Feature Request – Sorting and Pinning options in “Objects” Window

[adrian_star]

Hello,
I would like to propose an enhancement to the “Objects” window in PL/SQL Developer.

Current behavior​

In the “Objects” window, object categories (such as Tables, Views, Packages, Types, Triggers, etc.) are displayed in a fixed order.

At the moment:

• The list does not appear to follow alphabetical order.
• The order cannot be customized.
• Frequently used object categories cannot be prioritized.

For developers working daily with specific object types, this results in repetitive navigation and unnecessary scrolling.

Requested enhancements​

I would like to request the following improvements:

1. Sorting options
   • Sort categories A → Z
   • Sort categories Z → A
2. Pinning functionality
   • Ability to pin selected object categories to the top of the list
   • Pinned categories remain at the top regardless of sorting
   • Optional visual indicator for pinned categories
3. (Optional) Ability to remember custom order per user profile

Practical use cases​

In many projects, developers primarily work with:

• Packages
• Views
• Procedures
• Tables

Other categories may be rarely accessed.

Pinning would allow:

• Immediate access to frequently used object types
• Reduced navigation time
• Cleaner and more personalized workspace organization

Business and productivity justification​

In enterprise environments:

• Developers interact with database objects continuously throughout the day.
• Even small inefficiencies compound over time.
• Personalization and workspace optimization directly impact productivity.

Sorting and pinning would:

• Improve usability
• Reduce repetitive navigation
• Increase efficiency for power users
• Align the Objects window behavior with common UI standards found in modern development tools

These enhancements would be lightweight from a UI perspective but highly valuable in daily use.

Thank you for considering this improvement.

Best regards,
Adrian

 

[Marco Kalter]

You can change the sort order and other properties through the Configure > Object Browser Folders function:

* You can change the order of the folders
* You can change the folder colors
* You can define your own folders
* You can create a folder hierarchy

For user-defined folders you can define which objects will be included, and what the sort order will be. You can also explicitly add specific objects. You could for example create a folder named "Pinned", add objects you are interested in for a project, and add it to the top of the Object Browser.

 

[adrian_star]

Thank you Marco for the clarification and for pointing out the Preferences→ Object Browser Folders functionality.
I have reviewed these options and I agree that they provide powerful customization capabilities, including:

• Changing folder order
• Changing folder colors
• Defining custom folders
• Creating folder hierarchies

The ability to create a custom “Pinned” folder is indeed useful. However, my original suggestion was focused on a slightly different use case.

Usability concern​

The current configuration mechanism is powerful but not lightweight.
If the Object Browser is not yet customized, there is no quick way to:

• Instantly sort folders A → Z or Z → A
• Temporarily change ordering without entering the configuration dialog
• Perform one-click sorting directly in the Objects window

In addition, inside the Folders configuration section:

• Reordering requires manual “Move Up / Move Down” actions
• There is no automatic alphabetical sort option
• Reorganizing a larger list becomes time-consuming
• The process is not very intuitive for casual adjustments

Suggested enhancement (clarification)​

My intention was to suggest:

1. A quick sort toggle (A → Z / Z → A) directly in the Objects window
2. Possibly a small settings icon in the Objects pane for easier access to configuration
3. An automatic alphabetical sorting option inside the Folders configuration dialog

This would complement the existing advanced configuration rather than replace it.

The current system is powerful, but it is oriented toward structural customization. What seems to be missing is a lightweight, one-click sorting mechanism for everyday usage.

The goal is to reduce friction for users who do not want to deeply configure folder structures but would still benefit from simple sorting controls.

Thank you again for the explanation and for considering this clarification.

 

[adrian_star]

I would like to add one additional suggestion related to the “Folders” customization in the Objects window.

Currently, the number of available colors for folder customization is quite limited (six predefined colors). While the feature itself is very useful, the restricted palette significantly limits its practical value.

Suggested enhancement​

Expand the available color palette for folders Ideally, the palette could be comparable to the one used for text coloring in the SQL Window. Theme-aware color adaptation The available colors could optionally adjust depending on the selected application theme (Light / Dark). Some colors that work well in Light mode may have poor contrast or readability in Dark mode, and vice versa. A theme-aware palette would: Improve visual consistency Ensure proper contrast Maintain readability Enhance overall UX polish

Expanding the palette would make the existing customization feature much more powerful without requiring structural changes to the Objects window.


Thank you for considering this additional refinement.

 

[Marco Kalter]

I have added this to the list of enhancement requests.