User-Defined Projects

The Server Studio's project is a user-defined collection of links to objects, such as database tables, stored procedures, SQL script files or Server Studio E/R diagram files.

Projects can significantly speed up access to a small group of logically related objects because you do not have to scroll long lists in the main Object Explorer to find a specific object. It is more convenient to have a single access point that contains links only to required objects of interest. It also allows you to avoid switching in the main explorer's tree between object type subfolders, such as Tables and Routines, when you need to view stored procedure's syntax and related tables' structures.

For example, a developer can include into a project a group of related tables, views and stored procedures, which are part of the current development project, or all SQL scripts that define "Accounting Sub-System". DBAs can include into projects links to frequently used system management SQL scripts and stored procedures.

User can create a project and any number of folders within the project to organize object links the most efficient way for a fast access.

Each object link, displayed under a project folder, allows performing all operations that are available for an object node under a regular Object Explorer folder, such as Tables folder or Routines folder. For example, using popup menu on a table link under a project folder, you can invoke View Data, Edit Table Structure or Export Data operations.
NOTE: You can include a link to the same object into multiple logical projects. For example, you can include a link to a table "tbl_customer" into "Accounting" and "Sales" projects, which allows accessing this table from both places without having to switch back and forth between two branches in the tree.

The following object links can be included into the project or any project's folder:

Database objects, such as tables, views, stored procedures, triggers, indexes and constrains.

Virtual folders, which provide links to OS file system folders. A virtual folder allow to dynamically display all SQL script files and text files located in a selected OS folder. For example, you can easily open and edit any existing SQL script in your version control working directories. Newly created files in this working directory will automatically show up in a virtual folder so that you will not have to add them to a project manually. You can add any number of virtual folders to a Project Folder.

Individual SQL script files or text files

Server Studio's created files, such as E/R diagrams, Sentinel Historical Performance reports, Data Import/Export definitions, Load Test Scenario, etc.

Projects Explorer

Projects Explorer can be displayed in the split panel under the main Object Explorer tree or as a separate tab in the Object Explorer area. You can also choose to hide Projects Explorer. To open Projects Explorer Options panel, choose top-level Tools -> Preferences menu and select Projects folder in the Preferences dialog box.

Project Explorer consists of Projects root folder, under which user-created projects are displayed. To create a new project, choose New Project from a popup menu on the Projects root folder. Each project has a name, description and associated Informix instance connection. You can include into a single project database objects that belong only to one selected Informix instance but each project can combine links to database objects from several databases located on the same Informix instance.

Each project can contain either database objects' or files' links, or folders (subfolders) that can also contain list of database object links. Using folders and subfolders, you can create any hierarchy that you need to organize object links.

Adding and deleting objects to a project

To add a new project's sub-folder to a user-defined project or project's folder, select a project and choose Add -> New Project Folder from a popup menu. Enter a folder name, for example, "Order Management Subsystem", enter an optional description and press OK button.

Adding database object links

To add a list of database objects to a project, select a project and choose Add -> Database Objects from a popup menu. In the Add Database Objects dialog box, select required database (the Informix server connection is automatically selected based on the project's definition) and select required objects by checking them in the list. Use Filter by Object Name and Filter by Type options to find and include particular objects. Once you finish selecting all required objects in a database, press OK button to add selected objects to the project.
NOTE: you can include objects from multiple databases to the same project folder but you have to add them only from one database a time. If you want to add objects from multiple databases, perform Add Database Objects operation several times.
Alternative method to add database objects to a project is to select them in the main Object Explorer tree or Properties grid and choose Add to Project popup menu. For example, to select several tables to a project, select them in Table Properties grid when Tables folder is selected in main Object Explorer, right mouse click and choose Add to Project from popup menu. Multiple objects can be selected in Table Properties grid using Ctrl+Click mouse operation. If Projects Explorer panel is not opened at the time when you add database objects to a project, it will be automatically opened as a tree under the main Object Explorer or as a separate tab in the Explorer area based on the last option set in the Project Explorer Options panel of Preferences dialog box.

Adding virtual file folders

To add a virtual folder to a project, select a project and choose Add -> Virtual Folder from a popup menu. Use the folder selection dialog box to select a single OS folder.
NOTE: Only SQL scripts files with extension (.SQL) and text files with extension (.TXT) will be displayed in the virtual folder. It also does not display OS sub-directories. If you need to access files in sub-directories, you need to add them as separate virtual folders.

Adding individual file links

To add individual file's links to a project, select a project and choose Add -> Files from a popup menu. Select one or multiple files in the file selection dialog box. To add multiple files, use Ctrl+Click or Shift+Click operation. Press Open button to add selected files to the project. Once files are added to the project, they can be opened using Open File popup menu on the file's link node under the project folder. File Open operation performs an action based on a file type. For example, for SQL script file and text file it opens the selected file in the SQL Editor document. For Data Import/Export definition files, it opens a corresponding Server Studio's wizard.

Moving and removing object links

To move object links from one project to another one, use Move to Project popup menu.

To remove object links from a project, select a required object or a virtual folder in Project Properties grid or in Project tree, and choose Remove from Project popup menu. Multiple objects can be selected in Project Properties grid using Ctrl+Click mouse operation. When you remove a project subfolder or a virtual folder, it removes all links to objects that are part of this subfolder or a virtual folder.
NOTE: Remove from Project operation does not actually delete selected database objects or files. It just removes links to them from a user project definition. If you want to actually delete database object from database schema, you should perform Delete operation in the main Object Explorer.

Sharing of Projects

All project definitions are stored in the XML file that is specified in Tools -> Preferences -> Projects panel. You can share this file with other developers if you want to have a common list of projects.