I’m not saying there’s anything wrong per se with SQL Developer’s tree control for navigating your connection objects. As a matter of fact there are a few things to really admire about the tree implementation. Just in case you have NO IDEA what I’m talking about, here is the tree in all its glory.
Can't see the database forest for the tree?
Scrolling can get tedious on large databases. So here’s a few tips for those that are keyboard savvy:
Navigate the tree with the keyboard, type into your objects
Just the first letter will take you to the next tree item of that letter.
Use the Right Arrow key to expand a tree or sub-tree. Jump to tables with ‘T’, then use the RightArrow key to expand the list of tables. Here’s a quick example of how to jump into a another schema, view list.
‘O’, ‘RightArrow’, ‘S’, ‘S’, ‘S’, ‘RightArrow’, ‘V’, ‘RightArrow’, ‘P’
That series of keystrokes allowed me to ‘walk the tree.’ I jumped to ‘Other Users’, dove into that list, typed into the ‘SH’ schema, expanded that, then went into ‘Views’, and jumped to the ‘Profits’ view. It took me much longer to type that up then it took me to actually do the task in SQL Developer.
If you are using SQL Developer and you have not acquired this skill yet, please stop reading now and go jump into SQL Developer. Try it. Try it again. Once mastered, you’ll be much more proficient with the tool and a lot more productive as well.
Maybe the Tree is just ‘too big’ for you
You don’t use Editioning Views, Queue Tables, Crossedition Triggers, Materialized View Logs, Directories, Editions, Application Express, Java, etc. Even with the keyboard ‘tricks’, that’s a lot of stuff to wade through.
Or maybe you just don’t grok the tree, no matter what you try.
Thankfully we have an alternative, and it’s called the Schema Browser.
On your tree list, select your connection and mouse-right-click. Towards the very bottom of that context menu, select ‘Schema Browser.’ This will open a new page in your panel where you see the connections and reports.
The Schema Browser is an alternative navigator for your database connection objects. It gives you a ‘Drop Down’ control for selecting both ‘schema’ and database ‘object type.’
It's all about click and scroll here. None of that funny collapsing and expanding business.
Navigation Via Drop Down Controls
It’s pretty simple really. First click into your schema, user, account, whatever. Then click into the type of object you want to populate the list.
Pick a Schema
Users
Pick an Object Type
Schema Object Types
You can still navigate your lists with the keyboard. All of the object specific context menus are intact. Filters, refresh, and ‘new’ buttons are available to the right of the object drop down control with a little ‘down arrow’ looking button. You will still use the Connections panel to manage your connection to that database.
And if you get bored of this view, you can always close it and go back to the Tree. Or use both. I don’t care really so long as you find something that works for you!
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Jan 18, 2013 @ 07:38:03
Thanks for the blog post Jeff. Found it very useful and informative.
Strangely enough that in my demonstration environment (google “oracle developer days 01″ + 3.2 #SQLDev) drop down shows different results (4 tables in HR schema) than navigator interface (7 tables). I don’t think I set any additional filters or something. As an example drop down list doesn’t shows “HR”.”EMPLOYEES” table.
I fonder if those is my crazy fingers’ fault or something else
Yury
Jan 18, 2013 @ 09:34:27
They do have independent filters, so I would check that first. Default Tree filter is to exclude items in the Recycle Bin. Perhaps you added one to the browser and forgot about it?
Jan 18, 2013 @ 07:39:12
fonder = wonder (from Mr. Typo
Apr 09, 2013 @ 14:30:50
My Report and connections tabs are missing. How do I get them back? I have tried clicking the options to turn them on and nothing.
Apr 09, 2013 @ 20:07:49
Sounds like your desktop file got messed up. There’s an XML file that needs deleted so it can get reset. Can you post this question on the forum?
Jun 06, 2013 @ 16:28:30
Is there any way to tell SQL Developer to open the Schema Browser automatically when a new database connection is made? Also, is there any way to filter the schemas in the drop down so I only see a few that I work with regularly? The default filtering by contains, starts-with and ends-with don’t work for me as the schema names are too varied.
Thanks, Abe
Jun 06, 2013 @ 16:43:08
Abe,
No and no. However for the first request, that’s on my to-do list for our next version. I had a really good brainstorming session with the developer responsible for this part of the tool over a Giants baseball game, and after a few beers, we had some good ideas
More powerful filtering would be nice, but not many users are clamoring for it at the moment.
Jun 07, 2013 @ 11:21:07
Thanks Jeff. Another question, I see that I can right click on a connection and “Reconnect” if I’ve already connected. However it seems my unshared worksheets do not reconnect. I can see how this make some sense, however I would prefer not to have to generate new unshared worksheets and copy/paste code. Is there anyway to “Reconnect” an unshared worksheet?
FYI, I’m investigating SQL Developer as an alternative to some paid software. In the day I’ve been reading on you site, it has already been invaluable in getting setup and familiar with the software. Thanks!
Abe
Jun 07, 2013 @ 11:24:18
The unshared worksheet connections are ‘hidden,’ although we DO know about them, and I can’t see a good reason not to have them included in the reconnect logic. I’ll see what I can see.