Command Palette
Cmd+K opens the universal search. Fuzzy-find connections, tables, queries, settings, and actions.
For: everyone, but especially keyboard-driven users.
The Command Palette is the fastest way to do anything in QueryDeck without taking your hands off the keyboard. Press Cmd+K and start typing.
Open it
| Way | Where |
|---|---|
| Keyboard | Cmd+K |
| Menu | View → Command Palette |
| Toolbar | The search-glyph icon in the toolbar |
The palette opens as a floating overlay centered in the window. It dims everything behind it.
What you can search
The palette indexes:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Connections | Connection names, hostnames, database names |
| Tables | Every table in the active connection's active schema |
| Queries | Saved queries, snippets, history entries |
| Actions | "Run query", "Open notebook", "New connection", "Toggle dark mode" |
| Settings | Every setting in the Settings window |
| Recent | The last 10 things you opened |
Results are grouped by category. The first hit in each group is shown by default — type more characters to narrow within a group.
Fuzzy matching
The matcher is fuzzy. Typing usr matches users, typing ordat matches order_at or created_at_in_orders. Case doesn't matter.
For more precision:
- Prefix a query with
:to scope to actions only::exportfinds "Export results", "Export connection", etc. - Prefix with
t:for tables,c:for connections,s:for settings.
Navigate the results
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Move down | ↓ or Tab |
| Move up | ↑ or Shift+Tab |
| Open the selected item | Enter |
| Close without acting | Esc or click outside |
The selected item shows a short hint at the bottom of the palette: "Open in new tab", "Run", "Edit", depending on the item type.
Modifier shortcuts
While an item is selected, hold a modifier to change what Enter does:
| Hold | Effect |
|---|---|
Cmd | Open in a new tab |
Option | Edit instead of open |
Shift | Copy the item's identifier (table name, connection URL, query content) to the clipboard |
Common flows
Switch connections
Cmd+K → type the connection name → Enter. The connection opens (or switches focus if it's already open).
Open a table by name
Cmd+K → type the table name → Enter. The table opens in Table Mode.
Cmd+K → t: then type → narrows to tables only, useful when the same name exists across categories.
Run a saved query
Cmd+K → type the query name → Enter. The query opens in a new tab.
To run it in a floating window without opening the editor, hold Cmd+Shift while pressing Enter.
Jump to a setting
Cmd+K → s: → type the setting name. Useful when you can't remember which Settings tab a checkbox lives on.
Trigger an action
Cmd+K → : → type the action. Examples:
:install cli→ installs the symlink:dark→ toggles dark mode:explain→ runs EXPLAIN on the current query:fix with ai→ triggers the AI fix flow
What's in "Recent"
The Recent group at the top of the palette shows your last 10 actions: tables you opened, queries you ran, connections you switched to. It's reset when you quit QueryDeck.
Use this to bounce between two tables without typing their names each time.
Indexing
The palette index updates:
- When you connect to a database (the schema is added).
- When you save a query or snippet.
- When you run a query (it lands in history).
- When connections change (added, edited, removed).
You don't need to refresh anything manually.
What's next
- Keyboard cheat sheet — every shortcut in one page
- Saved queries — what shows up in the palette under your search