Harper Oracle SQL Developer 2.1

Design and Develop Databases using Oracle SQL Developer and its feature-rich, powerful user-extensible interface with this book and eBook
1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 978-1-84719-627-9
Verlag: De Gruyter
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 496 Seiten

As technology rapidly evolves, many developers are looking for valuable tools to assist them with their daily tasks. When dealing with databases, a clean, easy-to-navigate interface for working and browsing is essential. Oracle SQL Developer is a graphical user interface that makes life much easier by allowing you to browse database objects, run SQL statements and scripts, and create, edit, and debug PL/SQL statements in the most efficient way. It enhances productivity and simplifies your database development tasks. Although the SQL Developer journey looks simple and easy, there are many areas that can go undiscovered, leaving you just scratching the surface.
It's easy to get started and master this powerful tool with this book to hand. It will provide you with in-depth details about all aspects of using SQL Developer to assist you in your day-to-day database tasks and activities. You will learn to utilize SQL Developer's extensible environment to support your ongoing needs
This book offers detailed instructions for installing, configuring, and effectively using Oracle SQL Developer. You will learn how to utilize every feature of this development tool and make the most out of it. While none of the tasks are complex, the book progresses from the easy, most commonly used features, such as browsing objects and writing queries in the SQL Worksheet, to the more involved and possibly less frequently used features, such as Tuning and Testing SQL and PL/SQL, and adding User Extensions, and finally to those features used by a smaller more targeted audience, such as Migrations, Oracle APEX, and the Data Modeler. Throughout the book there are tips and suggestions gathered as a result of working with the current SQL Developer user base. This book will also show you how to assess the health of your database with built-in as well as customized reports.
By the end of the book you will be confident in making the best use of SQL Developer, and be able to set up and maintain a productive environment for quick and easy database development.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Harper, Susan

Fachgebiete

• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik EDV & Informatik Allgemein

Leseproben

Chapter 1. Getting Started with SQL Developer

This book is divided into chapters that focus on the different areas or functionality in SQL Developer. The progression through the chapters is from the more frequently used features to those less frequently used. This initial chapter is all about preparing your environment, installation, and getting started.

SQL Developer is easy to set up and use, so there is very little setup required to follow the examples in this book. The best way to learn is by practice, and for that you'll need a computer with access to an Oracle database and SQL Developer. This chapter, and indeed the rest of the book, assumes you have a computer with Microsoft Windows, Linux, or Mac OS X installed, and that you have access to an Oracle database. It focuses on the alternative installations available for SQL Developer, where to find the product, and how to install it. Once your environment is set up, you can follow a quick product walk-through to familiarize yourself with the landscape. You'll create a few connections, touch on the various areas available (such as the SQL Worksheet and Reports navigator), and learn about the control of the windows and general product layout.

Preparing your environment

Preparing your environment depends on a few factors, including the platform you are working on and whether you have an early edition of SQL Developer previously installed. First, you need to locate the software, download, and install it.

Finding and downloading the software

SQL Developer is available through a variety of sources as both a standalone download and as part of the Oracle Database and Oracle JDeveloper installations.

SQL Developer is a free product, and you can download it from the Oracle Technology Network, http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/database/sql_developer. Use this link to reach the download for the latest standalone production release. It also includes details of the release and is regularly updated with news of preview releases and new articles. While SQL Developer is free to download and use, you are required to read and agree to the license before you can proceed with the download. The product also falls under Oracle Support contracts, if you have a Support contract for the database, which means that you can log Oracle Support tickets.

Downloading and installing the Java Development Kit

SQL Developer requires the Java SE Development Kit (JDK); this includes the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) and other tools, which are used by SQL Developer utilities such as the PL/SL Debugger.

For Microsoft Windows, you can download and install SQL Developer with the JDK already installed. This means you'll download and unzip the product and will be ready to start, as there are no extra steps required. For the other operating systems, you'll need to download the JDK and direct SQL Developer to the path yourself. Indeed, as many other products require a JDK to be installed, you may already have one on your system. In this case, just direct the product to use an existing JDK installation. For Microsoft Windows, ensure you download SQL Developer without the JDK to make use of an existing JDK installation.

The SQL Developer download site offers a selection of download choices:

• Microsoft Windows (with or without the JDK)
• Linux (without the JDK)
• Mac OS X (without the JDK)

In each case, make your selection and download the required file.

The download sites for the JDK are as follows:

• For Microsoft Windows and Linux:

  http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp

• For Mac OS X:

  http://developer.apple.com/java/download/

Note

SQL Developer is shipped with the minimum JDK required. You can download and use the latest updates to the JDK. You should be aware that some updates to the JDK are not supported. This detail is posted on the SQL Developer Downloads page for each release. Starting from SQL Developer 2.1, JDK 1.6 is the minimum JDK supported.

Once you have installed the JDK, you can start SQL Developer.

Installing and starting SQL Developer

SQL Developer does not use an installer. All you need to do is unzip the given file into an empty folder, locate, and run the executable.

Note

Do not unzip SQL Developer into an folder or an existing SQL Developer install.

Unzipping the file creates an folder, which includes a selection of sub-folders and files, including the executable.

If your download does not include the JDK, then you'll be prompted for the full path of the . Browse to the location of the file and select it. The path should include the full path and executable (for example, ):

Working with different platforms

Whether you are accessing SQL Developer as part of the Oracle Database 11g installation or as a stand-alone install, there is a selection of executables available to you. These are either platform specific or provide additional detail while running the product.

Microsoft Windows

The first executable you'll find is in the root folder . This is the executable more generally used. If you navigate down to , there are two additional executables, and . The latter is the same as the executable in the root folder. Use either of these for running SQL Developer.

The additional executable is often used for debugging purposes. Use to invoke SQL Developer and a separate console window which displays additional Java messages. You can use these messages when encountering errors in the product and if you want to log an issue with Oracle Support.

Tip

Oracle SQL Developer Three steps to getting started on Microsoft Windows:

Download: Download the full file, with JDK, from the Oracle Technology Network web site.

Unzip: Unzip the file to an empty directory.

Double-click: Double-click on the file.

Alternative platforms

Microsoft Windows is the predominant platform used by SQL Developer users. There is a steadily growing audience for Linux and Max OS X. As neither of these platform downloads include the JDK, you need to first access, download, and install the JDK. On starting either Linux or the Mac OS, you'll be prompted for the full path of the JDK as described.

Mac OS X

Download the file specific to Mac OS X and double-click to unzip the file. This creates an icon for SQL Developer on your desktop. Double-click to run the application.

Linux

Use the Linux command to install SQL Developer. For example, your command might look like this:

In the same way that unzip creates an folder, with sub-folders and files, the command creates an folder, complete with files and sub-folders. Switch to this new folder and run the executable.

Migrating settings from a previous release

On the initial startup of any release of SQL Developer, you may be asked one or two questions. The first is the location of the Java executable of the JDK as discussed. If you have installed the full release with the JDK, this question is skipped. The second question is if you want to migrate any preferences from a previous release. Regardless of whether this is the first SQL Developer install on the machine or not, the first time you invoke SQL Developer, you are offered the choice of migrating your settings. You can migrate settings of any release from SQL Developer 1.5 and above. By default, the utility looks for the latest previous installation of the software.

If you want to migrate from a different installation, select the Show All Installations button (seen above). This displays a list of all SQL Developer installations that have the system folder in the system folder (for example, ) and includes releases from SQL Developer 1.5 and above. For releases prior to SQL Developer 1.5, the system folder was created within the SQL Developer install (for example,...

Über Autor(innen)

Harper Susan :

Sue Harper was a senior school mathematics and science teacher by profession. It was this teaching qualification that opened the door to Oracle in South Africa, where Sue started as a SQL, PL/SQL, SQL Forms, and Reports instructor in 1992. Before long she'd added Oracle Designer to her repertoire and soon left for the UK, to join the Designer curriculum development team. Sue was a course writer and then product manager for Oracle Designer for many years, traveling extensively meeting customers and training Oracle staff and instructors. Sue was later product manager for Oracle JDeveloper working with database and modeling tools in that product. Sue is currently product manager for Oracle SQL Developer, SQL Developer Data Modeler, and SQL Developer Migrations. Based at home, Sue works with her team, scattered around the world and customers, running web-based training sessions or helping with individual queries. She frequently attends conferences where she presents SQL Developer material and works with customers on their queries. Sue lives in West London, where she enjoys walking with her camera and her dog in the extensive local parks and further afield throughout the UK.