SQL Server Analysis & Visualization — directly inside VS Code.
Install
Install from Visual Studio Marketplace
Getting Started
1. (Optional) Sign In
Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) and run:
SqlLens: Login
Sign-in is required for cloud features (environments, GitHub mapping/compare, batch review).
For guest/local workflows, you can start without login.
Your SqlLens account works across both the VS Code extension and the Desktop application.
2. Add a SQL Server
SqlLens: Add Server
Enter your server name (e.g. localhost, .\SQLEXPRESS), database, and credentials.
3. Open the Explorer
Click the SqlLens icon in the Activity Bar (left sidebar). Expand your server to browse stored procedures, views, functions, and tables.
4. Analyze Dependencies
Right-click any stored procedure, view, function, or table → Analyze Dependencies
Features
| Feature |
How to use |
| Dependency Analysis |
Right-click any object in SqlLens Server Explorer or mssql Object Explorer (mssql path supports guest mode) |
| Analyze SQL selection |
Highlight an object name in a .sql file → right-click → Analyze SQL Object Dependencies |
| Cross-database search |
Ctrl+Shift+P → SqlLens: Search Across Databases |
| Compare with Git |
Right-click a database in Server Explorer → Compare Database with Git |
| Help / User Guide |
Ctrl+Shift+P → SqlLens: Open Help |
Works with mssql Extension
Install the SQL Server (mssql) extension to run right-click dependency analysis from the mssql Object Explorer.
Requirements
- Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
- SQL Server 2016 or later
- SQL Server (mssql) VS Code extension recommended for Object Explorer analysis
- SqlLens account (free) required for cloud features only — register here
Commands
All commands are available via Ctrl+Shift+P → type SqlLens:
Guest mode (no login)
| Command |
Description |
| SqlLens: Analyze Dependencies from mssql Object Explorer |
Analyze object from mssql Object Explorer |
| SqlLens: Connect to SQL Server |
Local connection flow |
| SqlLens: Search Across Databases |
Search workflow (current build: limited/placeholder) |
| SqlLens: Test mssql Extension Integration |
mssql integration diagnostic |
| SqlLens: Open Help |
Open full user guide in browser |
Login-required cloud features
| Command |
Description |
| SqlLens: Analyze Dependencies |
Analyze selected object from SqlLens explorer |
| SqlLens: Analyze SQL Object Dependencies |
Analyze highlighted SQL object |
| SqlLens: Search Objects |
Search objects from selected cloud environment |
| SqlLens: Add Server |
Add server to selected cloud environment |
| SqlLens: Compare Database with Git |
Diff live DB vs Git |
| SqlLens: Configure GitHub PAT |
Set up Git integration |
| SqlLens: Manage GitHub Mappings |
Map servers to GitHub repositories |
| SqlLens: Configure Batch Review Notifications |
Configure cloud review automation |
Account commands
| Command |
Description |
| SqlLens: Login |
Sign in to your account |
| SqlLens: Register |
Create a new account |
| SqlLens: Logout |
Sign out |
| SqlLens: Show User Info |
Show account/session status |
Documentation
📖 Full VS Code Extension Guide
📥 Desktop Application — Full-featured WPF app with AI code review, Mermaid diagrams, Agent Jobs, and more.
Troubleshooting
Commands don't work / "not logged in"
→ Guest mode supports local flows only. Run SqlLens: Login to unlock cloud features (environments, GitHub mapping/compare, batch review).
Can't connect to SQL Server
→ Verify server name (localhost, .\SQLEXPRESS, or SERVER\INSTANCE). Run SqlLens: Update Server Password if credentials changed.
mssql right-click not showing
→ Install the mssql extension, then right-click a Table, View, Stored Procedure, or Function node (not a folder).
Part of the SqlLens SQL Server Analysis & Visualization toolset by Thoughts In Motion
