Arguments for External Tools
Applies to: 
SQL Server
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Azure Synapse Analytics
Analytics Platform System (PDW)
Arguments are variables that the Studio environment supplies values for when an external tool is launched from the Tools menu. External tools such as Notepad can be added to the Tools menu using the External Tools dialog box.
The following table lists arguments for external tools.
| Name | Argument | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Item Path | $(ItemPath) | The complete file name of the current source (defined as drive + path + file name); blank if a non-source window is active. |
| Item Directory | $(ItemDir) | The directory of the current source (defined as drive + path); blank if a non-source window is active. |
| Item File Name | $(ItemFilename) | The file name of the current source (defined as file name); blank if a non-source window is active. |
| Item extension | $(ItemExt) | The file name extension of the current source. |
| Current Line* | $(CurLine) | The current line position of the cursor in the editor. |
| Current Column* | $(CurCol) | The current column position of the cursor in the editor. |
| Current Text* | $(CurText) | The current text (the word under the current cursor position, or a single-line selection, if there is one). |
| Target Path | $(TargetPath) | The complete file name of the target (defined as drive + path + file name). |
| Target Directory | $(TargetDir) | The directory of the target. |
| Target Name | $(TargetName) | The file name of the target. |
| Target Extension | $(TargetExt) | The file name extension of the target. |
| Project Directory | $(ProjDir) | The directory of the current project (defined as drive + path). |
| Project File Name | $(ProjFileName) | The file name of the current project (defined as drive + path + file name). |
| Solution Directory | $(SolutionDir) | The directory of the current solution (defined as drive + path). |
| Solution File Name | $(SolutionFileName) | The file name of the current solution (defined as drive + path + file name). |
*The current line, current column, or current text is based on the position of the cursor in the text editor as shown in the status bar.