Troubleshooting

The most common problems and what helps.

Windows blocks the start

"Windows protected your PC": the website version is not code-signed. More info → Run anyway. With the ZIP version the warning can be avoided, see Installation.

The connection fails

  • Server not found: check the spelling. Named instances need server\instance, a different port server,port. For named instances the SQL Server Browser service must be running; otherwise specify the port.
  • "The certificate chain was issued by an authority that is not trusted": the server uses a self-signed certificate. Tick Trust server certificate in the connection.
  • Login failed: check the sign-in method and credentials. With Windows your current Windows account signs in.
  • Timeout: check firewall or VPN; on slow networks increase the Timeout.

Test in the connection form checks all of this directly.

The tab shows "No connection"

The tab belongs to no open connection, for example after opening a .sql file. First open a connection in the sidebar, then click Assign connection in the tab. The tab takes the first open connection.

A database cannot be expanded

Greyed-out databases are offline, being restored, or your login has no access. The tooltip over the name shows the database's state.

The result is incomplete

If the result says "truncated", the Max result rows setting kicked in. Increase the value under Settings or set it to 0.

"Edit row" does not work

Editing only works for a simple SELECT against one table with a primary key, without JOIN, GROUP BY, UNION or aggregates. See Results.

The AI does not answer

  • Anthropic: check the API key and the internet connection.
  • Foundry Local / Ollama: is the service running? Under Settings, Test connection shows whether it is reachable and has a model loaded.
  • Local models are slow without a graphics card; the first answer can take a minute.

The editor does not load

If "The editor could not be loaded" appears, restart NovaSql. Open tabs are kept.

Reporting a problem

The diagnostic log %LocalAppData%\NovaSql\novasql.log helps. It contains program starts and error messages with line numbers, but no result data. Contact via piwonka.cc.