Abortable/Asynchronous network operations (blocked/hanging PL/SQL Dev!)

[Thies]

Hi!

I use:
- PL/SQL Developer Version 11.0.3.1770
- on Windows 8 (64-bit) 6.2 Build 9200
- using Oracle_instantclient_11_2\oci.dll (11.2.0.1)
- with Session mode "multi"
- with "Check connection" and "Automatically close unused conns" activated

I connect to the database via VPN from an external network with quite some latency (ping time of 61ms).
PL/SQL Developer often issues statements in the background and because of this network latency the UI blocks during this time (e.g. clicking in the result data grid loads the column comment). This is very annoying.
I real blocker is the complete hanging of PL/SQL Developer when the network connection is broken (e.g. closing VPN or returning after hibernation) and I just go back to the program: it is completely unusable for around 10 minutes.

Solution: Perform these network operations asynchronously (so UI is responsive) or with an option to abort them.

Another issue concerning the forum:
The verification email contains my username and password in clear text. Please, NEVER send passwords via clear text email - exceptions are one time passwords e.g. for a reset.

BTW: How does PL/SQL Developer store saved passwords for a connection?

 

[Thies]

Addition to the network caused blockings:

If I do not use an SQL window for about 1 hour, keep everything running (VPN, PL/SQL Dev., connection) and then execute a query, it takes 19 (nineteen!) seconds in "Initializing..." status with blocking the whole UI. After executing, the next execution is fast (< 1 second).
When doing this in a second window with the same target, it takes another 19 seconds. It uses its own connection, so this deterministic.
But on the main connection (Object browser), there is no such outage.
"Check connection" is some kind of keep alive, I thought!?!

I do not have this annoying behaviour with Oracle SQL Developer + KeepAlive-Plugin, but general usage of PL/SQL Developer is better (thus I paid for it).

 

[Marco Kalter]

You can go to Tools > Preferences > SQL Window and disable the "Show dictionary information in result grid" option. There are other preference options (such as disabling the automatic activation of the Code Assistant) that can help when using a slow connection.