# User files

Procedure: Enable the Database Tools and SQL plugin

This functionality relies on the  Database Tools and SQL plugin, which  is bundled and enabled in IntelliJ IDEA   by default. If the relevant features are not available, make sure that you did not disable the plugin.

> **Note:**
> Database Tools and SQL functionality support is limited in IntelliJ IDEA without the Ultimate subscription.

1. Press `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Windows), `⌘ Comma` (macOS), `⌘ Comma` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ Comma` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (XWin), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (GNOME), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (KDE), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Sublime Text), `⌘ Comma` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Visual Studio), `⌘ Comma` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Eclipse), `⌘ Comma` (Eclipse (macOS)) to open settings and then select `Plugins`.

2. Open the Installed tab, find the Database Tools and SQL plugin, and select the checkbox next to the plugin name.

User files are the files that are stored on your machine or any other place you have access to. To work with them in IntelliJ IDEA, access the directory that contains them in the  Project tool window .

You can view, edit, create, and delete the SQL files.

Procedure: Create an SQL file

1. In the  Project tool window ,  right-click the directory in which you want to create an SQL file and select `New |  File`.

2. In the New File dialog, specify the filename with the SQL extension.

## Run SQL files

SQL files are run against the selected databases or schemas using run configurations. To run an SQL file, you can either create a new run configuration, or edit an existing one.

For more information about running SQL files from your machine, refer to  [Run SQL files](run-sql-files.html).

## Configure a dialect for SQL files

For better coding assistance, assign an SQL dialect to an SQL file. An SQL dialect is a DBMS-specific version of SQL.

IntelliJ IDEA lets you specify the SQL dialect for an individual file or all SQL and DDL files that can be stored in a directory, in your project, or on your computer.

Procedure: Specify a dialect for a single SQL file

1. Click the dialect list, which is in the upper-right corner of the window.

2. Select a dialect from the dialect list.

![Specify an SQL dialect](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/db_change_sql_dialect_for_file.png)

Procedure: Specify a dialect for multiple SQL files

1. Open settings by pressing `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Windows), `⌘ Comma` (macOS), `⌘ Comma` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ Comma` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (XWin), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (GNOME), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (KDE), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Sublime Text), `⌘ Comma` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Visual Studio), `⌘ Comma` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Eclipse), `⌘ Comma` (Eclipse (macOS)) and navigate to `Languages & Frameworks | SQL Dialects`. .

2. Click the Add button ![the Add button](https://resources.jetbrains.com/help/img/idea/2026.2/app.expui.general.add.svg) and select directories or files for which you want to change a dialect.

3. Click Open.

4. Click the SQL Dialect cell and select the necessary dialect.

5. Apply changes and click OK.

## Use AI agents

You can also use AI agents to  to work with files in your directories.  For more information about setting up MCP Server, refer to  [MCP Server](mcp-server.html).

The following video demonstrates how to use AI agents to  to work with a CSV file.

[Video](https://youtube.com/v/QuQWOww0JNs?si=4X1CRbSSkBz9stiS&t=651)