The problem I’m having
When I click on the button to compile a query in VS Code using the Power User for dbt extension, the compiled query looks like this, with a series of dots at the start.
.............................SELECT
dummy_field
FROM dummy_table
From the terminal command line, I can enter something like this: dbt compile -s dummy_query and it runs in the terminal just fine and outputs a normal compiled SQL query.
I also can’t preview queries, and I suspect it’s the same issue.
If click the button to build a query, it works just fine. It’s just the preview and compile.
I’m running on Windows and have Visual Studio Code setup running the extension Power User for dbt and using Cloud dbt. Connecting to a Microsoft Fabric Warehouse, so that’s also another layer of complication.
I just got this setup in VS code last week and I think I had it working but not sure since there’s always a certain amount of jank when previewing a query that contains CTEs when SQL Server/Fabric Warehouse errors on that. I’m not sure if I changed a setting when I was showing the setup to co-worker or if it never worked right but I didn’t notice at the time.
This doesn’t seem to happen on very short queries, only on medium to long ones.
I don’t know how to see the task that Power User is running to compile the query.
I suspect it could be some issue with the dbt CLI tool sending back progress info (ie the three flashing dots to show progress) but the extension is just picking those up as part of the response.
The context of why I’m trying to do this
Being able to seamlessly compile and preview data is pretty key to rapid query development.
What I’ve already tried
I tried tweaking the settings for the terminal in the VS code workspace settings JSON file to switch between powershell and command prompt being the default, but it didn’t seem to fix anything.
Some example code or error messages
here’s the contents of my ./vscode/settings.json file that has my workspace preferences:
{
// per instructions here: https://docs.getdbt.com/docs/cloud/cloud-cli-installation?install=windows#install-dbt-cloud-cli
// choose windows amd64 and then extract the exe file and put it at the root of the repo you're working with.
//this tells the vs code terminal window to look for dbt at ./dbtexe
"terminal.integrated.env.windows": {
"PATH": "${workspaceFolder};${env:PATH}",
"TERM": "xterm-256color"
},
// use regular commany prompt, not powershell, which may not play nice with some things, like dbt sqlfluff
"terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.windows": "Command Prompt",
//this is for dbt power user to use the better looking lineage panel
"dbt.enableNewLineagePanel": true,
"dbt.dbtIntegration": "cloud",
// fixes issue with path using backslashes and having to convert them ever time.
//Only works when copying relative path
"explorer.copyRelativePathSeparator": "/",
"dbt.deferConfigPerProject": {
"": { "deferToProduction": true }
},
// make a vertical line so I don't make lines too long
"editor.rulers": [80],
// show whitespace as dots
// (easier to count out indentation and spot trailing whitesapce)
"editor.renderWhitespace": "all",
// easier to see if there are unsaved changed
"workbench.editor.highlightModifiedTabs": true
}