Database .NET Review
Tags: database, sql
Published: 2024-02-01 19:20:12

[![Database .NET is an innovative, powerful and intuitive multiple database management tool With it you can browse/grant objects, design tables, edit rows, run queries, generate scripts, analyze/monitor SQL and import/export/migrate/sync data with a consistent interface.](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap49.png)](https://fishcodelib.com/Database.htm)

- **Platforms:** Windows Vista-Win11 and Windows Server *(Available in 32 or 64bit; FoxPro access requires 32bit version)*
- Portable & lightweight (35mb)
- Free tier (can "try" all features up to 100 times; better than a short time period or limiting features)
- Supports many different databases (including CSV files)
- UI is very well designed
- Easy to export/import data
- "Lifetime free upgrades" price ranging from free to $99 US.

## Features

- Browsing and Editing Data
	- Database/object [favorite filter](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20201007.png)
	- Display of table [physical size & record count](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20220103.png)
	- Quick column [header filter](https://fishcodelib.com/images/201710282.png), sort, [filter](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap264.png). Tooltips to identify table/column.
	- One-click [export table](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20170226.png) or query results to [CSV/TSV, SQL INSERT, XLS/X, JSON, HTML & Markdown](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20171105.png)
	- When viewing query result, ability to [supress display of columns](https://fishcodelib.com/images/201710282.png)
	- Queries results outputs [execution & total time of each query](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap227.png)
	- Synchronized scrolling (when viewing SQL results) [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20181203.png)
	- Quick calculation of selected cells (when viewing SQL results) [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20160330.png)
	- Select multiple cells to filter results [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20191228.png)
	- Browse column data [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20140612.png)
	- Expand/condense JSON/XML when editing. Edit compressed strings. [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20170611.png)
	- PrimaryKey Selector (inline lookup) [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap243.png)
	- column hints are displayed throughout as tool tips. [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20180201.png)
	- Results [find in grid](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap211.png) and [replace in grid](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20160818.png)
	- Form Viewer & Editor [image](https://fishcodelib-com/images/Snap236.png)
	- Cell Editor / Viewer [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20190222.png)
	- Updateable query results [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20230605.png)
	- Split & floay modes for query results comparison [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20181130.png)

- SQL Editor
	- Editing - dynamic syntax highlighting [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap212.png)
	- Autocomplete and IntelliSense [IntelliSense](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap184.png) [table schemas](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20140211.png) [automatic brace completion](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20140706.png) [foreign keys](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20161029.png) [snippets](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap245.png)
	- Listing and filtering Code Snippets: [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20180722.png) [manager](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap244.png) (default placeholders: $DATE$, $DBNAME$, etc)

- Object Explorer
	- Ability to search table data using string or regex [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap259.png)
	- Ability to bookmark/favorite database and tables [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap269.png)
	- Perform multiple selections at once [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20180721.png)

- Object Designer
	- Table designer [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap173.png) [DateTime default value Selector](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20180325.png) [object comment hints](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20181225.png)
	- Contstraint designer [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap230.png)
	- Index designer [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap187.png)
	- Database diagrams [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap223.png)

- Database Tools
	- SQL History: log of all SQL queries performed [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap248.png)
	- Built-in database migration tool [image](https://fishcodelib-com/images/Snap273.png)

- Data Import and Export
	- Import is mucher easier than SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). Import from Clipboard/CSV/TSV/PSV/SSV/TXT/XML/XLSX. [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap200.png) [mode](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20210803.png) [specific fields](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20150415.png) [empty/null](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20170526.png) [record separator](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20170627.png)
	- Export is mucher easier than SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). Export to CSV/TSV/PSV/SSV/XLSX/XLS/XML/JSON/HTM/MD/SQL) [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/Snap208.png) [sql statements](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20180518.png) [different database types](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20220204.png) [specific fields](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20150423.png) [all results or selected rows](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20171105.png) [export to XLS/XLSX](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20170226.png)

- Generating Scripts
	- Generate SQL from existing data: `INSERT`, `UPDATE`, `DELETE`, `DELETE+INSERT`, `REPLACE` & `MERGE`
	- Query Reverse Engineering (to edit using query builder) [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/201406061.png)

- Execution Mode
	- Ablity to open databases in read-only mode [image](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20170511.png)

- Additional Features
	- Drag and drop support [text](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20130515.png) [tabs](https://fishcodelib.com/images/20140727.png) [database](https://fishcodelib.com/images/2823741443_0e6edbbee4_o.png)
	- Hotkeys similar to MSSMS
	- Displays actual version of SQL Server (Displayed near top-right corner of Window)

- NoSQL database Support? (HBase, MongoDB, MapR, HDFS, etc)
	- Requires [Apache Drill](https://drill.apache.org/) + [MapR Drill ODBC Driver](https://drill.apache.org/docs/installing-the-driver-on-windows/)

**Supported databases:** Microsoft SQL Server, SQL Azure, LocalDB, MySQL, Oracle, IBM DB2, Informix, PostgreSQL, HP Vertica, NuoDB, Teradata, Sybase ASE, Firebird, SQLite, SQLCe, Access, Excel, VistaDB, dBase, FoxPro, OleDB, ODBC, OData, Text, NoSQL (and any database that provides an ODBC driver)

NOTE: A separate, dedicated **dbMigration .NET** app is available to migrate & sync data (free - $99) *(this is built-into Database .NET)*
- https://fishcodelib.com/DBMigration.htm
- https://fishcodelib.com/DBMigration_Features.htm

## Virus free

https://www.download3k.com/Antivirus-Report-Database-.NET-v3.html

## Other reviews

- https://alternativeto.net/software/database-net/about/
- https://www.slant.co/options/29844/~database-net-review

## Database .NET Feature Comparison
- https://fishcodelib.com/Compare.htm

## How To Download/Install
- 32bit Free and Plus Edition: https://fishcodelib.com/files/DatabaseNet4.zip
- 64bit Standard and Profession Edition: https://fishcodelib.com/files/DatabaseNet5Pro.zip
- Chocolatey
	- https://chocolatey.org/packages/databasenet
	- https://chocolatey.org/packages/databasenetpro
	- https://chocolatey.org/packages/dbmigration

## Licensing
- Free version: https://fishcodelib.com/EULA.htm
- Plus/Standard/Pro: https://fishcodelib.com/Purchase2.htm

## How to Uninstall
- Just migrate (or delete) the folder `\Database_Files`.
	- Portable Mode: `%app%\Database_Files`
	- Vista or later: `x:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Roaming\Database`

## Personal Takeaway

**PROS:** Using this program has made me more productive.  Compared to SMSS, Database .NET is portable, faster, smaller, easier to use and has more user-friendly features. The developer is very responsive to feedback & bug reports. I really like that the developer posts a [change log](https://fishcodelib.com/Database_new.htm) that contains both versions & release dates. 

**CONS:** The website looks chaotic and gives a bad first impression of an otherwise awesome software product. Google Translate is required to read most documentation, but at least all screenshots with text are in English.