Open window type by file type

[zakko]

PLSQL Developer should be able to determine a window type from the file type. This fails at least in the following scenario:

1. Go to File > Open.
2. Select e.g. Program Window
3. In "Open File" dialog, select *.* (all files) and select .pls, .sql and .tst file(s).
4. Click open.

Current behavior: PLSQL opens all files in Program Windows disregarding the file type. That causes errors depending on file type and specific content.

Expectation: Either do not let PLSQL Developer open files, that do not match with the window type. Or make opening different files agnostic to the selected window type and open different file types in their respective window type (at least if the relation file type - windwo type is unique).

Even though it can not clearly considered a bug, I think that's an issue, as PLSQL Developer seems to be too strictly tied to the selected windwo type and/or doesn't do requiered file type checks. But me personally I would prefer a more smart file opening mechnaism.

 

[Marco Kalter]

Note that you can go to Preferences > Files / Extensions to define which extensions will be used for a window type.

 

[zakko]

Thanks for the reply. In my installation the default entries are there, but are they implicitly set or do I have to do "register Filetypes" to initially activate this default mapping?

Generally, I wonder what overrules what? If I have an active mapping "window type to file type" from preferences (e.g. SQL window to .sql file), what is supposed to happen, if I do "File > Open > Program (!) File", select "All files (*.*)" in the dialog and open a SQL file?

Which is considered more important to determine the resulting window type? File type pre-selection in the menu or the actual selected file type?

 

[Marco Kalter]

The menu selection determines the window type.

 

[zakko]

So, that's exactly what my first post is about. It would be nice, if PLSQL Developer could manage different file types in a single opening round, as described above.

Currently it's at least not obvious which is THE criteria for the resulting window type. And - to put it a bit to extremes - file type mapping form preferences is not working for the case.

 

[Marco Kalter]

I have added this to the list of enhancement requests.

Note that there are currently 2 options to open several files of different types. In both cases the window type will be determined from the file extensions:

1. Drag & Drop from the Windows Explorer

2. Open the files from the PL/SQL Developer File Browser