LINQ (Language Integrated Query) is a new feature in .Net 3.5 defines a set of query that can be used to query, project and filter data in arrays, enumerable classes, XML, relational database and third party data sources. LINQ to SQL is Visual Studio `2008 feature for modeling relational database through .Net.

Though LINQ to SQL hides the complexity of database query from programmers sometimes I would be useful to see what query is being passed to the data source. Debug Visualizer for LINQ enables to view the raw SQL query that is being passed by the LINQ expression.

Before Installing Debug Visualizer:

When you hit a debug point and hover over a LINQ expression you can see only the query as shown in the figure below

After Installing Debug Visualizer:

When you hit a debug point and hover over a LINQ expression a small magnifying glass will appear near the expression

Clicking the magnifying glass will open the LINQ to SQL debug visualizer window as shown below

The window shows the LINQ expression used and the SQL query that will be passed to the data source. We can also change the query as we want and check the output by clicking “Execute” button.

If we check “Original Query” check box original query will be reverted.

LINQ to SQL debug visualizer can be downloaded from here

Steps to install SQL debug visualizer

1)    Shutdown all running instances of Visual Studio 2008

2)    Copy “SqlServerQueryVisualizer.dll” from downloaded folder’s bin/debug folder

Paste that dll to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\Packages\Debugger\Visualizers.

Posted By,
Praveena T N