Navicat 17 has set a new benchmark with its redesigned model workspace, data analysis, and data dictionary. And Navicat 18, scheduled for release in mid-August, is expected to be an even bigger leap forward. From AI-assisted data editing to a fully unified modeling experience, this update touches almost every corner of the application. One article is far from enough to introduce all the details, but you can get an early look at the new features that are coming soon.
AI functions in data editor and table designer
Artificial intelligence is now directly integrated into your daily workflow. AI AutoFill analyzes existing columns to generate, transform, or summarize information directly in the table - instantly filling in missing values with real data, translating text columns into other languages without leaving the grid, or cleaning records through text classification, error capture, and long text summarization.
In the table designer, AI-powered querying allows you to design the table structure in seconds by describing your requirements; while filling in comments analyzes field definitions and automatically generates clear table annotations.
Smarter query editing
The SQL editor has undergone significant upgrades in terms of accuracy and speed. The brand-new refactoring tool allows you to rename symbols and automatically update all aliases or identifiers in the script uniformly; or convert lengthy table references into concise aliases with one click, while automatically updating their associated joins, columns, and filtering conditions.
Real-time error detection continuously analyzes scripts as you type, marking syntax defects, invalid schema objects, and ambiguous column references before running. Code Insights has added hover metadata prompts, one-click highlighting of usage, and the ability to navigate directly to the Object Designer or Data Editor with a Ctrl+Click.
Data desensitization
Navicat 18 introduces a data desensitization feature that converts sensitive production records into safe and realistic simulated data, enabling testing, development, and QA teams to work freely without the risk of data leakage. It fully supports industry-standard techniques, including substitution, variance, obfuscation, hashing, and nullification.
Unified model
The model workspace has undergone further evolution, introducing a hybrid model that allows for the side-by-side maintenance of logical entities and physical constraints within the same workspace, bridging the gap between conceptual design and physical structure within a single workspace. Naming standards and terminology are enforced consistently across the organization, with standardized case, separator, and prefix conventions, supported by a centralized terminology list. The new batch editor enables you to simultaneously view and edit fields across multiple tables through a single hierarchical view.
Business insights, transformed
The dashboard has gained more refined and powerful features. Automatic tiling allows for automatic alignment and resizing of charts through simple drag-and-drop, presenting a professional layout without the need for manual pixel fine-tuning. Parameters allow you to define global variables for filtering and interacting with key values across the entire workspace. The newly added plug-ins provide page navigation capabilities, enabling one-click navigation between dashboard pages, as well as an automatic refresh function that enables real-time data updates as scheduled.
Other significant improvements
Batch editing now allows you to modify multiple records without triggering automatic saving. The newly added "Apply/Discard" toolbar allows you to review your changes first and submit only when you are ready. Record navigation has added a sidebar panel in the form view, allowing you to jump directly to any record without repeatedly clicking "Next Page".
The import wizard has been rebuilt into a single-step process, allowing you to merge multiple file types into a single table or map a single data source to multiple target tables, and equipped with a real-time preview panel - while adding support for the Parquet file format. Personal profile synchronization allows you to synchronize your table configuration files, connection configuration files, favorites, and UI color settings to your personal account, making them available wherever you log in. Session history records every SQL query run in the data editor session, making it easy to review at any time.
