Moving from toad

[Elvis]

Hello!

I've been a user for over a year now, but the company I work for has just purchased a site license so we can move people away from toad. Since I recommended it, I am now getting a ton of requests to "train" them on pl/sql developer.

I am looking for tips on how pl/sql developer functions differently than toad (most were using the freeware version) so I can help them make the transition easier for them. Any help is appreciated!

Tim P.

 

[mike]

A class is a good thing. I honestly think most of the confusion boils down to the fact people refuse to read a user manual. People have different learning styles or something.

I used to use TOAD and after reading the manual, I thought the switch wasn't too bad. I think that people just need to be exposed to it a bit.

Perhaps others will have more detailed differences. Here are some things that I see quite often though from questions others have asked me.

I've seen confusion over the icon differences. TOAD has a green arrow to execute a SQL statement and people will just sit and look for a green arrow all day. It's fun to watch these intelligent people look for it.

I've seen confusion over the shortcut keys. Pressing F9 in TOAD normally executes a SQL statement instead of F8 for example. They don't realize that this can be changed in PL/SQL Developer to whatever they want.

I've seen people use PL/SQL Developer and they use the command window for everything and don't realize what the different windows are for.

So...if it was me, I would just kind of go through the manual and focus on explaining what each of the editor windows do, go through the preference settings, and the shortcut-keys.

Mike

 

[D.]

Hi,

Biggest (number 1 question) I got asked when moving from TOAD was how to run a single query in a multi-query window ?

In PLSQL Developer you have to put a ";" at the end of the query, in TOAD its a blank line.

This was by far the most frequently asked question.

Another good one was, where is the "schema browser", and (once shown) how to see a schema's objects like in TOAD ? A: Choose users, browse for schema required and choose objects.

Hope this helps - good luck with the migration. You're doing the right thing, believe me!

D.

 

[ScottMattes]

Please, show them how to customize! Like, the browser window can have more than 'My objects' and 'All Objects' (I have one for different parts of my project, just those tables/views/packages are displayed).

 

[Elvis]

Thanks everyone! This has been a big help. Now I have another department asking me to train them

 

[rbrooker]

charge them!

 

[patch]

If you have your training materials done, it would be nice to put them online. Maybe other people can use then too. Not only for moving from TOAD (or any other IDE), but also as an extra reference.

 

[RobertK]

Originally posted by David Wilkie:
Biggest (number 1 question) I got asked when moving from TOAD was how to run a single query in a multi-query window ?--snip --
[/QB]

huh ? whats a "multi-query window" ????

You mean plsql_developer's "SQL Window" , right ?
Yeah you can have any number of them queries in there and drag-highilight the ones you want to run

 

[D.]

Robertc,

Originally posted by Robertc:
Yeah you can have any number of them queries in there and drag-highilight the ones you want to run

Or use the "AutoSelect Statement" preference! Place your cursor in the query you want to run and press F8. Similar to TOAD (SHIFT-F9).

D.