Database
Import SQL Server
Database
Import SQL Server
Import your SQL Server database into ChartDB
ChartDB never stores or accesses your data - the import query only retrieves schema metadata.
Quick Start
1
Create New Diagram
- Click File > New in the ChartDB editor
- Select Sql Server from the database options
2
Choose Database Edition
Select your Sql Server edition:
- Regular - Standard Sql Server installations
- V2016 and below - Sql Server 2016 and below installations
3
Run Import Query
Execute the provided query using either:
- Your database client (e.g., Sql Server Workbench, DBeaver)
- Direct Sql Server connection
4
Import Results
- Copy the JSON output from the query
- Paste into ChartDB’s import field
- Click Import to generate your diagram
Import Methods
Sql Server
-- Regular Sql Server Database Import Query
WITH fk_info AS (
SELECT
JSON_QUERY(
'[' + STRING_AGG(
CONVERT(nvarchar(max),
JSON_QUERY(N'{"schema": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(tp_schema.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "table": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(tp.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "column": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(cp.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "foreign_key_name": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(fk.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "reference_schema": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(tr_schema.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "reference_table": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(tr.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "reference_column": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(cr.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "fk_def": "FOREIGN KEY (' + COALESCE(REPLACE(cp.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
') REFERENCES ' + COALESCE(REPLACE(tr.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'(' + COALESCE(REPLACE(cr.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
') ON DELETE ' + fk.delete_referential_action_desc COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
' ON UPDATE ' + fk.update_referential_action_desc COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS + '"}')
), ','
) + N']'
) AS all_fks_json
FROM sys.foreign_keys AS fk
JOIN sys.foreign_key_columns AS fkc ON fk.object_id = fkc.constraint_object_id
JOIN sys.tables AS tp ON fkc.parent_object_id = tp.object_id
JOIN sys.schemas AS tp_schema ON tp.schema_id = tp_schema.schema_id
JOIN sys.columns AS cp ON fkc.parent_object_id = cp.object_id AND fkc.parent_column_id = cp.column_id
JOIN sys.tables AS tr ON fkc.referenced_object_id = tr.object_id
JOIN sys.schemas AS tr_schema ON tr.schema_id = tr_schema.schema_id
JOIN sys.columns AS cr ON fkc.referenced_object_id = cr.object_id AND fkc.referenced_column_id = cr.column_id
), pk_info AS (
SELECT
JSON_QUERY(
'[' + STRING_AGG(
CONVERT(nvarchar(max),
JSON_QUERY(N'{"schema": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(pk.TABLE_SCHEMA, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "table": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(pk.TABLE_NAME, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "column": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(pk.COLUMN_NAME, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "pk_def": "PRIMARY KEY (' + pk.COLUMN_NAME COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS + ')"}')
), ','
) + N']'
) AS all_pks_json
FROM
(
SELECT
kcu.TABLE_SCHEMA,
kcu.TABLE_NAME,
kcu.COLUMN_NAME
FROM
INFORMATION_SCHEMA.KEY_COLUMN_USAGE kcu
JOIN
INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLE_CONSTRAINTS tc
ON kcu.CONSTRAINT_NAME = tc.CONSTRAINT_NAME
AND kcu.CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA = tc.CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA
WHERE
tc.CONSTRAINT_TYPE = 'PRIMARY KEY'
) pk
),
cols AS (
SELECT
JSON_QUERY(
'[' + STRING_AGG(
CONVERT(nvarchar(max),
JSON_QUERY('{"schema": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(cols.TABLE_SCHEMA, '"', ''), '') +
'", "table": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(cols.TABLE_NAME, '"', ''), '') +
'", "name": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(cols.COLUMN_NAME, '"', ''), '') +
'", "ordinal_position": "' + CAST(cols.ORDINAL_POSITION AS NVARCHAR(MAX)) +
'", "type": "' + LOWER(cols.DATA_TYPE) +
'", "character_maximum_length": "' +
COALESCE(CAST(cols.CHARACTER_MAXIMUM_LENGTH AS NVARCHAR(MAX)), 'null') +
'", "precision": ' +
CASE
WHEN cols.DATA_TYPE IN ('numeric', 'decimal') THEN
CONCAT('{"precision":', COALESCE(CAST(cols.NUMERIC_PRECISION AS NVARCHAR(MAX)), 'null'),
',"scale":', COALESCE(CAST(cols.NUMERIC_SCALE AS NVARCHAR(MAX)), 'null'), '}')
ELSE
'null'
END +
', "nullable": ' +
CASE WHEN cols.IS_NULLABLE = 'YES' THEN 'true' ELSE 'false' END +
', "default": "' +
COALESCE(REPLACE(CAST(cols.COLUMN_DEFAULT AS NVARCHAR(MAX)), '"', '\"'), '') +
'", "collation": "' +
COALESCE(cols.COLLATION_NAME, '') +
'"}')
), ','
) + ']'
) AS all_columns_json
FROM
INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS cols
WHERE
cols.TABLE_CATALOG = DB_NAME()
),
indexes AS (
SELECT
'[' + STRING_AGG(
CONVERT(nvarchar(max),
JSON_QUERY(
N'{"schema": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(s.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "table": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(t.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "name": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(i.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "column": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(c.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "index_type": "' + LOWER(i.type_desc) COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "unique": ' + CASE WHEN i.is_unique = 1 THEN 'true' ELSE 'false' END +
', "direction": "' + CASE WHEN ic.is_descending_key = 1 THEN 'desc' ELSE 'asc' END COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "column_position": ' + CAST(ic.key_ordinal AS nvarchar(max)) + N'}'
)
), ','
) + N']' AS all_indexes_json
FROM
sys.indexes i
JOIN
sys.tables t ON i.object_id = t.object_id
JOIN
sys.schemas s ON t.schema_id = s.schema_id
JOIN
sys.index_columns ic ON i.object_id = ic.object_id AND i.index_id = ic.index_id
JOIN
sys.columns c ON ic.object_id = c.object_id AND ic.column_id = c.column_id
WHERE
s.name LIKE '%'
AND i.name IS NOT NULL
),
tbls AS (
SELECT
'[' + STRING_AGG(
CONVERT(nvarchar(max),
JSON_QUERY(
N'{"schema": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(aggregated.schema_name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "table": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(aggregated.table_name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "row_count": "' + CAST(aggregated.row_count AS NVARCHAR(MAX)) +
'", "table_type": "' + aggregated.table_type COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "creation_date": "' + CONVERT(NVARCHAR(MAX), aggregated.creation_date, 120) + '"}'
)
), ','
) + N']' AS all_tables_json
FROM
(
-- Select from tables
SELECT
COALESCE(REPLACE(s.name, '"', ''), '') AS schema_name,
COALESCE(REPLACE(t.name, '"', ''), '') AS table_name,
SUM(p.rows) AS row_count,
t.type_desc AS table_type,
t.create_date AS creation_date
FROM
sys.tables t
JOIN
sys.schemas s ON t.schema_id = s.schema_id
JOIN
sys.partitions p ON t.object_id = p.object_id AND p.index_id IN (0, 1)
WHERE
s.name LIKE '%'
GROUP BY
s.name, t.name, t.type_desc, t.create_date
UNION ALL
-- Select from views
SELECT
COALESCE(REPLACE(s.name, '"', ''), '') AS table_name,
COALESCE(REPLACE(v.name, '"', ''), '') AS object_name,
0 AS row_count, -- Views don't have row counts
'VIEW' AS table_type,
v.create_date AS creation_date
FROM
sys.views v
JOIN
sys.schemas s ON v.schema_id = s.schema_id
WHERE
s.name LIKE '%'
) AS aggregated
),
views AS (
SELECT
'[' + STRING_AGG(
CONVERT(nvarchar(max),
JSON_QUERY(
N'{"schema": "' + STRING_ESCAPE(COALESCE(s.name, ''), 'json') +
'", "view_name": "' + STRING_ESCAPE(COALESCE(v.name, ''), 'json') +
'", "view_definition": "' +
STRING_ESCAPE(
CAST(
'' AS XML
).value(
'xs:base64Binary(sql:column("DefinitionBinary"))',
'VARCHAR(MAX)'
), 'json') +
'"}'
)
), ','
) + N']' AS all_views_json
FROM
sys.views v
JOIN
sys.schemas s ON v.schema_id = s.schema_id
JOIN
sys.sql_modules m ON v.object_id = m.object_id
CROSS APPLY
(SELECT CONVERT(VARBINARY(MAX), m.definition) AS DefinitionBinary) AS bin
WHERE
s.name LIKE '%'
)
SELECT JSON_QUERY(
N'{"fk_info": ' + ISNULL((SELECT cast(all_fks_json as nvarchar(max)) FROM fk_info), N'[]') +
', "pk_info": ' + ISNULL((SELECT cast(all_pks_json as nvarchar(max)) FROM pk_info), N'[]') +
', "columns": ' + ISNULL((SELECT cast(all_columns_json as nvarchar(max)) FROM cols), N'[]') +
', "indexes": ' + ISNULL((SELECT cast(all_indexes_json as nvarchar(max)) FROM indexes), N'[]') +
', "tables": ' + ISNULL((SELECT cast(all_tables_json as nvarchar(max)) FROM tbls), N'[]') +
', "views": ' + ISNULL((SELECT cast(all_views_json as nvarchar(max)) FROM views), N'[]') +
', "database_name": "' + DB_NAME() + '"' +
', "version": ""}'
) AS metadata_json_to_import;
Sql Server V2016 and below
-- Sql Server 2016 and below Database Import Query
WITH fk_info AS (
SELECT
JSON_QUERY(
'[' + ISNULL(
STUFF((
SELECT ',' +
CONVERT(nvarchar(max),
JSON_QUERY(N'{"schema": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(tp_schema.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "table": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(tp.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "column": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(cp.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "foreign_key_name": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(fk.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "reference_schema": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(tr_schema.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "reference_table": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(tr.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "reference_column": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(cr.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "fk_def": "FOREIGN KEY (' + COALESCE(REPLACE(cp.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
') REFERENCES ' + COALESCE(REPLACE(tr.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'(' + COALESCE(REPLACE(cr.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
') ON DELETE ' + fk.delete_referential_action_desc COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
' ON UPDATE ' + fk.update_referential_action_desc COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS + '"}')
)
FROM
sys.foreign_keys AS fk
JOIN
sys.foreign_key_columns AS fkc ON fk.object_id = fkc.constraint_object_id
JOIN
sys.tables AS tp ON fkc.parent_object_id = tp.object_id
JOIN
sys.schemas AS tp_schema ON tp.schema_id = tp_schema.schema_id
JOIN
sys.columns AS cp ON fkc.parent_object_id = cp.object_id AND fkc.parent_column_id = cp.column_id
JOIN
sys.tables AS tr ON fkc.referenced_object_id = tr.object_id
JOIN
sys.schemas AS tr_schema ON tr.schema_id = tr_schema.schema_id
JOIN
sys.columns AS cr ON fkc.referenced_object_id = cr.object_id AND fkc.referenced_column_id = cr.column_id
FOR XML PATH('')
), 1, 1, ''), '')
+ N']'
) AS all_fks_json
),
pk_info AS (
SELECT
JSON_QUERY(
'[' + ISNULL(
STUFF((
SELECT ',' +
CONVERT(nvarchar(max),
JSON_QUERY(N'{"schema": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(pk.TABLE_SCHEMA, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "table": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(pk.TABLE_NAME, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "column": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(pk.COLUMN_NAME, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "pk_def": "PRIMARY KEY (' + pk.COLUMN_NAME COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS + ')"}')
)
FROM
(
SELECT
kcu.TABLE_SCHEMA,
kcu.TABLE_NAME,
kcu.COLUMN_NAME
FROM
INFORMATION_SCHEMA.KEY_COLUMN_USAGE kcu
JOIN
INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLE_CONSTRAINTS tc
ON kcu.CONSTRAINT_NAME = tc.CONSTRAINT_NAME
AND kcu.CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA = tc.CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA
WHERE
tc.CONSTRAINT_TYPE = 'PRIMARY KEY'
) pk
FOR XML PATH('')
), 1, 1, ''), '')
+ N']'
) AS all_pks_json
),
cols AS (
SELECT
JSON_QUERY(
'[' + ISNULL(
STUFF((
SELECT ',' +
CONVERT(nvarchar(max),
JSON_QUERY('{"schema": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(cols.TABLE_SCHEMA, '"', ''), '') +
'", "table": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(cols.TABLE_NAME, '"', ''), '') +
'", "name": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(cols.COLUMN_NAME, '"', ''), '') +
'", "ordinal_position": "' + CAST(cols.ORDINAL_POSITION AS NVARCHAR(MAX)) +
'", "type": "' + LOWER(cols.DATA_TYPE) +
'", "character_maximum_length": "' +
COALESCE(CAST(cols.CHARACTER_MAXIMUM_LENGTH AS NVARCHAR(MAX)), 'null') +
'", "precision": ' +
CASE
WHEN cols.DATA_TYPE IN ('numeric', 'decimal') THEN
CONCAT('{"precision":', COALESCE(CAST(cols.NUMERIC_PRECISION AS NVARCHAR(MAX)), 'null'),
',"scale":', COALESCE(CAST(cols.NUMERIC_SCALE AS NVARCHAR(MAX)), 'null'), '}')
ELSE
'null'
END +
', "nullable": ' +
CASE WHEN cols.IS_NULLABLE = 'YES' THEN 'true' ELSE 'false' END +
', "default": "' +
COALESCE(REPLACE(CAST(cols.COLUMN_DEFAULT AS NVARCHAR(MAX)), '"', '"'), '') +
'", "collation": "' +
COALESCE(cols.COLLATION_NAME, '') +
'"}')
)
FROM
INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS cols
WHERE
cols.TABLE_CATALOG = DB_NAME()
FOR XML PATH('')
), 1, 1, ''), '')
+ ']'
) AS all_columns_json
),
indexes AS (
SELECT
'[' + ISNULL(
STUFF((
SELECT ',' +
CONVERT(nvarchar(max),
JSON_QUERY(
N'{"schema": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(s.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "table": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(t.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "name": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(i.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "column": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(c.name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "index_type": "' + LOWER(i.type_desc) COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "unique": ' + CASE WHEN i.is_unique = 1 THEN 'true' ELSE 'false' END +
', "direction": "' + CASE WHEN ic.is_descending_key = 1 THEN 'desc' ELSE 'asc' END COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "column_position": ' + CAST(ic.key_ordinal AS nvarchar(max)) + N'}'
)
)
FROM
sys.indexes i
JOIN
sys.tables t ON i.object_id = t.object_id
JOIN
sys.schemas s ON t.schema_id = s.schema_id
JOIN
sys.index_columns ic ON i.object_id = ic.object_id AND i.index_id = ic.index_id
JOIN
sys.columns c ON ic.object_id = c.object_id AND ic.column_id = c.column_id
WHERE
s.name LIKE '%'
AND i.name IS NOT NULL
FOR XML PATH('')
), 1, 1, ''), '')
+ N']' AS all_indexes_json
),
tbls AS (
SELECT
'[' + ISNULL(
STUFF((
SELECT ',' +
CONVERT(nvarchar(max),
JSON_QUERY(
N'{"schema": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(aggregated.schema_name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "table": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(aggregated.object_name, '"', ''), '') COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "row_count": "' + CAST(aggregated.row_count AS NVARCHAR(MAX)) +
'", "object_type": "' + aggregated.object_type COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS +
'", "creation_date": "' + CONVERT(NVARCHAR(MAX), aggregated.creation_date, 120) + '"}'
)
)
FROM
(
-- Select from tables
SELECT
COALESCE(REPLACE(s.name, '"', ''), '') AS schema_name,
COALESCE(REPLACE(t.name, '"', ''), '') AS object_name,
SUM(p.rows) AS row_count,
t.type_desc AS object_type,
t.create_date AS creation_date
FROM
sys.tables t
JOIN
sys.schemas s ON t.schema_id = s.schema_id
JOIN
sys.partitions p ON t.object_id = p.object_id AND p.index_id IN (0, 1)
WHERE
s.name LIKE '%'
GROUP BY
s.name, t.name, t.type_desc, t.create_date
UNION ALL
-- Select from views
SELECT
COALESCE(REPLACE(s.name, '"', ''), '') AS schema_name,
COALESCE(REPLACE(v.name, '"', ''), '') AS object_name,
0 AS row_count, -- Views don't have row counts
'VIEW' AS object_type,
v.create_date AS creation_date
FROM
sys.views v
JOIN
sys.schemas s ON v.schema_id = s.schema_id
WHERE
s.name LIKE '%'
) AS aggregated
FOR XML PATH('')
), 1, 1, ''), '')
+ N']' AS all_objects_json
),
views AS (
SELECT
'[' +
(
SELECT
STUFF((
SELECT ',' + CONVERT(nvarchar(max),
JSON_QUERY(
N'{"schema": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(s.name, '"', ''), '') +
'", "view_name": "' + COALESCE(REPLACE(v.name, '"', ''), '') +
'", "view_definition": "' +
CAST(
(
SELECT CAST(OBJECT_DEFINITION(v.object_id) AS VARBINARY(MAX)) FOR XML PATH('')
) AS NVARCHAR(MAX)
) + '"}'
)
)
FROM
sys.views v
JOIN
sys.schemas s ON v.schema_id = s.schema_id
WHERE
s.name LIKE '%'
FOR XML PATH(''), TYPE).value('.', 'NVARCHAR(MAX)'), 1, 1, '')
) + ']' AS all_views_json
)
SELECT JSON_QUERY(
N'{"fk_info": ' + ISNULL((SELECT cast(all_fks_json as nvarchar(max)) FROM fk_info), N'[]') +
', "pk_info": ' + ISNULL((SELECT cast(all_pks_json as nvarchar(max)) FROM pk_info), N'[]') +
', "columns": ' + ISNULL((SELECT cast(all_columns_json as nvarchar(max)) FROM cols), N'[]') +
', "indexes": ' + ISNULL((SELECT cast(all_indexes_json as nvarchar(max)) FROM indexes), N'[]') +
', "tables": ' + ISNULL((SELECT cast(all_objects_json as nvarchar(max)) FROM tbls), N'[]') +
', "views": ' + ISNULL((SELECT cast(all_views_json as nvarchar(max)) FROM views), N'[]') +
', "database_name": "' + DB_NAME() + '"' +
', "version": ""}'
) AS metadata_json_to_import;
Troubleshooting
Common Issues Guide
Find solutions for frequently encountered import problems and their resolutions
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