Use the chat window for Copilot in SQL Server Management Studio

Copilot in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) includes a chat window to interact with Copilot in natural language. You can ask Copilot general questions about SQL, questions specific to a database, or get assistance writing or editing T-SQL.

Within the chat window, you determine the context for the prompt you submit. The context can be the general Copilot, or a specific database, based on an open query editor window. Within the context of a database, Copilot in SSMS has knowledge of both the context (SQL version) and database (schema aware), so responses are tailored to your environment.

Get started

Once Copilot is configured, open the chat window using:

• View > Copilot
• Ctrl + Alt + C
• The Copilot button on the toolbar

The chat window is a tool window, like Object Explorer, that you can dock to any location within SSMS. To move the Copilot in tool window, select the title bar and drag it to another location.

Use Ctrl + mousewheel to increase or decrease the size of the text within the Copilot in SSMS tool window.

Change context

If you initially open Copilot in SSMS without a connected query editor window, Copilot isn't connected to any database, but you can still ask general questions about SQL or SSMS. In this scenario, the current context is Copilot in SSMS.

To query a specific database, get help with Natural Language to SQL (NL2SQL), or get other assistance, open a query editor window that is connected to that database. The chat window automatically changes to the context of the new query editor. The context includes the name of the query editor and connection information.

To change Copilot's context, enter the @ symbol in the prompt box to display the available context list. When context changes, the editor and connection are listed as the current context above the prompt box, and the Sync Active Editor option is not selected.

To resynchronize with the active editor at any time, enable the Sync Active Editor option.

Submit a prompt

Enter your prompt in the prompt box, and select the arrow icon (Send) or Enter to submit it. The submitted prompt appears in the chat window. A Thinking... message can appear while Copilot waits for a response. The response returns beneath the prompt, with the response context at the top to help you track your conversation.

For NL2SQL prompts, Copilot queries the database metadata to provide context about the objects in your database.

If you open another query editor window, Copilot displays a message with instructions on how to change to that connection. It doesn't automatically change context to a newly opened window.

View previous prompts

Copilot keeps track of your most recent prompts, available to select from the recent history icon (Show Recent Questions). From the available list, select any prompt and submit it again, or edit and then submit.

Copy and insert Transact-SQL into the query editor

Responses from Copilot can include T-SQL statements, which are presented within the response and include Copy and Insert buttons. Use Copy to copy the T-SQL to the clipboard, and Insert to insert the T-SQL directly into the query editor. The insertion occurs based on the cursor location.

Clear chat history

To reset or clear the chat history, use the broom icon (Clear chat history). This action erases all existing prompts and responses from the chat history, and they can't be retrieved. Previous information from the chat is lost, and you start the chat as if you opened Copilot for the editor for the first time.

Save chat history

You can save chat history with the export icon (Export). Within the Save As dialog, browse to the location where you want to save the file. Edit the File name if necessary, then select Save to save the chat as a Markdown file.

Markdown files can be opened in SSMS 21, and rendered in Markdown format using the Markdown viewer. To invoke the viewer, use the Preview button or Shift + F7.

Change database context

Copilot has context about the database to which you're connected in the query editor. If you want to connect to a different database in the same editor window, use the database dropdown list, or use T-SQL (for example, USE WideWorldImporters;). The first time you change database context, a message that the connection changed is logged in the chat. Every time the database context changes, the current context above the prompt box updates.

Change mode

Copilot supports multiple modes for query execution, which can be changed in the prompt box with the appropriate command. The default mode is Read only.

For any mode in use, Copilot only has permission to execute statements that you, as the user, can execute. For example, you might not have permission to delete data from the Sales.Orders table. If you ask Copilot to write a statement that deletes data, such as DELETE * FROM Sales.Orders, when Copilot tries to execute the query, it fails.

To change the default mode for Copilot from Read Only to Read/Write with Approval, go to Tools > Options > Copilot. Use the dropdown list to change the value for Default Execution Mode. It isn't possible to set the Default Execution Mode to Read Write.

Additional commands

Copilot offers commands to customize your experience, capture information, and adjust throughput.

Commands with a colon (:) require more information. For example, submitting the prompt /style respond in the style of a super friendly assistant and use emojis doesn't change the style.

For more information about Azure OpenAI token limits, see Azure OpenAI Service quotas and limits.

Provide feedback

For each response from Copilot, you can provide positive (thumbs up) or negative (thumbs down) feedback. When you select either, a Submit Feedback to Microsoft dialog appears. Select the option or options that represent your feedback, then select Submit. Prompt and response information isn't shared with Microsoft when you submit feedback.

If you would like to provide more information, such as the prompt and response, select the option to provide more detail. After selecting Submit, the feedback site for SSMS opens in your browser and you can create a feedback ticket. For optimal assistance, include the chat history or the log file with the ticket. Alternatively, you can access the feedback site from Help > Send Feedback in SSMS.

Related content

• Code assistance for Copilot in SQL Server Management Studio
• Scenarios for Copilot in SQL Server Management Studio