**Source URL:** https://general.veevavault.dev/commercial/vault-toolbox/vs-code-extension/getting-started/quickstart

# Quickstart

This quickstart walks you through installing the Vault Toolbox Visual Studio Code Extension, connecting to a Vault environment, and running your first VQL query.

## Prerequisites

To follow this quickstart, you need:

*   Visual Studio Code version 1.95 or later
*   A Veeva Vault user account

## Installing Vault Toolbox

To install the Vault Toolbox extension, download the latest version from the [Visual Studio Marketplace](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=veeva-systems.vault-toolbox-vscode). Alternatively, you can install it from within Visual Studio by navigating to the **Extensions** tab, searching for "Vault Toolbox", and clicking **Install**.

Once installed, the Vault Toolbox extension appears under your *Installed* extensions and its icon appears in the lefthand panel.

## Adding and Connecting to an Environment

Before using the Vault Toolbox extension, you must add an environment, which connects the extension to your preferred Vault.

To add and connect an environment:

<Steps>
1.  Select the **Vault Toolbox** icon in the lefthand panel.
2.  Select the **Environments** (<Icon name="ph:users-three" />) tab.
3.  Click **Add Environment**.
4.  Enter a **Vault DNS**, provide an optional **Label**, select an **Authentication Method** (**Basic**, **Session ID**, or **API Access Token**), and provide the corresponding credentials.
    
    <ThemeImage srcLight="/images/toolbox/vscode-extension/environment_light.png" srcDark="/images/toolbox/vscode-extension/environment_dark.png" alt="Vault Toolbox Visual Studio Code Extension Add Environment" />
    
5.  Click **Add**. A card for the new environment appears under the list of *All Environments.*
6.  Click (<Icon name="ph:plug" />) on the new environment's card to connect.
</Steps>

See [Managing Environments](/commercial/vault-toolbox/vs-code-extension/guides/managing-environments) for the available authentication methods and how to work with multiple environments.

## Running Your First Query

Now that you've added and connected a Vault environment, you can run your first VQL query using the Vault Toolbox extension's VQL Editor tool.

To run a VQL query:

<Steps>
1.  Select the **VQL Editor** (<Icon name="ph:magnifying-glass" />) tab.
2.  From the VQL Editor, expand the **Query Builder** and select **Documents** as the query **Target**.
3.  Within **Fields**, select the **Id** and **Name** fields.
4.  Click **Build Query in Editor**. The editor should display the following query:
    
    ```sql
    SELECT
        id,
        name__v
    FROM documents
    ```
    
5.  Click **Run VQL**.
    
    <ThemeImage srcLight="/images/toolbox/vscode-extension/vql_editor_light.png" srcDark="/images/toolbox/vscode-extension/vql_editor_dark.png" alt="Vault Toolbox Visual Studio Code Extension VQL Editor Results" />
</Steps>

Results display in a table below the editor. See [Using the VQL Editor](/commercial/vault-toolbox/vs-code-extension/guides/vql-editor) to learn about saving queries, query history, and building queries visually.

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