SQL Server Analysis & Visualization — directly inside VS Code.
Getting Started
1. Sign In
Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) and run:
SqlLens: Login
Enter your SqlLens email and password. No account? Run SqlLens: Register first.
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 Server Explorer or mssql Object Explorer |
| 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 get right-click analysis directly from the mssql Object Explorer — no need to add servers again.
Requirements
- Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
- SQL Server 2016 or later
- SqlLens account (free — register here)
Commands
All commands are available via Ctrl+Shift+P → type SqlLens:
| Command |
Description |
| SqlLens: Login |
Sign in to your account |
| SqlLens: Register |
Create a new account |
| SqlLens: Add Server |
Add a SQL Server connection |
| SqlLens: Analyze Dependencies |
Analyze selected object |
| SqlLens: Search Across Databases |
Search all databases |
| SqlLens: Compare Database with Git |
Diff live DB vs Git |
| SqlLens: Configure GitHub PAT |
Set up Git integration |
| SqlLens: Open Help |
Open full user guide in browser |
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"
→ Run SqlLens: Login first — all features require authentication.
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 and right-click on a Table, View, or Stored Procedure node.
Part of the SqlLens SQL Server Analysis & Visualization toolset by Thoughts In Motion
