SQL Developer 3.1 released

After lots of hard work we have a new SQL Developer 3.1 release is now available for download here. Even though its a dot release we have lots of new features. Here are the highlights:

DBA Utilities

Release 3.1 continues to expand on SQL Developer's DBA functionality. RMAN, Oracle Recovery Manager, is now part of the DBA navigator. An easy to use wizard takes you through the scheduling of a full database backup. Backups can be stored to disk, tape or a combination. RMAN scripts are generated to restore or recover a whole database, tablespaces, datafiles and archived logs. Reports are available to manage backup jobs, backup sets, image copies and RMAN settings.

Data Pump

To enable very high speed movement of data and metadata from one database to another, SQL Developer has added the Oracle Data Pump technology. Use SQL Developer's Data Pump UI to import and export your Database, Tablespaces, Schemas, and Tables. Select the option to import and export just the DDL, Data or both. Data Pump also offers scheduling capabilities.

Database Diff

Completely redesigned, DB Diff now provides a more reliable comparison and difference management support of your DDL. Select what to include in your DDL Generation and select from various comparison options such as match constraints by name or by definition. Objects can be further filtered. Scripts are generated to synchronize the source and target destinations.

Database Copy

Database Copy is redesigned to enhance performance and offer more flexibility. Choose from various copy options: copy objects, copy a schema or consolidate multiple schemas into one, copy tablespaces, copy DDL, data or both. Further refine your copy by using the filtering capability.

Migrations

Migrations in 3.1 include enhancements to Teradata and Sybase. Teradata support has expanded to include a SQL Translator, Enterprise Capture and Offline Migration. Sybase now offers TSQL Translation with support for outer join syntax including legacy outer join syntax and triggers.

PDF Reports

The Reports dialog is enhanced for ease of use and flexibility to create or update a report. The PDF feature allows the user to change and save their PDF options for a specific report in the Reports Navigator. Customize the visual layout and apply security with password protected encryption to your PDF Reports.

Expert Oracle Application Express

If your interested in Oracle APEX, there is a new book available. This book is special, it's 13 chapters from 13 APEX guru's on the on the topics they know best. This book can help you take your APEX development skills to the next level. If your looking for an introduction to Oracle APEX this is not for you, but if you have created a few applications, mastered the basic concepts, and have a desire to build applications that are at the highest standard, this book can help.

I wanted to highlight the dedication of the authors, all of whom dedicated their time with all proceeds to a great cause. So a special thanks and warm appreciation for the contributions of John Scott, Doug Gault, Raj Mattamal, Anton Nielsen, Martin D'Souza, Dimitri Gielis, Roel Hartman, Francis Mignault, Dietmar Aust, Denes Kubicek, Dan McGhan, and Sharon Kennedy. I also contributed a chapter on APEX Architecture.

So check it out, read the reviews, buy the book, and take your APEX skills to the next level.

Expert Oracle Application Express

K-Scope Video Interview

It was great to catch up with the Oracle APEX community at K-Scope in Long beach this past June. The enthusiasm and success stories were really phenomenal. Here is a video, in which I attempt to side step questions of our Oracle APEX 4.1 release date.

Here is the K-Scope Interview.

We are looking for APEX and HTML / CSS Developers

The Oracle Application Express (APEX) team is expanding and looking for additional developers. We are looking for people who can build web applications, SQL and PL/SQL skills are helpful, as are HTML, CSS, JS. We are also looking for an iPhone (Objective C) developer as well. If interested apply at Oracle http://bit.ly/8YSVTA IRC1545977, IRC1549990, IRC1549989.

SQL Developer 3.0 Early Adopter now available

Early Adopter (EA) releases of SQL Developer and SQL Developer Data Modeler EA 2 are now available for download from OTN.

SQL Developer new features are described here. The marque SQL Developer 3.0 is improved migrations. You can see an enhanced migration wizard in our EA release, however you should see more improvements in our production release. Our objective is to make it much quicker and easier to analyze the scope of a migration effort, as well as to simplify and streamline the actual migration work. Additional new features exposed in the 3.0 EA release include an all new and much improved query builder, DBA functionality, and an alternative object tree navigator.

SQL Developer Data Modeler EA 2 features integrated svn source code control as well as user defined design rules and transformations. It is not a user exposed feature but the biggest change with this release is a much tighter integration with the core SQL Developer framework. Basically the components and behavior is now all uses the same underlying infrastructure.

APEX 4.0.2 is here, and its got two new themes!

Oracle Application Express (APEX) 4.0.2 patch is now available on MySupport and a re-release is available on OTN as of last Friday November 19th, 2010. You can read all about Oracle APEX 4.0.2 here. In addition to fixing 111 bugs (thanks to all who made the time and effort to report these), APEX 4.0.2 also introduces two new themes, theme 21 and theme 22.

I have been using theme 21 to build a number of internal applications here at Oracle. I am a big fan of the new theme, for me it feels modern, renders fast, and has lots of nice templates. I like the button templates, specifically the opportunity to choose a "hot" button to highlight one button over others. I also like the new horizontal progress train (list template), which works very well for wizards. Interactive reports have also been attractively styled. Theme 21 is red (red tabs in gray top bar, red and gray buttons), and for those who don't want a red theme, theme 22 is the same but in blue (blue tabs in gray top bar with yellow and gray buttons). These new themes are xhtml1-strict so don't use them if you want any IE 6 compatibility.

A large number of improvements have also been made to existing themes. To take advantage of the improvements to themes 1-20 you will need to recreate your themes. If you have significantly customized your version of theme 1-20 you will want to reintegrate your customizations, or simply not upgrade your theme. To switch a theme, navigate to share components, then themes, renumber your theme (see task on right side bar), create a new theme, then switch your theme.

I hope everyone enjoys the new themes as much as I do.

MAOP Event in Reston Friday November 5th 2010

If your in the washington DC or northern Virginia area you may want to attend the 2010 MAOP Training Conference. MOAP has a number of great speakers lined up, and it's a great opportunity to meet leading Oracle experts and even Oracle development staff. The event starts at 7:30 am for registration and breakfast. You can view the full agenda here. I will be giving the keynote, I will cover both database 11g topics as well as database tools including Oracle Application Express.

http://www.maop.org/