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Oracle SQL Developer Release 3.0 - Early Adopter 1
Release Notes

Date: October 2010

SQL Developer on OTN | Features | EA1 Downloads | Installation Guide | User's Guide | Exchange | SQL Developer Forum

 

These release notes contain the following:

  1. New Features in SQL Developer 3.0
  2. Before You Start
  3. Support
  4. Feedback
  5. General Comments
  6. Known Issues

New Features in SQL Developer 3.0

Oracle SQL Developer 3.0 introduces the following key functionality:

  • Database Navigator: More database functionality is introduced into the product. Users can now manage Database Configuration files, Resource consumption, Security for profiles, roles and users, and manage Storage files such as control files, datafiles, archive and redo logs, rollback segments and tablespaces.
  • DBMS Scheduler: The Scheduler enables you to control when and where various computing tasks take place in the enterprise environment. The Scheduler helps you effectively manage and plan these tasks. Scheduler objects include: programs, schedules, jobs and job classes, destinations, chains and credentials are now added to the Connections Navigator. A graphical editor called the Scheduler Design Editor can be used to create and run scheduler objects.
  • SQL Tuning: SQL Tuning Advisor analyzes high-volume SQL statement and offers tuning recommendations. A Diff Tool for Explain Plans compares selected Explain Plan or Autotrace results for any SQL statements.
  • Query Builder: Visual SQL Query Builder with an object drag and drop feature from the connection navigator to the Query Builder view. SQL Worksheet and Query Builder view are tightly integrated. Switch between Worksheet (text) and Query Builder (visual) views at any time.
  • Spatial Data Management: Spatial Data Management provides a SQL schema and functions that facilitate the storage, retrieval, update, and query of collections of spatial features in an Oracle database.
  • Schema Browser: The Schema Browser supports fast client-side name based filtering for narrowing the list of objects displayed.

For a comprehensive list of new features, refer to the 3.0 New Features page on OTN.

Before You Start
  • Platform Support
    • Oracle SQL Developer 3.0 is available for Windows XP , Vista (including 64-bit), Windows 7 (including 64-bit), and Windows Server 2008, Linux or Mac OS X. (See Certification)
  • JDK Support
    • Oracle SQL Developer 3.0 release is shipped with JDK 1.6_11. You can use the embedded JDK or connect to any installed JDK 1.6_11 or above.
  • 64-Bit Windows Support
    • There is a separate download for the 64-bit environment. Download the full 64-bit install and unzip into a new, empty directory as described for other platforms. Execute the sqldeveloper.exe. You need to download and install the 64-bit JDK for your platform.
  • Installing or Upgrading
    • The Check for Updates option to upgrade between releases of SQL Developer is not supported. This utility is provided to install third party extensions, this includes the third party drivers required for migrations and to add additional version control extensions.
    • All new releases of SQL Developer require a full installation. Download and unzip the file into an empty folder. Ensure the "Use folder names" checkbox is checked when unzipping the file.
  • Migrating from Previous Releases
    After you have installed the product you are asked if you want to migrate from a previous release. This migrates previously set preferences and connections created:
    • By default the Confirm Import Preferences dialog that is displayed selects the latest installation. Select Yes to migrate the settings from that release or click the Show All Installations button to browse to an earlier installation. You can migrate settings from SQL Developer 1.2.1 and above. If you are migrating from a release earlier than SQL Developer 1.5.x:
      • Select the magnifying glass to browse to the sqldeveloper\sqldeveloper\system folder
      • Click Select. This closes the browse dialog.
      • Note: the selection is not added to the list displayed in the Confirm Import Preferences dialog.
      • Click Yes, to migrate the Connections and settings from the selected release.
      • Note: If you are using Oracle SQL Developer 1.1.3 as part of the Oracle Database 11gR1 installation, search for the [ORACLE_HOME] \product\11.1.0\db_1\sqldeveloper\sqldeveloper\system folder
    • NOTE: If you install a release later than 1.1.3, this does not replace the menu item in your Start Programs list. You can add your own menu option here or a shortcut on the desktop.
  • User Defined Reports, Snippets and SQL History
    • User-defined reports, SQL History and user-defined snippets files are located in the \Documents and Settings\<your_user>\Application Data\SQL Developer folder. These are also migrated.
  • Folders
    • If you created folders in release 1.5.1 or above, these are automatically included in the migration. If you choose not to migrate your settings between releases, then you can import your old connections. This does not include folders.
  • JDBC Drivers
    • The JDBC drivers shipped are Oracle Database 11g Release 1. To connect to earlier version of the database using the Thick Driver, you need to install an 11g client. i.e. not required for the Basic Connection.
  • Debug Log Window
    • This is now set off by default. If you want to see the SQL Developer debug log window information by default, then include the line IncludeConfFile sqldeveloper-debug.conf in the sqldeveloper.conf file.
    • To start up the debug log window in the product while you are working, enter "setloglevel oracle.dbtools ALL" in the SQL Worksheet. This will stay on while you are working, but won't reopen the log window if you stop and restart the product.
  • Third Party Databases
    • This release supports IBM DB2 UDB LUW 7, 8 and 9 and Teradata 12, in addition to the current third party databases supported.
    • You will not see any third party tabs in the connections dialog until you have installed the drivers. Read this Getting Started document to show you how.
    • You can download and include the third-party database drivers manually. See the existing documentation for that on OTN. Alternatively you can use Check for Updates to setup these drivers.
    • Do not use the latest MySQL driver 5.1. Use the 5.0.x drivers for MySQL.
  • TimesTen and In-Memory Database Cache
    • Before you can use SQL Developer to connect to TimesTen:
      • Install TimesTen 11.2.1.4.0 or greater release of the server or client on the same machine as SQL Developer.
      • On Linux systems, source the shell script TimesTen_install_dir/bin/ttenv.csh or TimesTen_install_dir/bin/ttenv.sh to set up the TimesTen environment variables before launching SQL Developer. On Windows, use the TimesTen_install_dir\bin\ttenv.bat script.
      • Make sure the CLASSPATH environment variable is pointing to the TimesTen JDBC driver (TimesTen_install_dir/lib/ttjdbc6.jar).
      • Read these more detailed release notes on TimesTen.
  • Table Filters
    • The list of tables displayed includes generated tables, AQ's and others not previously included in the list. By default there is a filter on the Tables node to exclude objects from the recycle bin.
  • Code Templates
    • Code templates and snippets are now included in the code insight drop down list. To see the code for these, just start typing the code, in each case, and the rest of the code entry displays in the code insight. There is no longer a key sequence for Code Templates. There is an entry in the Preferences > Shortcut Keys list for Code Template. You can add a key sequence of your own choosing.
  • Version Control
    • Subversion is installed by default with SQL Developer 3.0. To install CVS, Perforce and Serena Dimensions, please use Help > Check for Updates.
  • Subversion
    • If you create a local Subversion repository, ensure there are no spaces in the path.
  • CVS
    • If you use a local repository. You must use an external CVS client and set the CVS versioning properties to point to the external client.
  • Fonts
    • The font setting for the Code Editor now also increases the font size for the script output window and all data grids. This is in addition to increasing the font size for the SQL Worksheet and PL/SQL Code Editors. Select Tools | Preferences | Code Editor | Fonts and set the font size.
Support
  • You are supported by Oracle Support under your current database Support license for SQL Developer production releases. Log SQL Developer bugs and issues using My Oracle Support for the product. You are not supported for this and all early adopter releases, please use the SQL Developer forum to post all queries and to log issues. Please mark your threads 30EA1.
Feedback
  • For Early Adopter 1 issues, please log feedback on the SQL Developer forum and mark your thread 30EA1.
  • You can discuss issues on the Oracle SQL Developer forum.
    • Be sure to use clear subject lines to initiate a thread.
    • Try to avoid using old, unrelated threads for a new issue.
  • We will publish a list of bugs fixed once we release the production software. You can also contact Oracle Support to request bugs to be published.
General Comments
  • Features not yet supported in this release can be added to the Feature Requests section on the Oracle SQL Developer Exchange.
  • Please review current certification status for platform and database certification queries.
  • Support for TimesTen In-Memory Database is included in SQL Developer 3.0. You will not see the TimesTen Connection node unless you have TimesTen installed and configured (see TimesTen section above).
  • Support for TimesTen In-Memory Database includes support for Oracle In-Memory Database Cache and TimesTen In-Memory Database Release 11.2.1.4 and later.
  • If you did not migrate your connections from a previous release, you can import them afterwards. Invoke the earlier release of SQL Developer, export the required connections and import them in the new release.
  • Expired password: When a password expires, an error message is raised to alter the user. To reset the password, right-click the connection and select Reset Password.
Known Issues