QALite is a SQL Server client tool with a rich set of features. Written in VB.Net, QALite is designed to take full advantage of what .Net has to offer.

Version 1.x features include:

• Create queries and execute them against SQL Server (7/2000)
• Locate and view database objects
• Get detail information about an object
• Generate Select, Update, Insert, Delete statements
• Script database object(s)
• Generate DDL + sample data
• Compare database-to-database schema
• Compare individual object-to-object schema
• Compare script files
• Direct data-entry
• Download and upload BLOBs
• Load and execute SQL scripts
• Save results as text files
• Save results as xml files
• Print results or reports
• Customize shortcuts
• SQL syntax coloring

License
You must read the license agreement in full and indicate your agreement to its terms prior to installing or using the software. All rights, title and interest not expressly granted are reserved.

Freeware
This software may not be distributed or bundled with any product that is sold for commercial profit without the explicit permission of the author.

The term freeware refers only to the mode of distribution, the executables and source are copyrighted. Reuse of this code in a commercial application is not permitted.

Disclaimer
The author hereby disclaims all warranties relating to this software, whether express or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The author will not be liable for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect or similar damages due to loss of data or any other reason, even if the author or an agent of the author has been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event shall the author's liability for any damages ever exceed the price paid for the software, regardless of the form of the claim. The person using the software bears all risk as to the quality and performance of the software.

Connecting to SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server supports two authentication modes:

• Windows authentication mode (Windows authentication) - allows users to connect via Windows NT account. When the users try to connect via Windows authentication (Trusted connection), SQL Server will do a callback to the Windows operating system to validate the account before it allows or denies connection.
• Mixed mode (Windows authentication and SQL Server authentication) - users can use either Windows authentication or SQL Server authentication. When users try to connect via nontrusted connection (SQL Server authentication), SQL Server will check its internal database to validate the login and password.

Note: Windows authentication is not used when SQL Server is installed on Win9x.

Server: SQL Server name and/or instance name

e.g.
(Local)\Dev
127.0.0.1\Dev
myServer

UID: SQL Login (SQL Server authentication)

Password: SQL Password (SQL Server authentication)

Trusted Authentication: Windows authentication

Executing a Query

Upon a successful connection to SQL Server, QALite will present the user with a query window. This is where the user can enter any Transact-SQL statements of his or her choice and execute it against the connected server. More information on Transact-SQL can be found here.

QALite supports various outputs, such as to grid, text, flat or xml file, for any given query. As shown below, the user can either select the option from the Query menu or through various shortcut keys. The default is "Result in Grid".

Once an output method has been selected, a query can be executed by one of the following:

1. Select "Execute" from Query menu
2. Press the green arrow button on toolbar
3. Press "F5" or "CTRL+E" shortcut keys

Result to Grid

When "Result to Grid" option is selected, the result of a query is retrieved from the database and displayed in a datagrid. This is the *fastest* method of displaying a resultset as there is no consequent formatting done once the resultset is fetched.

Result to Text

When "Result to Text" option is selected, the result of a query is retrieved from the database and will be displayed in a textbox.

Because some processing is required to format and align each column of the resultset, getting a result for a query might seem a bit slower. However, displaying the resultset in text allows the user to force a conversion of "system.byte[]" array, which is a default datatype for binary, varbinary, and image columns, to a hexadecimal string. QALite will convert the first 255 bytes if the option "Force Byte[] to Hexadecimal" is checked.

Result to File

When "Result to File" option is selected, the user will be prompted to specify a filename and a format (flat or xml file) for the result of a query to be saved. If the user enters an invalid name or chooses "cancel", the query will not be executed.

Object Browser

QALite provides access to SQL Server objects through its Object Browser tree.

The user can drill down the tree and quickly access detail information about a database object. The Object Browser tree also provides access to many useful functions simply by right clicking on a tree node (object) and selecting a desired option from the context menu.

Getting Detail Info

One of QALite features is the ability to get *detail* information about a SQL Server object. This is done simply by:

• Selecting an object (tree node)
• Right clicking on the object and selecting "Detail..." from the context menu or
• Selecting "Detail Info" from Tools menu

Generating DDL and Insert statements

Among many other useful features QALite is offering, generating Data Definition Language (ddl) (often understood as a SQL statement that is used to create an object) can be as simple as just a few mouse clicks away. QALite supports a ddl generation of a single object (i.e. a database, table, view, stored procedure, extended procedure, and function) or a group of objects (i.e. tables, views, stored procedures, extended procedures, and functions) in a single batch.

• Selecting an object (tree node)
• Rightclicking the object and selecting "Create..." from the context menu or
• Selecting "Create" from Tools menu

To make it easier for users to recreate and transfer data from a table to a new one, QALite offers users the ability to generate ddl and insert statements in a single batch. This can be accomplished by:

• Selecting an object (tree node)
• Rightclicking the object and selecting "DDL & Insert" from the context menu or
• Selecting "DDL & Insert" from Tools menu

Edititing Data

QALite allows the user to view and perform data entry directly to a table, provided that the table has a primary key. QALite does not allow editing of a system table or a view in this version.

To start data entry:

• Select/highlight a table/view (tree node) from the Object Browser window
• Right click and select "Open/Edit" from the context menu or
• Select "Open/Edit" from Tools menu

If the column of interest is an Image (blob) column, QALite makes it easy for the user to upload or download the content. To upload or download blobs:

• Right click on the cell of interest and select either "Upload" or "Download" from the context menu or
• Select the cell of interest and select either "Upload" or "Download" from Tools menu

Note: The changes do not save to the database until "Update" button is clicked.

Comparing Databases

Comparing two databases' objects has never been easier than now with QALite. With a few mouse clicks the user will be presented with a list of differences between two databases. The findings can then be printed or saved for later use.

Comparing an Object's Schema

The Tools menu of QALite offers a wide range of tasks that the user can perform within QALite.

For example, comparing an object's schema is as simple as selecting "Object Schema Compare". A window will materialize and allow the user to select any source/target database, table, view, stored procedure, and function to compare.

Once the target object is selected, the result is then displayed in various colors denoting the findings.

Comparing Script Files

Comparing script files (or any text files) could not be easier when using QALite. The user can simply select "Script Compare" from the Tools menu to bring up the selection screen. Note: The user needs not be connected to a SQLServer to use this feature.

Once the source and target files have been specified, click the "Compare" button to signal the comparation process. The result is displayed in the bottom section. Double click on any line to quickly browse to the differences.

Creating Custom Shortcuts for Commonly Used Commands

QALite allows up to ten (10) custom shortcuts to be created for any T-SQL statements. To define a custom shortcut:

• Select "Options" from Query menu
• Select "Shortcut" tab
• Enter any valid T-SQL for the predefined shortcut key
• Click "OK" to save

Other Commonly Used Tasks

File menu provides access to some of the common tasks, such as:

• Connect/Disconect to/from a SQL Server
• Create a new Query Window
• Load a SQL script to execute
• Save a SQL script, result, and report for later use
• Setup, preview, and print a script, result, report
• Exit the application