Getting Started — Script Runner
Suggested first session: create one Server Group with a non-prod instance → write SELECT @@SERVERNAME, DB_NAME(); → Validate → Execute on that group → export results to CSV to confirm the path.
Getting Started
- Create a Server Group — Click the ⚙ actions menu in the sidebar toolbar → Add Group. Enter a name like "Production" or "Dev/Test".
- Add Servers — Select a group, then ⚙ → Add Server. Enter server details, choose authentication, and test the connection.
- Select targets — Check the groups/servers you want to run against (nothing is selected by default). Use All / None in the Server Groups header for bulk selection.
- Choose Include DBs scope — Use the Include DBs dropdown (User databases by default) to control which databases are auto-checked under selected servers.
- Expand to Load Databases — Expand a server node to lazy-load its databases. Scope and include/exclude lists apply automatically.
- Write, load, or open a template — Type SQL in the Script Editor, open a saved Template, or switch to Script Folder for multiple
.sqlfiles. - Validate — Press F6 to compile-check the script against every selected target without executing anything.
- Execute — Press F5 (or click Execute) and watch results stream in real-time. Shift+F5 cancels.
- Review and share — Search the result grids, switch any result set to a chart, then press Ctrl+Shift+E to export to Excel, CSV, or JSON.
See the full keyboard shortcuts list in Interface & Features.
Authentication Modes
| Mode | Use Case | Fields Required |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Authentication | Domain-joined on-premises servers | None — uses Windows credentials |
| SQL Server Authentication | SQL login/password access | Login + Password |
| Entra ID (Password) | Azure SQL with Entra credentials | Login + Password |
| Entra ID (MFA) | Azure SQL with multi-factor auth | Login only (interactive prompt) |
Passwords are encrypted using Windows DPAPI (CurrentUser scope) — never saved as plain text.
Settings & License Management
Open Settings from the ⚙ button at the bottom of the sidebar:
- Theme — Dark or Light mode
- Editor Font Size — 10 to 20 pt
- Server Registrations — Import / Export (see above)
- License — View current license status, activate a new key, or deactivate
On first launch, start a 14-day free trial. After the trial, enter your website-issued license key (format: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX). Legacy prefixed keys remain accepted. License editions: Trial, Standard, Enterprise.
Background update checks run quietly against dblense.com so you can stay current without interrupting work.