Speed Up MySQL DB Operations! A Summary of Shortcuts for Sequel Ace (formerly Sequel Pro)
Here is a collection of shortcuts to help you operate Sequel Ace (formerly Sequel Pro), the MySQL database client for macOS, more efficiently.
Posted at: 2022.7.7
Default Key Bindings
Database Operations
Let's start with the basic database operations in Sequel Ace.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| List databases | Command + Shift + D |
| Select a table from the database list | Up/Down Arrow Keys |
| Duplicate and open the current tab | Command + Shift + D |
Sequel Ace is very user-friendly even with mouse operations, but using keyboard shortcuts allows you to operate databases much faster.
For example, "Duplicate and open the current tab" lets you open a new tab more quickly and without using the mouse, so it's a shortcut worth mastering.
Table Operations
Next are the table operations after entering a database.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Structure tab | Command + 1 |
| Content tab | Command + 2 |
| Relations tab | Command + 3 |
| Triggers tab | Command + 4 |
| Table info tab | Command + 5 |
| Query tab | Command + 6 |
| Filter (in Content tab) | Command + F |
| Jump to nth record | Command + J |
| Reload data | Command + R |
Mastering tab switching after entering a table will greatly speed up your workflow in Sequel Ace and reduce stress.
In particular, since you frequently switch between the Query and Content tabs, using shortcuts instead of clicking every time is much more convenient.
Advanced Operations
By learning more advanced operations, you can make even better use of Sequel Ace.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open console | Command + Shift + K |
| Import | Command + Shift + I |
| Export | Command + Shift + E |
Import and export are used more often than you might expect, such as during testing, so these are shortcuts you definitely want to remember in Sequel Ace.
Also, the "Console," where you can check your SQL query execution history, is a surprisingly useful tool. Since you don't have to copy and paste previously executed test queries into a text editor each time, it's convenient to keep it open at all times.
Many of the shortcuts in Sequel Ace (formerly Sequel Pro) are based on the initial letters of SQL commands, so they're relatively easy to remember.
When operating a MySQL server, you'll often be writing SQL statements, so being able to perform most actions from the keyboard, rather than switching to the mouse each time, will make your work much more efficient.
It might feel a little unfamiliar at first, but once you get used to it, you'll be able to perform almost all operations with shortcuts alone—so be sure to master them!