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Table Editing

Table editing basically offers an editing experience similar to Excel.
Editing mode starts with Enter, or by double-clicking a cell.

demo-table-edit

Adding Columns

Created using the shortcut Alt + Enter (Windows/Linux) or ⌥ + Enter (Mac).
A column is added to every selected table.

Tab Key

Press Tab to move straight into the next cell's editing mode.
Pressing Tab in the last cell creates a new column.
Use Shift + Tab to navigate to the previous cell's editing mode.

demo-table-tab

DataType Autocomplete

Start editing a DataType cell and type. Matching types from the selected database are suggested, and the part of a suggestion that literally contains what you typed is highlighted.
The match itself is fuzzy, so vch also finds VARCHAR.

  • Arrow Up or Arrow Down: move through the suggestions
  • Arrow Right, Tab or Enter: accept the highlighted suggestion
  • Arrow Left: go back to the text you typed

You can also click a suggestion.
Nothing is forced, so a type that is not in the list can be typed freely, including arguments such as VARCHAR(255).
The suggestions follow the selected database. Changing the database changes what is offered and leaves existing columns as they are.

demo-data-type-autocomplete

Not Null, Unique, Auto Increment

These three cells are toggles rather than text.
Double-click one, or press Enter while it is focused, to flip it.

The Not Null cell reads N-N when it is set and NULL when it is not.
UQ and AI are dimmed when off and highlighted when on.

Cells hidden by the table view options cannot be toggled.

Selecting Multiple Columns

Supports five methods:

  • Shift + Arrow Up/Down: extend the selection one row at a time
  • Ctrl + click (Windows/Linux) or ⌘ + click (Mac): add a single column
  • Shift + click: select the range from the last focused column
  • Ctrl + Shift + click (Windows/Linux) or ⌘ + Shift + click (Mac): add that range to the selection
  • Alt + A (Windows/Linux) or ⌥ + A (Mac): Select All

demo-column-select

Rearranging and Moving Columns

Functions when dragging, enabling movement to other tables.

demo-column-move

Supports moving multiple columns with Ctrl + drag (Windows/Linux) or ⌘ + drag (Mac).

demo-column-multi-move

Column Deletion

Deletes the currently selected column.
Shortcut: Alt + Backspace or Alt + Delete (Windows/Linux), ⌥ + ⌫ or ⌥ + Delete (Mac)

demo-column-remove

Copying/Pasting Columns

Operates like a table-based clipboard.
Shortcuts: Ctrl + C (Windows/Linux) or ⌘ + C (Mac), Ctrl + V (Windows/Linux) or ⌘ + V (Mac)

You can paste from the editor into Excel and from Excel back into the editor.
For the columns below, any of these values is read as true (case insensitive):

  • AutoIncrement: TRUE, 1, YES, Y
  • Unique: TRUE, 1, YES, Y
  • Not Null: TRUE, 1, YES, Y, NOT NULL

On the way out the editor writes TRUE or FALSE for AutoIncrement and Unique, and NOT NULL or NULL for Not Null.

demo-copy-column-to-sheet demo-copy-sheet-column

Supports actions when selecting multiple tables.

demo-copy-column-multi

Copying/Pasting Tables and Memos

When no column is selected inside a focused table, the same shortcuts copy the selected tables and memos themselves — see Table-related Functions.

Column Primary Key

Toggles the primary key on the focused column, which is the column the focused cell belongs to, not the whole column selection.
Use the table context menu or the shortcut Alt + K (Windows/Linux) or ⌥ + K (Mac).
The key icon in the row is display only, so clicking it does not set the key.

demo-column-pk