Editor Basics

Write and run SQL in query tabs, with highlighting, autocomplete, editing commands and safe execution.

Every connection window has a SQL editor. Open as many query tabs as you need, write SQL with autocomplete, and run one statement or the whole script.

Query tabs

Open a new query tab with File ▸ New Query Tab (⌘T) or the SQL button in the top bar.

Query tabs are named Query 1, Query 2 and so on, or after the SQL file or favorite they came from. A • in the tab marks unsaved changes to a file.

Button	Description
Run Current (▶)	Run the selection or the statement under the cursor.
Run All	Run the whole script.
Stop	Cancel the running query on the server.
★ Save	Save the query as a favorite (`⌘D`).
Format	Format the SQL.

The right side of the toolbar shows a reminder of the main shortcuts and the current row limit, for example ⌘↩ run current · ⇧⌘↩ run all · ⌥⌘F format · limit 1,000 rows. It reflects your own shortcuts if you change them.

The gutter shows line numbers, and the statement that ⌘↩ would run is highlighted with a faint background.

Syntax highlighting

The editor highlights SQL using the keywords of the connection's dialect:

Keywords in green.
Strings in amber.
Comments dimmed.
Numbers in a softer tone.

Font ligatures are turned off, so operators like <= and != look exactly as typed.

Autocomplete

Suggestions appear after you type two characters, or right after a qualifier and a dot such as o.. They include:

SQL keywords.
Tables.
Columns of the tables used in the current statement.

Aliases are understood. After FROM orders o, typing o. lists the columns of orders. This also works with AS, JOIN and comma-separated table lists.

Aliases of subqueries and CTEs aren't resolved yet.

Editing commands

Command	Shortcut
Query ▸ Toggle Comment	`⌘/`
Query ▸ Shift Right	`⌘]`
Query ▸ Shift Left	`⌘[`
Indent / outdent the selection	`Tab` / `⇧Tab`

Pressing Return keeps the current indentation and indents after (.

Auto-closing pairs

Brackets and quotes close automatically:

Typing an opening bracket or quote inserts the closing one.
With text selected, typing a bracket or quote wraps the selection.
Typing the closing character steps over it.
Backspace on an empty pair removes both.

Pairs aren't auto-closed inside strings or comments, or right after a word.

The editor doesn't support multiple cursors.

Find and replace

The editor uses the standard macOS find bar:

Command	Shortcut
Edit ▸ Find ▸ Find…	`⌘F`
Find and Replace…	`⇧⌘F`
Find Next	`⌘G`
Find Previous	`⇧⌘G`
Use Selection for Find	`⌘E`

Running queries

Run current or all

Query ▸ Run Current Statement (⌘↩) runs the selection, or the statement under the cursor when nothing is selected.
Query ▸ Run All (⇧⌘↩) runs the whole script.

Each statement gets its own result. See Query Results.

If the SQL contains placeholders such as :name or $1, Mantidb asks for their values first. See Query Parameters.

Safe mode

Every write goes through the connection's safe mode. Statements run one by one and stop at the first error.

Stopping a query

Click Stop to cancel the running query on the server. Each engine uses its own method:

Engine	How it stops
PostgreSQL	`pg_cancel_backend` from a second session
CockroachDB	`CANCEL QUERIES`
MySQL / MariaDB	`KILL QUERY`
SQL Server	An attention signal
SQLite	`sqlite3_interrupt`

On Neon and Supabase transaction poolers (Neon -pooler hosts, Supabase port 6543), Stop has no effect.

SQL Server batches

On SQL Server, a line containing only GO separates batches, as in SQL Server Management Studio.

MySQL scripts

On MySQL / MariaDB, scripts are split into statements by ; on your Mac before they are sent.

Calling a stored procedure that returns result sets with CALL fails. # comments and \' inside strings can also confuse the splitter.

History

Every query you run is saved to the connection's history, with its date and duration. Find it in the History tab of the sidebar or with ⌘K. See Favorites & History.