Troubleshooting IntelliSense

IntelliSense, integrated into dbForge Studio for SQL Server, is a powerful autocompletion tool that enhances SQL code development. It speeds up the writing process by providing intelligent autocompletion suggestions, effectively reducing the number of keystrokes, eliminating the need to remember numerous object and parameter names, and preventing errors and typos in clauses and identifiers.

However, there are some cases where IntelliSense might encounter difficulties. This article aims to provide solutions to the most common cases in which IntelliSense may either be unavailable or may not work properly.

It should also be noted that some functionalities offered by dbForge Studio may not be available in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). For more information about the advantages of the Studio over SSMS, see Alternative to SQL Server Management Studio.

Possible Reasons and Solutions

IntelliSense is turned off

Ensure that autocompletion is turned on:

  1. Navigate to the Tools on top and select Options.
  2. In the Options window that opens, go to the Text Editor > Code Completion > General options.
  3. Select the Enable Code Completion option and click OK to save the changes.
Enable Code Completion Option

Incorrect cursor location

  • IntelliSense does not support some elements of T-SQL syntax. See the list of supported syntax.
  • IntelliSense is not available within comments and string literals.

Connection is offline

IntelliSense may not work completely, or completion lists may become inaccessible as a result of a connection loss. To resolve the issue, ensure that your connection remains active or re-establish it if it has been offline.

Incompatible SQL Server version

SQL Server 2005 and earlier versions are not supported. To determine the current version of SQL Server, execute the following query:

SELECT SERVERPROPERTY ('ProductVersion');

If the result begins with '8' or '9', it means that your SQL Server version is not compatible with IntelliSense.

Code contains errors

If the code contains errors (for example, incomplete statement), the IntelliSense functionality won't work. So, it is important to review the code and fix errors. To simplify the error lookup, open the Errors List window from the View menu on top. The window displays the actual error location within the code. Also, the window will automatically appear when the tool encounters an error.

Errors List Window

Suggestions cache is out of date

Database objects may be missing or irrelevant as they may belong to the connection used previously. This can occur if you frequently switch between connections. To refresh the suggestions cache and ensure accurate IntelliSense suggestions, navigate to the Edit menu and select Code Completion > Refresh Suggestions.

Alternatively, you can press Ctrl+Shift+R.

Refresh Suggestion Option

You do not have permissions to manipulate a specific database element

IntelliSense is not available if you try to work with the database elements for which you do not have permissions.

IntelliSense does not work properly with the Universal with MFA support authentication

To enable IntelliSense within the Studio while connecting using Universal with MFA support authentication, it is important to register dbForge Studio for SQL Server as an Azure Active Directory application. During the registration process, an application ID is automatically generated.

After the Studio has been registered, you must specify the application ID in the tool when connecting to the Azure database with Azure Active Directory - Universal with MFA support. To do this, perform the following steps:

1. Navigate to the Database menu and select New Connection.

2. In the Database Connection Properties dialog, select Azure Active Directory - Universal with MFA support as an authentication type.

3. Enter the following details:

  • Server: URL of the Azure SQL Server instance.
  • User name: Azure Active Directory user with Azure SQL database permissions.

4. Select Use common MFA options and click Change Common Options to enter the Application ID and Redirect URL generated during the registration of dbForge Studio for SQL Server.
It is important to note that if you want to insert an alternative application ID, select Override MFA options for this connection and enter the Application ID and Redirect URL.

Enter the application ID

5. In the Options window that opens, go to Azure Active Directory > Multi-Factor Authentication, enter the application ID, and click OK to save the changes.

Enter the application ID

6. Click Connect to establish the connection.

7. In the Sign in to your account window that opens, enter the password for the specified Azure Active Directory account. After a successful login, a set of databases for the specified Azure SQL instance becomes available.

Conclusion

In this article, we have examined the most common cases causing IntelliSense to be partially or entirely unavailable. If none of the suggested solutions have resolved your issue, visit the dbForge Studio for SQL Server Support Area.