Editor reference: shortcuts and tools

This page lists every keyboard shortcut in the Editor and what each toolbar button does. Use it to look up a key or a button while you write and run a query.

Open the full list in the Editor

1. Point to the keyboard button in the editor toolbar. Its tooltip reads Keyboard Shortcuts.
2. Click it. The Keyboard shortcuts window opens, grouped into Query, Search, Editing, Editor, Code, Navigation, Transform and Multi-cursor.
3. Press Esc to close it.

Run and check a query

Ctrl+Enter runs a selection at once. Without a selection, it highlights the statement at the cursor and opens the Statements list, whose footer reads Enter run · ↑↓ choose · Esc cancel. Any other key, a click in the editor, or leaving the editor also cancels it. For what runs in each case, see Choose what runs.

Alt+Enter opens a list of quick rewrites, such as Expand column list. Enter applies the highlighted rewrite, the arrow keys choose, and Esc cancels. For what the helpers do, see Write and check SQL.

Move around the Editor

In the editor, F6 moves focus to the results grid, to the cell you used last or the first cell. In the grid, F6 or Esc returns focus to the editor. These keys do not work while you type in a search or filter box in the grid. Ctrl+F12 in the grid opens a searchable list of the table's columns; choose one to scroll it into view. When a screen shows more than one grid, Ctrl+F12 acts on the grid under your pointer or the grid with focus. For the other grid keys, see The data grid.

Work with consoles

Closing a console removes it from the list, but it is kept. See Consoles, saving and history to reopen it.

Edit text

Ctrl+B opens the Lake or Warehouse popup of the table under the cursor. If there is no table name at the cursor, the Editor shows No table name at cursor. For the popup, see Database Explorer.

Keys the window does not list

• Escape collapses a multi-cursor selection to the first cursor. With a single cursor, it closes the suggestion list and moves focus out of the editor.
• Space closes the suggestion list while it is open.

Find, go to and transform text

When you move between matches, with Enter or Shift+Enter in the find bar, F3, or the arrow buttons, the line number of the match flashes briefly, so you can see where the jump landed. Typing a new search does not flash the line.

Edit several lines at once

Cues as you write

• The suggestion list opens at once after a dot; other suggestions wait a moment after you stop typing. The Autocomplete reference explains what each part of a query offers.
• When you type ( or , inside a function call, the editor shows the parameters the function takes, and it shows them again at every ,.
• Point at a function name that is immediately followed by ( to read its card.

Use the toolbar buttons

The editor toolbar runs from left to right as follows. Most buttons have no label, so their tooltips name them.

On the right of the toolbar:

• The bell button (tooltip Create an alert from this query) opens a new alert with this query filled in. It appears only with the Create Alerts permission, and it is greyed out while the console is empty.
• The history button (tooltip Console history, Ctrl+Shift+H) lists saved versions of this console.
• The syntax status shows Checking… or Pending… while the query is checked. An alert icon appears when the query has a syntax error, and its message shows on hover.
• The debugger button opens the SQL Debug panel. Its tooltip reads Show SQL debugger or Hide SQL debugger.
• The Role selector chooses the role whose databases the Database Explorer, autocomplete and AI suggestions use. See SQL dialect and data scope.

Use the Results Panel buttons

The side bar of the Results Panel holds these buttons. Alt+2 shows or hides the panel.

• Results shows the result of the latest run.
• History lists the recent runs of the console. See Console history and run log.
• Charts & Pivot opens the chart and pivot builder. See Charts and pivot.
• Clear results & charts clears the results and charts of the console. It is greyed out when there are no results or a query is running. Its tooltip then reads No results to clear or Wait for query to finish.

Questions, answered

Why does the Run tooltip say Ctrl+Enter+Enter?

Ctrl+Enter first highlights the statement, so you can check it. Press Enter, or Ctrl+Enter again, to run it. A selected block runs at once, without this step.

How do I jump from the editor to the results and back?

Press F6 in the editor to move to the results grid. Press F6 or Esc in the grid to return to the editor.

How do I find a column in a wide result?

Click a cell in the grid, press Ctrl+F12, and type part of the column name. Choose the column to scroll to it.

Can I edit several lines at once?

Yes. Ctrl+Click adds a cursor where you click. Multi-edit also works with a wheel click, or with Ctrl+Alt+↑ and Ctrl+Alt+↓.

Can I change the shortcuts?

No. The shortcuts are fixed, and the Editor has no setting for them.

Do the shortcuts work on a Mac?

Yes, for most of them. Inside the editor, Cmd works in place of Ctrl for Execute query, Save query, Add parameter, Format SQL, Open table in Lake/WH, Next console, Previous console, New console and Console history. Alt+X closes the current console on a Mac too.

Why is Save greyed out?

Save is greyed out when no console is open or when the text in the editor matches the saved console text. Its tooltip then reads No changes to save. The Editor saves your text on its own about a second after you stop typing, so Save is usually greyed out soon after you stop. Each run also records a version when the text has changed. See Consoles, saving and history.

What does the bell button do?

It opens the alert editor with the current query filled in. See Create an alert. You need the Create Alerts permission to see the button. It is greyed out while the console is empty.

What does Escape do in the editor?

With more than one cursor, Escape collapses the cursors into the first one. With a single cursor, it closes the suggestion list and moves focus out of the editor; pressing Space closes an open suggestion list too.

Why does a line number flash while I use Find?

When you jump between matches, the line number of the match flashes briefly, so you can see where the jump landed. Typing a new search does not flash the line.