SQL Formatter Options

Comma Separated Lists

The comma-separated list is the most common construct in SQL: the SELECT column list, GROUP BY, ORDER BY, INSERT columns and values. These options decide how many entries share a line, whether the comma sits at the end of a line or leads the next one, and how a leading comma is aligned. Leading commas are a widespread convention because adding or removing the last column then touches only one line.

Comma Separated Lists in SQL Statemets

ID	Option	What it does	Default
ID065	FreeNumber of Columns per Line LB_NBR_COMMASPERLINE	How many list entries share one line. `1` gives one column per line – the standard for anything but the shortest lists, because a diff then shows exactly which column changed. `999` keeps the list on as few lines as possible. Choices: `1`, `2`, `3`, `4`, `5`, `6`, `7`, `8`, `9`, `10`, `999`	`1`

One entry per line is the usual choice for anything but the shortest lists: a diff then shows exactly which column changed.

ID065 = 3

select emp_nbr, emp_name, dept_nbr,
       hire_date, salary, bonus
from   employee

ID065 = 1

select emp_nbr,
       emp_name,
       dept_nbr,
       hire_date,
       salary,
       bonus
from   employee

Linebreak After Comma

ID	Option	What it does	Default
ID013	FreeLinebreak After Comma LBA_COMMA	Trailing commas: each entry ends with its comma, the next entry starts on a new line.	`on`

ID013 off

select emp_nbr, emp_name, dept_nbr
from   employee

ID013 on

select emp_nbr,
       emp_name,
       dept_nbr
from   employee

Linebreak Before Comma

ID	Option	What it does	Default
ID012	FreeLinebreak Before Comma LBB_COMMA	Leading commas: the comma opens the line of the entry that follows it. Adding or removing the last column then touches a single line, which keeps diffs minimal.	`on`
ID122	FreeMove Comma 2 Positions to the left with 1 Space (When ID01... ALI_MOVE_COMMALEFT	Shifts a leading comma two positions left and puts one space after it, so the entries themselves stay aligned with the block above. Mutually exclusive with ID242, ID181.	`off`
ID242	FreeMove Comma 1 Positions to the left with no space (When ID0... ALI_MOVE_COMMALEFTONE	Shifts a leading comma one position left with no space after it – the tighter variant of the option above. Mutually exclusive with ID122, ID181.	`off`
ID181	FreeMove Comma to the left border of the SELECT statement (Whe... ALI_MOVE_COMMALEFTBORDER	Moves the leading comma out to the left margin of the SELECT statement, giving the list a distinct outer edge. Mutually exclusive with ID122, ID242.	`off`

Leading commas: adding or removing the last column touches a single line, which keeps diffs minimal.

ID013 on (trailing comma)

select emp_nbr,
       emp_name,
       dept_nbr
from   employee

ID012 on (leading comma)

select emp_nbr
     , emp_name
     , dept_nbr
from   employee

Tip: ID122, ID242 and ID181 are three mutually exclusive ways to position that leading comma: two positions left with a space, one position left with no space, or out at the left margin of the statement. Pick one.

Concat Operator ('||')

ID	Option	What it does	Default
ID058	FreeLinebreak Before Concat ('\|\|') LBB_CONCAT	Puts the concatenation operator at the start of the next line, so each fragment of a long concatenation begins with the operator.	`off`
ID059	FreeLinebreak After Concat ('\|\|') LBA_CONCAT	Starts the next fragment on the line after the operator.	`off`

ID058 off, ID059 off

select first_name || ' ' || last_name as full_name
from   employee

ID058 on

select first_name
       || ' '
       || last_name as full_name
from   employee

Option IDs are identical across all SQLinForm editions (VS Code, JetBrains, SSMS, Notepad++, Online Formatter) and are the keys stored inside a profile file. Generated from properties.json 2026.8.21.0.