SQL Editor
Write and run SQL with tree-sitter-powered syntax highlighting, schema-aware autocomplete, and multi-statement execution in a single editor pane.
Writing Queries
Multiple Queries
Separate multiple queries with semicolons:
SELECT * FROM users LIMIT 10;
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM orders;
SELECT name, email FROM customers WHERE country = 'US';
Cmd+Enter to execute just that one.
Selecting and Executing
Select text and press Cmd+Enter to run only the selection. Multiple statements in the selection run sequentially in a transaction:
- If any statement fails, execution stops and all changes roll back
- The error identifies which statement failed (e.g., “Statement 3/5 failed: …”)
- The last
SELECT result appears in the data grid
- Each statement is recorded individually in query history
DROP TABLE IF EXISTS users;
CREATE TABLE users (id INT PRIMARY KEY, name VARCHAR(100));
INSERT INTO users VALUES (1, 'Alice'), (2, 'Bob');
SELECT * FROM users;
Autocomplete
Autocomplete appears as you type. See Autocomplete for details.
Context-Aware Suggestions
| Context | Suggestions |
|---|
After SELECT | Column names, *, functions |
After FROM / JOIN | Table names, schema names |
After WHERE | Column names from selected tables |
After . (dot) | Columns from the specified table/alias |
| Start of statement | SQL keywords |
u. after FROM users u shows columns from users.
Keyword Suggestions
Keywords are context-sensitive:
- After
SELECT: DISTINCT, TOP, ALL
- After
FROM: JOIN, LEFT JOIN, INNER JOIN, WHERE
- After
WHERE: AND, OR, NOT, IN, LIKE, BETWEEN
Query Execution
Running Queries
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|
| Execute query | Cmd+Enter | Runs query at cursor, or all selected statements |
| Explain query | Option+Cmd+E | Show the execution plan for the query at cursor |
| Format query | Option+Cmd+F | Format the current query for readability |
Query Results
Results appear in the data grid below the editor with row count and execution time. Large result sets are paginated.
Collapsible Results Panel
Toggle the results panel with Cmd+Opt+R or the toolbar button to give the editor full height. The panel auto-expands when a new query executes.
Multiple Result Tabs
When running multiple statements separated by ;, each statement produces its own result tab. Switch between tabs by clicking or with Cmd+Opt+[ / Cmd+Opt+]. Close a result tab with Cmd+Shift+W.
Pinning Results
Right-click a result tab and select Pin Result to preserve it from being overwritten on the next query execution. Pinned tabs stay until explicitly unpinned or closed.
Inline Errors
Query errors display as a red banner directly above the results area, showing the database error message. Dismiss with the close button.
Non-SELECT Queries
INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, and DDL statements show a compact success view with affected row count and execution time instead of an empty grid.
Explain Query
Press Option+Cmd+E to view the execution plan. Shows index usage, join strategies, and estimated row counts. TablePro uses the correct syntax per database (EXPLAIN for MySQL/PostgreSQL, EXPLAIN QUERY PLAN for SQLite).
Run Explain before expensive queries to verify index usage.
Option+Cmd+F to format the current query. You can also click Format in the toolbar or use Query > Format Query.
The formatter:
- Uppercases SQL keywords (
select becomes SELECT)
- Adds line breaks per clause (
SELECT, FROM, WHERE, JOIN)
- Indents logically with consistent spacing
- Preserves comments, string literals, and cursor position
- Detects your database dialect and preserves backtick (MySQL) or double-quote (PostgreSQL) identifiers
Example
Before:
select u.id,u.name,count(o.id) as order_count from users u left join orders o on u.id=o.user_id where u.status='active' group by u.id,u.name having count(o.id)>5 order by order_count desc;
SELECT
u.id,
u.name,
COUNT(o.id) AS order_count
FROM users u
LEFT JOIN orders o ON u.id = o.user_id
WHERE u.status = 'active'
GROUP BY u.id, u.name
HAVING COUNT(o.id) > 5
ORDER BY order_count DESC;
Vim Mode
Enable Vim keybindings in Settings > Editor > Vim mode. Supports Normal, Insert, Visual, and Command-line modes.
Key mappings:
| Action | Keys |
|---|
| Execute query | :w |
| Close tab | :q |
| Enter Insert mode | i, a, o, O |
| Return to Normal mode | Escape |
| Delete word | dw |
| Delete line | dd |
| Yank (copy) line | yy |
| Paste | p |
| Visual select | v + motion |
| Go to line 10 | :10 |
| Search forward | /pattern |
| Search backward | ?pattern |
| Next match | n |
| Previous match | N |
| Undo | u |
| Redo | Ctrl+R |
h/j/k/l, w/b/e, 0/$, gg/G), operators (d, c, y), and count prefixes (3dd, 5j) all work as expected. Text objects like ciw (change inner word) and di" (delete inside quotes) are supported.
Use :w to execute queries.
Editor Settings
Customize font, line numbers, word wrap, Vim mode, and indentation in Settings > Editor.
AI Assistance
Use Explain with AI (Cmd+L) to understand queries, Optimize with AI (Cmd+Option+L) for performance suggestions, or click “Ask AI to Fix” in error dialogs. See AI Chat for configuration.
SQL Files
Opening Files
Open .sql files in three ways:
- Double-click a
.sql file in Finder (or Open With > TablePro)
- File > Open File… (
Cmd+O) to pick files via a dialog
- Drag
.sql files onto the TablePro dock icon
Files open in a new tab. If not connected to a database, they’re queued and open automatically on connect. Opening the same file twice focuses the existing tab instead of creating a duplicate.
Saving Files
Cmd+S saves the current query back to the source fileCmd+Shift+S opens a Save As dialog to save as a new .sql file- For untitled query tabs (no file),
Cmd+S triggers Save As automatically
The title bar shows the filename for file-backed tabs. A dot appears on the close button when there are unsaved changes (standard macOS behavior). Cmd+click the filename in the title bar to reveal the file in Finder.
When a tab has both unsaved file changes and pending data grid edits, Cmd+S saves the data grid changes first. Save the file after the grid save completes.
