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How To: Browse the database using Server Explorer in Visual Studio

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This topic describes how you can navigate through the different objects of the connected database using Server Explorer. Server Explorer is a stand-alone feature and can be used without creating an application. You can run queries using Query Designer.

To browse the database using Server Explorer

  1. In Visual Studio 2010 Service Pack 1, on the View menu, select Server Explorer.

  2. Add a database connection in the Server Explorer. See How To: Connect to a SQL Server Compact Database by Using Visual Studio.

  3. Right-click a table in the Northwind database. Click New Query. This opens the Query Designer session.

  4. The Add Table dialog appears. You can add an existing table to be used in your query.

  5. Type a query to retrieve data from this table.