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Quickstart: Run your first query with the MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code

In this quickstart, you use the MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code to run your first Transact-SQL (T-SQL) statements against a database. You create a database, define a table, insert data, and query the results.

Prerequisites

To complete this quickstart, you must have:

  • Visual Studio Code: If Visual Studio Code isn't installed, download it from the official Visual Studio Code website.

  • MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code: In Visual Studio Code, open the Extensions view by selecting the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side of the window. Search for mssql and select Install to add the extension.

  • Access to a database: If you don't have access to a database instance, you can use one by selecting one of the following options:

Note

If you don't have an Azure subscription, create a free account.

Connect to your database

Before you run a query, connect to the database from the Object Explorer. The Connection Dialog walks you through entering a server name, picking an authentication type, and (optionally) selecting a database. For a full walkthrough of input types, authentication methods, and connection management, see Connect to a database with the MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code.

After you connect, your server appears in the Object Explorer and you can start running queries.

Create a database

Create a database called Library.

  1. Open a new query editor: Press Ctrl+N to open a new query editor, or right-click on your server and select New Query.

  2. Create the database. Paste the following snippet into the query editor and select Run:

    IF NOT EXISTS (SELECT name
               FROM sys.databases
               WHERE name = N'Library')
    CREATE DATABASE Library;

    This script creates a new database called Library if it doesn't already exist.

The new Library database appears in the list of databases. If you don't see it immediately, refresh the Object Explorer.

Create a table

Create the Authors table within the Library database.

  1. Open a new query editor and make sure the connection context is set to the Library database.

  2. Create the table. Replace the text in the query window with the following snippet and select Run:

    CREATE TABLE dbo.Authors
(
    id INT IDENTITY (1, 1) NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
    first_name NVARCHAR (100) NOT NULL,
    middle_name NVARCHAR (100) NULL,
    last_name NVARCHAR (100) NOT NULL
);

This script creates the Authors table with an IDENTITY column for the id, which automatically generates unique IDs.

Insert rows

Next, insert data into the Authors table.

  1. Replace the text in the query window with the following snippet and select Run:

    INSERT INTO dbo.Authors (first_name, middle_name, last_name)
VALUES ('Isaac', 'Yudovick', 'Asimov'),
       ('Arthur', 'Charles', 'Clarke'),
       ('Herbert', 'George', 'Wells'),
       ('Jules', 'Gabriel', 'Verne'),
       ('Philip', 'Kindred', 'Dick');

The sample data is added to the Authors table.

View the data

To verify the data in the Authors table, run the following query:

SELECT *
FROM dbo.Authors;

This query returns all records in the Authors table, showing the data you inserted.

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