no Lake or Warehouse database with tables you can see. Choose another role in Role, or ask an administrator to give the role table access in Roles and permissions.

Why does the explorer say "You don't have permission to view tables"?

Your role has none of View Lake Objects, View Warehouse Objects or View WriteBack Objects. Ask an administrator to add one of them. Being able to open the Editor does not give you this permission.

My new table is not in the list. What should I do?

Click Refresh Schema. The explorer keeps the list for about five minutes, so a new table can take that long to appear without it.

Can I search for a column across all tables?

Yes. Click Search and type the column name. The search covers all tables of the selected role, and it also matches database names, table names and column types. It ignores letter case.

Why are names wrapped in double quotes?

Double quotes keep names with capitals, spaces or special characters valid in the query. The explorer adds them to every table and column it inserts.

Can I open a table from the explorer?

Yes. Click the table's popup button, just before Insert into editor. It opens that table in the Lake or Warehouse popup, and its tooltip tells you which one.

What are the PII_ databases?

They are the tokenised mirrors of your role's Lake and Warehouse databases, and they appear in the list after the other databases. For how personal data is handled, see PII detection.

Why can't I see the Role control?

The Role control appears only when your account has roles. If you have no roles, it is hidden. Ask an administrator to assign you a role. See Roles and permissions.