Importing filtered SQL objects from a database to a model

Applies to

ApexSQL Model

Summary

This article explains how to import only selected objects from a database to model.

Description

ApexSQL Model is SQL data modeling tool. Using this tool, a database can be created or imported from SQL Server. Among the various importing settings, there is a way to import only selected objects from a database to model.

There are several ways to import databases in ApexSQL Model. So, first of all, let’s see how to import one.

Import all database objects using ApexSQL Model

When ApexSQL Model is launched, the main blank window will be shown:

ApexSQL Model main window

By clicking on the New button from the Home tab in the Models section, the Actions and View tabs will be shown along with the Resources tab, as shown below:

Features form the ApexSQL Model

Switch to the Actions tab, and then click on the Create model button in the Engineer section:

Create model using ApexSQL Model

The Create model window will be shown. In this window, from the Source drop-down menu, select Database as the source. From the Server drop-down menu, select targeted SQL Server instance, type of Authentication, and finally from the Database drop-down menu, select the wanted database. When done, hit the OK button:

Create model from a databse on SQL Server 2019

Adding SQL objects into SQL data modeling tool will start:

Loading SQL database in the SQL modeling tool

When the loading process is done, the database with all objects will be shown in the main diagram window:

Imported database using SQL data modeling tool

Another way to import a database into ApexSQL Model is by using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). However, this action requires that ApexSQL Model is integrated into SSMS. This can be done during installation. By default, all installed SSMS instances will be shown in which the application can be integrated to:

List of available hosts in witch ApexSQL Model can be integrated to

To import a database from SSMS, open right-click context menu for a database in the Object Explorer pane and select the Create model option:

Create model option from the right-click context menu in Object Explorer

The selected database will be opened in the SQL data modeling tool:

SQL Database is opened using ApexSQL Model

For detailed information about how to create/update a database, see Using SQL database modeling tool to create and update a database.

Import filtered objects using ApexSQL Model

To import only selected objects from a database into the SQL data modeling tool, click on the Create model button from the Actions tab in the Engineer section:

Create model feture

The Create model window will be shown. Before clicking on the Object filter tab, from the Source drop-down menu, select Database as the Source. From the Server drop-down menu, select a targeted SQL Server instance, type of Authentication, and from the Database drop-down menu, select the wanted database:

Import only selected object form the database

Once the data source is configured, switch over to the Object filter tab:

List of SQL database objects

All objects can be checked or unchecked by clicking on the Check all and Uncheck all objects buttons. Also, one by one objects can be checked or unchecked by clicking on the checkboxes on the left.

Object filter tab for SQL database objects

The Column filter button is used to easily find objects from a database . Click on the Column filter button, then type the name of the objects. The found object will be displayed immediately:

import selected object using SQL database modeling tool

The right-click context menu inside this window provides various possibilities:

  • Select all
  • Check all
  • Uncheck all
  • Collapse groups
  • Expand groups
  • Group by

Create model window shows database objects

In this case, we will tick only objects from the Purchasing schema, and untick all other objects:

Schemas objects options under Object filter tab in the Create model window

Only selected objects will be loaded, and shown on the main diagram window of the SQL data modeling tool:

Only selected objects are imported using SQL data modeling tool

 

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