Initialization settings
Connection Initialization Settings let you define what happens each time you connect to a database. Use them to set:
- Auto-commit status and transaction isolation levels.
- Default database and schema.
- Keep-alive and idle connection timeout.
- Bootstrap queries that run at the start of every session.
Accessing connection initialization settings¶
You can configure these settings for a new or an existing connection.
Initialization settings for a new connection¶
- Create a new connection.
- In the connection creation wizard, navigate to Connection details -> Connection Initialization Settings to specify your preferences.
Initialization settings for an existing connection¶
- Go to the Database Navigator, find the connection you want to configure.
- Right-click on it and select Edit Connection.
- In the edit menu, navigate to the Connection settings -> Initialization tab where you can adjust the settings.
Settings¶
The following settings are available on the Initialization tab:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Auto-commit | Determines if each SQL statement is committed automatically upon execution. |
| Isolation level | Sets the transaction isolation level which defines the degree of visibility of transactions to each other. |
| Read uncommitted: Allows a transaction to read data that has not yet been committed by other transactions. | |
| Read committed: Ensures a transaction only reads data that has been committed at the time the transaction began. | |
| Repeatable read: Guarantees if a row is read twice in the same transaction, the result will be the same. | |
| Serializable: Ensures transactions occur in a completely isolated fashion, equivalent to serial transaction execution. | |
| Default database | Specifies the default database to be selected once the connection is established. |
| Default schema | Indicates the default schema to be used within the selected database. |
| Keep-Alive | Interval (seconds) for sending a signal to maintain the connection open during user inactivity. |
| Close idle connections after | Seconds of inactivity before an idle connection closes. Uncheck to keep it open with no limit. Set to zero to use the Connection Types timeout; any other value overrides it. |
| Bootstrap queries | Allows configuration of specific SQL queries to run at the start of the session. |
Note
Isolation levels, available schemas, and the default database only populate after DBeaver connects to the server. Click Test Connection to establish the connection and load these values.
Default database vs default schema¶
Not every database uses both fields. DBeaver enables only the fields your database supports, so fill in what's available and leave the rest empty.
Keeping connections alive¶
To keep a connection from dropping on its own, turn on Keep-Alive with a short interval and uncheck Close idle connections after.
Bootstrap queries¶
Bootstrap queries are SQL statements that DBeaver runs automatically each time it opens a connection. Use them to set up the session before you start working.
Example
SET timezone = 'US/Eastern'; sets the session time zone. On SQLite, PRAGMA foreign_keys = ON; turns on
foreign keys that are off by default.
Configure bootstrap queries¶
- Click Configure in the Bootstrap queries block.
- Click Add and enter your SQL. Separate multiple statements with semicolons.
- Click OK, then Apply and Close.
When bootstrap queries run¶
DBeaver runs bootstrap queries once per session, right after it opens the connection and before it loads metadata into the navigator. They run on every new connection, so keep them fast.
If a bootstrap query fails, DBeaver stops and the connection doesn't open. Turn on Ignore errors in the bootstrap query editor to skip a failed statement and keep going.