It’s almost that time again as another exciting new release of Toad draws closer!  We’ve decided that, rather than let you wait until Toad 9.7 is released before you see what’s new, we’ll give you a little fore-taste now!  In this final blog (there are 2 parts), I want to cover what’s new for developers.  

  Data...

Compliance usually starts with a fire drill, however intelligent companies take the time to step back and put their compliance into perspective. Risk is the key to understanding and optimizing your compliance program. In this article, we discuss risk as an evolution from compliance, and look at some ways to model it in the enterprise.

I have, for the past several years, focused heavily on designing and building an automated code testing tool for PL/SQL: Quest Code Tester for Oracle. One feature that is often requested as a part of code testing is analysis of code coverage, answering questions like:

When I run my program do I use 50% of the code? 75% of the code?   Are there chunks...

It’s almost that time again as another exciting new release of Toad draws closer !  

We’ve decided that, rather than let you wait until Toad 9.7 is released before you see what’s new, we’ll give you a little preview now !  

The main objectives of this release are to provide improved knowledge and education on the wealth of Toad features for users, so that you can really see Toad’s full value and realise you...

Last week’s blog was the third in a series about how to make Toad run scripts and/or commands against multiple databases at once. Lots of people did not know that there are multiple ways in Toad to do this. This week I will highlight the fourth and final (???) method of running scripts against multiple databases using the new Toad...

A consistent pattern that emerges in compliance best practices, is the notion of accountability. Demonstrating accountability is a key component of building a solid compliance program. In this article, we explore the motivation, requirement, model, and architecture to make accountability a reality in your company.

Last week’s blog was the second in a series about how to make Toad run scripts or commands against multiple databases at once. Lots of people did not know that there are multiple ways in Toad to do this. This week I’ll highlight the third method of running scripts against multiple databases using the “Toad Editor” and Dynamic SQL...

Written by Rene Woody

This blog is a continuation of a series about the Batch Optimizer in Quest SQL Optimizer for Oracle.



In the Batch Optimizer in Quest SQL Optimizer for Oracle you may notice that the options for selecting which SQL alternatives to execute by the batch process are all based on the Oracle cost estimation. Although it is not a good idea to trust Oracle cost estimation for problematic...

In my previous blog, I covered things that you should know about Toad for Oracle’s editor. I thought for today we could spend a few minutes on what users may benefit the most from Toad’s cousin, Toad for Data Analysis. This blog will concentrate on working with SQL.

 

1.     SQL Recall   The time you’ve spent engineering...

A death march is a project that is doomed to fail. If you are in IT, and you are dragged onto a compliance project, chances are you will find yourself stuck here. In this article, I'll give you my tips for identifying a death march, and more importantly surviving one.

Last week’s blog was the first in a series about how to make Toad run scripts or commands against multiple databases at once. Lots of people did not know that there are multiple ways in Toad to do this. This week I’ll highlight the second method of running scripts against databases using the “Toad Project Manager”.   ...

The new SEC standards for SOX compliance have made it clear that your company should spend more time focused on financial risk. In this article, we’ll explore what’s driving this, how you as a database professional can help out, and some design considerations for a Financial Risk Compliance Data Mart.

One of the more frequent questions people ask me is why can’t Toad run scripts or commands against multiple databases at once? Of course as usual the answer is Toad already can – so I’m going to dedicate the next couple weeks’ blogs to this topic.    This week I’ll highlight the first method of running scripts for multiple databases using the “Toad Script Manager”. It has been in Toad for a long time now – and it’s available...

Continuing on with my discussions on autonomic computing in DB2 is the concept of self managing space. Proper space allocations are another critical factor when it comes to optimizing the performance of your database. Inadequate space allocations can result in application failures and potential downtime which will cost your organization money.

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This article wraps up the series on the types of controls and our discussion of architectures, by taking a look at the adaptive control. We’ll explore how you can support your business deal with the impact of risks, when there is no contingency plan.

When you go through the entire exhaustive process of doing an effective (i.e. accurate) logical model so that you have properly captured all the true business rules and requirements, you sure don’t want your data modeling tool to compromise those findings as you move into the physical model – which is database platform dependent. Yet most data modeling tools do a very poor job of translating certain data modeling constructs...

I thought that’d grab your attention!  

We know there are a lot of PL/SQL developers out there who are looking to make (or have already made) a break into application development using a more popular programming language like Java as well as many Java developers who use Toad to make access to Oracle easier.  

According to a 2006 IOUG survey of Oracle sites, the 3rd most widely used language after SQL and PL/SQL...

Hey folks,   For anyone attending Oracle Open World this year, here is my schedule of presentations:

Session ID: S300184 Session Title: Weird PL/SQL Track: Oracle Develop: Database Room: Golden Gate C3 Date: 2008-09-21 Start Time: 15:45

 

Session ID: S300183 Session Title: Break Your Addiction to SQL! Track: Oracle Develop: Database Room: Salon 02 Date: 2008-09-22 Start Time: 13:00  

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The editor window is probably where most users spend a majority of their time. In this blog, I’ll try to highlight the 10 features that will save you the most time when it comes to writing your SQL queries, SQL*Plus scripts, anonymous blocks, and PL/SQL stored procedures. Please note that all of these features are available in the standard edition of Toad for Oracle, version 9.6.

 

1.     SQL Recall

  By...

Nobody likes a firefighting effort, but unfortunately it’s a fact of life that we need to deal with as database professionals. In this article I share my 3 favorite tips for getting through without getting burned.

I have been doing Oracle work for just over two decades – and I’ve probably written thousands of SQL scripts. Many of those were DBA oriented in their task nature, but even application development presents times where SQL scripts are used. For example, the need may arise for the operating systems’ or third party schedulers to invoke a shell script to execute a SQL script to execute some PL/SQL code.

 

Historically...

This is a continuation of a skip series that I’m doing on the architecture of different control types. In this article, we discuss Corrective Controls; why we need them, and how to design for them.

Sometimes, even in today’s world of super GUI’s, a SQL script is still the best way to do something. Plus there are always those people who steadfastly prefer command line to GUI’s no matter what. Can Toad accommodate and even facilitate these needs? Of course you know that the answer is a resounding yes.

 

Let’s say that we want to turn on and off the referential integrity within an entire schema – whose list...

Is IT centralization a good thing for your company, or is decentralization the answer? In this article we look at the advantages and disadvantages from a compliance point of view, and my conclusion to this age-old debate.

I have always believed that Toad Data Modeler offers the best, easy to use data modeling tool on the market for the money. Now my faith has been confirmed – others are starting to see just what a gem Toad Data Modeler. Take a look at this review. I agree 100% of course – but everything there is true.

 

http://www.databasejournal.com/features/oracle/article.php/3754671

...

Anyone who develops, supports, or uses PL/SQL at some level also tests the PL/SQL. It may not be a formal testing environment, but there is a time where you will probably ask yourself, “Does this program actually do what it is supposed to?” I think this is something we can all relate to as computer users.  

This type of testing probably involves clicking a few buttons, then poking around the database or file system...

Last week I did an IDUG sponsored webcast on the topic of autonomic computing. I wil be excerpting these features over the next few blogs. If you wish to view a recording of the webcast here is the link:  http://www.quest.com/events/listdetails.aspx?contentid=7611&technology=&prod=&prodfamily=&loc=

 

The...

Toad for Oracle may use, but is not dependent upon, Oracle database options such as RAC, Partitioning and Spatial and Enterprise Management (OEM) Packs such as Tuning and Diagnostics depending on various factors. Such Toad features include (but not limited to) ADDM/AWR Reports and AWR Browser which are part of the optional DB Admin module add-on.

Some features in Toad which appear to do what Oracle does, DO NOT actually use any Oracle features such as Schema Compare & Sync and Quest SQL Optimizer (included with Toad Xpert, Development Suite and DBA Suite).

...

Okay, we’ve already learned the prevention is the best medicine. But what do we do when we cannot put preventive controls in place? This article answers that question and more, with more examples and data architecture considerations.

A lot of times people will ask Quest tech support or via our Yahoo discussion groups how to make the editor run SQL commands and do stuff more like SQL*Plus or how to better control the output look and feel (i.e. behavior). Along those lines and another very popular question is where one can set an option in Toad for the editor to do something specific (e.g. turn off feedback, etc) – because they have already done an online...

You learn something new every day, right? Well, I certainly do (more or less). Even about PL/SQL, about which I am sure many people think I already know everything. Far from it.  

In fact, I learned just last week from the PL/SQL Product Manager, Bryn Llewellyn, that his recommendation regarding cursor FOR loops and bulk collect is different from mine – and for a very good reason.  

Several years ago, he informed...

For those of you who may not come from a super-technical background, the term “ER Diagrammer” may sound strange or unfamiliar. Well, for the record, the term “ER Diagrammer” stands for “Entity Relationship Diagrammer” – a fancy name for a tool that displays the relationships between objects (like tables) in the database. You may ask, “Ok, but why is such a technical tool in a product like Toad for Data Analysis that’s supposed...

There are quite a few blogs out there about what happened or what’s new from this week’s ODTUG conference in New Orleans. So rather than restate what many others are reporting, I thought I’d try a slightly different approach – to instead report more on what was noticeably absent or different this year. J  

The Oracle Developers’ Tools User Conference (i.e. ODTUG) is, in my opinion, the premier annual event for Oracle...

In this article, we discuss the importance of understanding your “Really As-Is” process, and the big mistake companies make when building process documents. Then, we explore a data architecture for continuously auditing your process in an automated fashion.

Aufgrund der großen Anzahl Toad Anwender im deutschsprachigen Raum stellt sich die Frage, ob ein deutscher Toad Blog sinnvoll ist. Wir denken hier zum einen an Themen, die uns im Umfeld Internationalisierung interessieren aber auch an technische Detailfragen, die z.B. übersetzt und so einer größeren Benutzergruppe verfügbar gemacht werden könnte. Bitte schreiben Sie uns ihre Meinung.   Translation:   Due to the high number...

As the Admin for Toad World I want to welcome you and thank you for checking out the Toad World blog.  This “experts corner” is a collection of blogs by some of the most respected names in the database community.  Their blogs will cover a wide range of topics ranging from product insights to new technology developments to requests for your input on product developement.  Our intention is to provide these blogs not only as a resource to Toad users, but also for the entire worldwide database community. ...

  

A problem in the area of SQL optimization that has been around for a long time is the inaccuracy of the cost estimation of a SQL statement. A lot of people have the wrong conception that inaccurate cost estimations generated for a SQL statement by the database optimizer are caused by outdated statistics; whereas in fact, outdated or incorrect statistics is only one of many reasons that cause the database to generate...

In today’s article, we discuss the different types of controls, the best type of control, and considerations for how these controls can be worked into the data architecture of your company.

Next week the annual ODTUG conference will be held in New Orleans. I’ll be attending sessions and visiting vendor booths in order to stay current with the database DBA and development markets (more developer oriented at this particular show). I’ll report my findings and things of interest next week. I especially hope to corner some Oracle folks on the 11g R2 beta – which I’ve already heard rumblings for.

 

Of...

I’m working with our product team to develop a novel idea – and need feedback from you, our customer base. So here comes what may seem like a silly question: How would you like to win a free copy of the Toad DBA Suite for Oracle?  

Let me explain. I’m proposing that we sponsor an Oracle database tuning challenge. The rules would be rather simple: Using the Toad DBA Suite for Oracle’s  many screens, wizards, utilities...

In this article, I scratch the surface on the growing concern of data privacy. We’ll discuss how the industry has reacted to the concern, and how you might start to solution for it.

Oracle doesn't make it terribly easy to run operating system commands from within a PL/SQL block. I suppose that's understandable, given that PL/SQL is an embedded database-oriented language. Still, developers do ask me on a regular basis about how they can do this.

As I understand it, there are basically three ways to do this:

Invoke a Java method from within a PL/SQL wrapper   Call a C program...

What do you do when your company consistently has compliance weak points that don’t seem to go away? This article explores this condition, and provides the steps that your company will need to go through – and how you will support it.

Obtaining optimal performance from your DB2 LUW applications requires that you not only ensure your SQL is written efficiently and is properly tuned, but one must be sure that the DB2 instance itself is properly tuned. Too many people make the mistake of focusing all their efforts on tuning SQL and do not take a look at the big picture. Think of your DB2 installation as an ecosystem, where memory, physical design, and SQL transactions all work in conjunction with each other, and all can have a direct impact on performance. No doubt that proper SQL coding is probably the most critical factor when it comes to performance, but it is very important to understand that the best written SQL statement will not perform properly if there are inadequate memory allocations, or a poor physical database design. Monitoring and tuning a DB2 instance requires time and skill. Many LUW installations may not have the expertise to optimally tune their environments. 

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There have been several papers and blogs from Quest on the issues of benchmarking successfully, however the condition persists where people experience trying issues with Benchmark Factory and obtaining satisfactory benchmark results. I still maintain that it’s primarily attributable to a lack of proper and complete precursory work. But people generally seem to need more than a notice to prepare more, so I’ve constructed the...

Written by Rene Woody  



After a SQL statement has been optimized in the Batch Optimizer in Quest SQL Optimizer for Oracle, you can view the text of the SQL alternatives and the execution plans in the Tuning Lab module. If the original SQL statement and alternatives have been executed, you can view the run time statistics as well.

 

 

1.      In the SQL in Selected Job window in the Batch...

The Code Insight feature rewrite for version 9.6 is perhaps the most dramatic change as it will affect every Toad user who writes SQL or PL/SQL.  

In a nutshell, for the 9.6 release, users can now start at the schema level, and use the ‘Dot Lookup’ feature to see all tables, views, synonyms, snapshots, PL/SQL objects etc. You can then drill down to the column level where possible.  

Here’s what it looks like...

For years now, agile development has been an extremely efficient way to get results while keeping the customer happy. However there are perils, especially for the database people. This article gives you a primer for what to expect, and how to succeed.

It’s that time of year once again. The Oracle Developer Tool Users Group (ODTUG) is quickly approaching (June 16th-19th in New Orleans – see below). For Quest, this is a really great show. It’s very well attended by and representative of our Toad customer base. It’s not uncommon for a vast majority of this show’s attendees to be Toad users.

 

This presents a great opportunity for both our customers and Quest....

We’ve done a lot in Toad© for Data Analysis to make it user friendly and intuitive. Naturally, what’s user friendly to one person may be a bit confusing to someone else. This post will show you how Toad for Data Analysis can be changed to something more comfortable or familiar.