Last updated: 2026-02-12

Schema Overview

Visualize your entire database schema with an interactive graph view. Schema Overview displays tables, views, stored procedures, and functions as nodes, with arrows showing foreign key relationships and object dependencies.

Supported databases: SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, and SQLite. (In the browser demo, Schema Overview currently supports SQLite only.)

Opening Schema Overview

There are several ways to open Schema Overview:

From Toolbar

1. Click the Overview button in the main toolbar
2. Select the database you want to visualize
3. The schema graph loads automatically

From Object Explorer

1. Right-click any database in Object Explorer
2. Select View Schema Overview
3. The selected database's schema opens in a new tab

Keyboard Shortcut

Press Cmd+Shift+O (macOS) / Ctrl+Shift+O (Windows/Linux) to open Schema Overview for the active database.

Understanding the Graph

Schema Overview displays your database structure as an interactive node graph:

Node Types

Each database object is represented by a node with a distinctive icon and color:

Relationship Arrows

Arrows between nodes indicate relationships:

• Foreign Key (solid arrow) - Points from child table to parent table
• Dependency (dashed arrow) - Shows when a view or procedure references another object

Node Information

Each node displays:

• Object name - The table, view, or procedure name
• Schema - The schema prefix (e.g., dbo)
• Column/parameter count - Number of columns (tables) or parameters (procedures)

Hover over a node to see additional details in a tooltip.

Navigating the Graph

Use these controls to explore your schema:

Pan and Zoom

• Pan - Click and drag on empty space to move the view
• Zoom In - Scroll up or click the + button
• Zoom Out - Scroll down or click the - button
• Fit to Screen - Click the Fit button to show all nodes

Selection

• Click - Select a single node (highlights its relationships)
• Ctrl+Click / Cmd+Click - Add to selection
• Double-click - Open the object in a new tab

Center on Selection

After selecting a node, click Center in the toolbar to center the view on the selected object and its relationships.

Filtering the View

Large schemas can be overwhelming. Use filters to focus on specific objects:

Filter by Object Type

Use the filter dropdown to show specific object types:

• All - Show all objects (default)
• Tables - Show only tables and their relationships
• Views - Show only views and their dependencies
• Procedures - Show only stored procedures
• Functions - Show only functions

Search Objects

1. Type in the Search box to find objects by name
2. Matching nodes are highlighted in the graph
3. Press Enter to center on the first match
4. Use arrows to navigate between multiple matches

Hide/Show Relationships

Toggle relationship visibility using the toolbar buttons:

• Show FK - Toggle foreign key relationship arrows
• Show Dependencies - Toggle dependency arrows

Schema Statistics

The statistics panel shows a summary of your database schema:

Object Counts

• Total tables
• Total views
• Total stored procedures
• Total functions

Relationship Summary

• Total foreign key relationships
• Tables with no relationships (isolated)
• Most connected table (highest FK count)

Exporting the Diagram

Export your schema visualization for documentation or sharing:

Export Formats

• PNG - Raster image at high resolution
• SVG - Vector format for scaling without quality loss

Export Options

• Export visible - Export only the current view
• Export all - Export the entire schema (may be large)
• Include legend - Add a color/icon legend to the export

Tips and Tricks

Understanding Complex Schemas

• Start with Tables filter to see the core data structure
• Use search to find specific tables quickly
• Click a table to highlight only its direct relationships

Documenting Your Schema

• Export filtered views (tables only, specific area)
• Use SVG format for diagrams in documentation
• Combine with Schema Compare for change documentation