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KQL Database Editor - Real-Time Intelligence (Fiab Console Parity Spec)

Document Date: 2026-05-26
Experience: Microsoft Fabric - Real-Time Intelligence (Kusto Query Language)
Item Type: KQL Database (Eventhouse)

Overview

The KQL Database editor in Microsoft Fabric provides a comprehensive interface for managing Kusto Query Language (KQL) databases and querysets within the Real-Time Intelligence experience. The editor is accessed through the fabric-developer workspace experience and provides a unified environment for database administration, querying, and data exploration.

UI Components

Top Navigation & Tabs

Tab Navigation: - Eventhouse - Container-level overview and management - Database - Database-specific configuration and metadata - Queryset - Query editing and execution interface (embedded querysets)

The tabs provide context-aware views for different operational levels of the Real-Time Intelligence hierarchy.

Toolbar & Action Buttons

Main Toolbar Features: - Live view - Real-time view toggle - New - Create new queries or items - Get data - Data ingestion options - Query with code - Direct KQL code editor - KQL Queryset - Open/create querysets - Notebook - Analytical notebook interface - Real-Time Dashboard - Visualization dashboard creation - Data Agent - Data management/automation tools - Data policies - Security and compliance policies - OneLake - OneLake integration toggle (availability indicator)

Database Navigation Structure: 

eventhouse1 (Database name)
├── System overview
├── Databases
├── Monitoring
├── Search (filter box)
└── KQL databases
    ├── eventhouse1
    │   ├── [queryset_name]_queryset (KQL Queryset)
    │   ├── Tables
    │   │   └── [No tables] / [table list]
    │   ├── Shortcuts
    │   ├── Materialized views
    │   ├── Functions
    │   └── Data streams
    └── [additional KQL databases]

Schema Browser Capabilities: - Hierarchical display of database objects - Expandable/collapsible nodes for tables, views, and functions - Quick access to database metadata (tables, materialized views, functions, data streams) - Search functionality to filter schema objects - Shortcuts for frequently used queries/objects

Database Status & Metadata

Visible Information: - Database name (eventhouse1) - Overall health/status indicator - System overview panel - Database empty state message with "Get data" button (when no tables present) - Last access/modification timestamp

Database Editor Features

Schema Browser Details

Tables Section: - Display count of tables in the database - "No tables" message when database is empty - Expandable table list showing: - Table names - Column information (schema) - Data types

Advanced Object Types: - Materialized Views - Pre-computed aggregations for performance - Functions - Custom KQL functions and stored procedures - Data Streams - Streaming data sources and ingestion endpoints - Shortcuts - Frequently used or shared queries/tables

Query Management

Queryset Integration: - Embedded queryset editor within database context - Multi-tab query support (named tabs like "Tab", user-defined names) - Query history and recall functionality - Share query capability - Save to Dashboard option - Export to CSV functionality

Sample Query Features: - Pre-populated template queries with comments - Links to KQL documentation (https://aka.ms/KQLguide) - Links to SQL-KQL conversion guide (https://aka.ms/sqlcheatsheet) - Example patterns: - Basic table queries: YOUR_TABLE_HERE - Limiting results: | take 100 - Counting records: | count - Aggregations: | summarize IngestionCountCount = count() by bin(ingestion_time(), 1h)

KQL Query Features

Query Editor

Editor Capabilities: - Line-numbered editor - Syntax highlighting: - Green for comments - Blue/Red for KQL keywords (take, count, summarize, etc.) - Table and column name recognition - Real-time validation - Autocomplete/IntelliSense support

Query Operations: - Run - Execute the current query - Preview - Preview results without full execution - Recall - Access previous queries - Share query - Share query with other users - Save to Dashboard - Pin query results to dashboards - KQL Tools - Advanced KQL utilities and helpers - Export to CSV - Export results to CSV format - Power BI report - Create Power BI reports from query results - Add alert - Set up alerts on query results

Results Grid

Display Features: - Query results in tabular format - Sorting capabilities (implied by UI) - Filtering capabilities - Column type indicators - Visualization toggle options - "Run a query and explore the results here" placeholder message when no results

Results Metadata: - Timestamp display (e.g., "2026-05-26 18:16 (UTC)") - Result count indicators - Export options

Data Management

Data Ingestion

Ingest Option Access: - "Get data" button in database view - Data ingestion wizards - OneLake integration for data source connectivity

Data Management Commands

Supported KQL Commands (conceptual): - .show commands - View database/table metadata - .alter commands - Modify database/table properties - .drop commands - Delete database objects - .ingest commands - Programmatic data ingestion - .create commands - Create new database objects

Advanced Features

OneLake Integration

OneLake Features: - OneLake toggle button in toolbar - Integration status indicator - Data availability visibility - Cross-workspace data access

Monitoring & Administration

Monitoring Panel: - System overview section in sidebar - Monitoring option in sidebar navigation - Database health indicators - Usage metrics and diagnostics

Data Policies

Policy Management: - Data policies toolbar button - Security policy configuration - Access control settings - Retention policy management (implied) - Update policies for data transformation

Session Information

UI State Tracking: - Database name display: "eventhouse1" - Queryset name: "eventhouse1_queryset" - Empty database state handling - Tab management for multiple querysets - Focus mode for distraction-free editing

Notable Observations

  1. Empty Database Handling - Database displays helpful "This database is empty" message with "Get data" CTA
  2. Embedded Querysets - Querysets are accessed as embedded tabs within the database context, not as separate navigation items
  3. Real-Time Experience - Full integration with Fabric's Real-Time Intelligence workload
  4. Multi-Tab Support - Multiple queries can be open in separate tabs within a single database view
  5. Template Queries - Pre-populated query templates provide guidance and examples
  6. Integrated Tooling - KQL Tools, Power BI integration, and alerts available directly in the editor
  7. OneLake Availability - OneLake toggle indicates data lake integration for external data sources
  • KQL Reference: https://aka.ms/KQLguide
  • SQL to KQL Conversion: https://aka.ms/sqlcheatsheet
  • Real-Time Intelligence Documentation: Microsoft Fabric documentation site