This document discusses why you should use SQL Developer and some of its key features. It begins by stating that SQL Developer is cool, shiny, and crashes less often now. It then discusses current and early adopter versions. The rest of the document highlights favorite features like connections, preferences, the code editor, and Apex utilities. It provides examples of useful preferences, keyboard shortcuts, and how to quickly modify Apex applications.

1. why
you
should
use
SQL Developer
Jeffrey Kemp – AUSOUG Nov 2016
jeffkemponoracle.com

2. why?
 it’s cool
 it’s shiny
 it doesn’t crash so often now

3. why?

4. versions
 Current: 4.1.5 (Sept 2016)
 Early Adopter: 4.2

5. a
few
of
my
favourite
things...
1. Connections
2. Preferences
3. Editor
4. Apex utilities

6. 1.Connections

7. Countdown
1/11
11 things

8. connection
switching
1/11

9. connection
colours
2/11

10. connection
folders
3/11

11. SSH tunnel
4/11

12. open
port 22
(not 1521)
(just an
example from
AWS EC2)

13. View ->SSH
4/11

14. SSH tunnel
connection
4/11

15. SSHTunnel
more details:
http://www.thatjeffsmith.com/archive/2014/09/30-sql-developer-
tips-in-30-days-day-17-using-ssh-tunnels/
http://bit.ly/29ULq6L
4/11

16. 2. Preferences

17. preferences
 Code Editor
 Max Open PL/SQL Editors = 99
 Link Stored Procedures to Files = off
 Use Smart End = on
 Use Change of Case as Word Boundary = off
 Adjust Indentation When Pasting = off
 Escape When Copying or Pasting Within String Literals = off
 Code Editor / Line Gutter
 Show Line Numbers = on
5/11

18. preferences
 Database / Advanced
 Display Null Using Background Color = Light Gray
 Display StructValue in Grid = on
 Display XMLValue in Grid = on
 Database / ObjectViewer
 Open Object on Single Click = no
 Post edits on row change = on
 Database / PL/SQL Compiler
 set all options to “ENABLE”
5/11

19. slow
startup?

20. faster
startup
 Tools -> Features
 disable any features you don’t use
6/11

21. 3. Editor

22. keyboard
shortcuts

23. keyboard
shortcuts
Editor Action Shortcut
Run statement at cursor/selected Ctrl+Enter
Run entire script as SQL*Plus F5
Indent /
Unindent
Tab
Shift+Tab
Comment / Uncomment Ctrl+/
Smart case convert Ctrl+Shift+'
Quick window toggle:
Mark as “n”
Go to “n”
Go to prev/next
Alt+Shift+n
Alt+n
Alt+left/right
Window navigate Ctrl+Tab
Multiple cursors Ctrl+Shift+click
7/11

24. search
RHS gutter also
marks lines
with PL/SQL
errors and
warnings
8/11

25. 4.ApexUtilities

26. quick
Apex
app
mods
9/11

27. export
Apex
apps
10/11

28. refactor
11/11

29. other
stuff
not
mentioned
today
 SQLcl
 http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/developer-
tools/sqlcl/overview/index.html
http://bit.ly/2ezcZ8m

30. bonus
oddgen
plugin for SQL Developer
https://www.oddgen.org

31. suggestions
box
sqldeveloper.oracle.com

32. more
info
 Preferences toTweak – updated for 4.1:
http://www.thatjeffsmith.com/archive/2011/12/
top-10-preferences-to-tweak-when-using-sql-
developer/
 Curated content about SQL Developer:
http://www.thatjeffsmith.com/sql-developer/
http://bit.ly/2eBkrBz
http://bit.ly/2enw7er

33. Thank you
jeffkemponoracle.com