View and Edit SQL Files: MySQL Workbench, Excel, & More

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Files with the .SQL extension are Structured Query Language (SQL) data files, which are used to access and modify relational databases. To quickly view or edit SQL file, you can open it in a text editor like Notepad or TextEdit. You can also open SQL files in MySQL Workbench to use MySQL's database editing tools, or import an Azure SQL database into an Excel workbook. This wikiHow guide teaches you three easy ways to open SQL files in Windows and macOS.

Quick Ways to Open an SQL File

  • If you want to quickly view and edit an SQL file, open it in Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (macOS)
  • Alternatively, open the MySQL Workbench app to use their helpful editing tools.
  • Or, import an Azure SQL database to an Excel workbook using the Get Data feature in Excel.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using a Text Editor

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bd\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bd\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":348,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":550,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will open your right-click options on a drop-down menu.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/72\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/72\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will open a list of recommended applications to open this file.
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  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f0\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f0\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-9.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will open your SQL file in your text editor. You can easily view and manually edit the SQL script in the text editor here.
    • If you don't see Notepad or TextEdit here, click Choose another app or Other at the bottom. This will open a list of all your applications.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using MySQL Workbench

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/09\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/09\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The MySQL Workbench icon looks like a dolphin in a blue square. You can find it on your Start menu on Windows or in the Applications folder on Mac.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b1\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b1\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    " You'll find your available model instances here. Just double-click the one you want to use.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/48\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/48\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":348,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":551,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This button is in the upper-left corner of your screen. It will open a drop-down menu.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e2\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e2\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":348,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":551,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will open a new file navigator window, and allow you to select the SQL file you want to open.
    • Alternatively, press Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + O (Windows) or ⌘ Cmd + ⇧ Shift + O (Mac) on your keyboard.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2a\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2a\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Use the file navigator window to find your SQL file, and click on its name to select the file.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Open-an-Sql-File-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-Sql-File-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This button is in the lower-right corner of the file navigator pop-up. It will open your SQL file's contents in the MySQL Workbench app.
    • You can view and edit your SQL script here.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Import Azure SQL Data into Excel

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-10.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can load your Azure SQL Database data into an existing Excel file , or start a new workbook. [1]
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/64\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/64\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-11.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Click the Data tab or press Alt + A .
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1c\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1c\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-12.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This is in the Get & Transform Data section.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1a\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1a\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-13.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":541,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will show you Azure-related data options.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9a\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-14.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-14.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9a\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-14.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-14.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will open the SQL Server database dialog box.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/51\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-15.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-15.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/51\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-15.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-15.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":347,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":549,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Formatted the server name like this:
    • <servername>.database.windows.net
    • Replace <servername> with the name of your server.
  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/ad\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-16.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-16.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/ad\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-16.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-16.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The dialog box will prompt you for your server’s username and password. Enter this info into the text boxes.
  8. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/43\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-17.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-17.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/43\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-17.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-17.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will open the data Navigator menu.
  9. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7b\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-18.jpg\/v4-460px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-18.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7b\/Open-an-SQL-File-Step-18.jpg\/v4-728px-Open-an-SQL-File-Step-18.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will create the connection between your Azure SQL Database and your Excel workbook.
    • Choose a database on the left side of the Navigator menu.
    • Click the tables or view you need for your work.
    • Click Load to load the selected data into Excel.
    • You’re done! Try exploring other Navigator menu options like Load to , which allows you to choose how you want to see the data in your workbook.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/connect-excel?view=azuresql

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open MySQL Workbench.
      2. Double-click a model under "MySQL Connections."
      3. Click File on the top-left.
      4. Click Open SQL Script .
      5. Select your SQL file.
      6. Click Open .

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