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Oracle SQL Developer: Mastering its Features + Tips & Tricks

Name: Oracle SQL Developer: Mastering its Features + Tips & Tricks
Rating: 4.3 (6111 reviews)

Use Oracle SQL Developer like a Pro: Learn the features & tricks that will help you be the most admired SQL developer

Created byCarlos DL, Standout-Dev Academy

Last updated 2/2025

English

EnglishFrench [Auto],

What you'll learn

You will take advantage of many useful features that will make you more effective and efficient at work
You will learn a lot of tricks and enjoy being seen as an SQL Developer expert
You will learn how to create and share beautiful and interactive reports
You will learn how to Install and customize SQL Developer in a way that works and feels best for you
You will learn how to take full advantage of all the basic features of the tool

Course content

7 sections • 45 lectures • 3h 40m total length

Course Structure and How to Take Advantage of it2:09
Explore Oracle SQL Developer essentials, from installing SQL Developer and an Oracle database to mastering the basics, customization, reports, and practical tips to boost productivity.
What this course IS and IS NOT2:14
Clarify course scope by highlighting the basics and useful Oracle SQL Developer features, not a complete SQL reference, to help you stand out, refunds available if it's not a fit.

Introduction (SDB)0:48
Learn the basics of working with SQL Developer and get ready to start using it right away. Even experienced users can benefit from these fundamentals to maximize SQL Developer's use.
User Interface Basics3:25
Explore the Oracle SQL Developer user interface, show and arrange panes, maximize, resize, group and dock panes, and reset windows to begin working with database connections.
Creating and Organizing Database Connections6:23
Create and organize database connections in Oracle SQL Developer by configuring a new connection, coloring for differentiation, choosing SYSDBA when needed, and testing with proper host, port, and service name.
Working with the Worksheet4:58
Master the Oracle SQL developer worksheet by opening connections, writing semicolon-terminated statements, and running queries, and view results in the grid or script output pane.
Working with the Results’ Grid5:20
Explore how to manage the results grid in SQL Developer, including pinning results, renaming tabs, and enabling new tabs, plus adjusting array fetch size and filtering and sorting options.

Introduction (UC)0:40
Explore customizable settings in SQL Developer and test which options to apply. Set them once to influence every session and improve your experience with SQL Developer.
Changing the Language3:58
Change the SQL Developer user interface language with two methods: edit sqldeveloper.conf to add -Duser.language=en, or adjust the shortcut target; also check ide.boot for oracle.translated.locales.
Disabling Features you Don't Need2:31
Disable unused features in Oracle SQL Developer to improve startup time and simplify the user interface by selectively turning off groups like noSQL, OLAP, Apex, and migrations, then restart.
Improving the way Data is Displayed3:16
Enable three simple ways to improve readability of the results grid with zebra pattern. Also adjust null highlighting and show time in dates by setting the NLS date format.
Advanced Code Formatting7:13
Explore SQL Developer's code formatter: adjust indentation, case of identifiers and keywords, advanced alignment and line-break rules, preview changes, and understand the limitations of autoformat and Arbori customization.
Navigation Filtering1:31
Enable navigation tree filtering in Oracle SQL Developer to show only selected object types, reducing clutter and helping you focus on functions, procedures, packages, and types.
Customizing Fonts and Syntax Colors for Eye Comfort3:49
Customize Oracle SQL Developer's code editor fonts and PL/SQL syntax colors to improve eye comfort. Preview and refine dark or light themes, and save a personalized Twilight-based scheme for readability.

Introduction (R)0:57
Explore how to use the reports pane in SQL Developer to save time, access hundreds of predefined reports, and create your own customizable reports with text, gauges, and charts.
Predefined Reports Overview and Reports Basics4:49
Explore predefined data dictionary reports in Oracle SQL Developer, learn bind-variable parameterization, owner filters, and how to copy SQL, pin results, and set auto refresh.
User-Defined Reports Basics6:15
Create and customize user-defined reports in Oracle SQL Developer by creating new reports, cloning predefined ones, or saving query results as reports, then refine with bind variables to filter data.
Master-Detail and Drill Down Reports9:12
Learn to build master-detail and drill-down reports in Oracle SQL Developer, linking master and child queries with bind variables and creating department–employee drill-down workflows.
Gauge Reports6:04
Explore gauge reports in Oracle SQL Developer, learn how to create dial gauges as child reports, and configure min, max, and thresholds while driving dynamic values from queries.
Chart Reports11:09
Learn to build chart reports in Oracle SQL Developer, using groups, series and value to visualize data with bar charts, live data mapping, and customizing options.
Exporting and Sharing Reports7:24
Export report definitions as XML or generate HTML with assets for easy sharing, and use the command line to automate HTML reports. Note this is not an enterprise solution.
A Final Reports' Trick8:15
Add a custom action to Oracle sql Developer reports by editing the xml, inserting an item in the display tag with a row-specific cdata sql statement.

Introduction (MUF)0:36
Discover useful features of SQL Developer. Apply tips and tricks to boost productivity and efficiency, and unlock skills that help you become an SQL Developer master.
Splitting Worksheets and Document Groups5:55
Maximize your SQL Developer workspace by using document groups, splitting worksheets, and detaching or moving tabs to view multiple editors and tables at once.
Exporting data7:07
Learn to export data from SQL Developer with the export wizard, header-preserving copy, insert and html formats, spool and set sqlformat for scripted exports.
Code Templates3:43
Explore code templates in the SQL editor, create templates like ii, ssf, and ssw, and use autocomplete or control+spacebar to insert and fill placeholders efficiently.
Code Snippets2:57
Explore snippets in Oracle SQL Developer, offering ready-made code fragments for functions, analytic tools like dense_rank, and PL/SQL blocks. Drag them into the editor and use tooltips.
Taking Advantage of The Line Gutter2:23
Enable persistent line numbers in the line gutter via preferences. Use the line gutter to select lines with a click and drag, and customize its colors for readability.
Performing Local Searches on Your Results4:21
Learn to perform a local search in the results with Find/Highlight and CTRL+F, highlight matches, persist highlights across fetches, and apply multiple highlight rules for visual data analysis.
Testing Program Units Smartly4:47
Learn to test procedures and functions directly in the code editor of Oracle SQL Developer, using output parameters and refcursor results, plus the PL/SQL debugger to streamline testing.
Debugging Program Units Smartly13:15
Master the Oracle sql developer debugger to efficiently debug program units by compiling for debug, applying required privileges and acl, and using breakpoints, stepping, and watches for runtime data.
Finding Database Objects3:59
Master finding database objects with type ahead in tree navigators and the find db object search using wildcards to locate tables, indexes, and more.
Getting Information about a Database Object3:17
Explore multiple ways to retrieve object details in Oracle SQL Developer, from describe and info to info+ and Shift+F4, hover links, and on-demand code views.
Oracle Folks Love Drag & Drop4:38
Discover how to use drag and drop in Oracle SQL Developer to generate select and join queries, handle procedures with anonymous PL/SQL blocks, and build in-list filters with quoted strings.
Generating Relational Diagrams4:37
Learn to generate relational diagrams for tables in SQL Developer, use the model view and data modeler, and print or export diagrams while including parent and child tables.
Navigating Your Code7:20
Learn to navigate your PL/SQL code more efficiently using breadcrumbs, code outline, and bookmarks. Discover hotkeys like Ctrl+Click, Shift+F4, Ctrl+G, and numbered bookmarks to jump between definitions, occurrences, and lines.
Performance Tuning Features10:52
Explore SQL Developer's performance tuning features, including explain plan and autotrace for execution plans, the hotspot button, instance viewer, and the SQL tuning advisor with licensing notes.
Displaying Gauges3:25
Display gauges in query results to visualize values using min, max, low and high thresholds, with a value expression such as salary; make gauges dynamic with analytic functions.
Useful Tips and Shortcuts 16:21
Explore practical tips for Oracle SQL Developer, including using SQL history with F8, pasting via extended paste, enhancing auto complete with completion insight, and efficient tab and clipboard shortcuts.
Useful Tips and Shortcuts 25:36
Discover shortcuts in Oracle SQL Developer: test PL/SQL queries with the right-click test query, view results and explain plan, and use keyboard shortcuts for case toggling, commenting, and multi-cursor editing.

Using HTML in SQL and in preferences5:23
In this lecture you learn how HTML can be used in your code and some of SQL Developer's settings. A pretty cool but mostly unknown feature.
Appendix 1: Installing Oracle Database Express Edition 18c On Windows11:21
In response to students' feedback, I decided to add this lesson to show you how to download and install the database software on a Windows machine, although having a database already installed is one of the prerequisites of this course.

This lesson is an excerpt from my Oracle SQL course.
Bonus Lecture: Discounts for other courses1:04
Get access to additional content, and learn how to connect with Carlos!

Requirements

You will need a computer running Windows, Linux or Mac OS, in which you have the necessary privileges to install and run new programs
Ideally you should have an Oracle database you can connect to, so that you can test all the tips and features demonstrated in the course, but it is not strictly necessary.

Description

Oracle SQL Developer is currently the most popular tool among database developers and Oracle SQL learners, however, since it makes it so easy to start firing commands and querying a database, many people don't feel the need to investigate its features, and end up using only what is obvious, visible, and enabled by default.

If you are one of them, this course will help you get out of that group and start using Oracle SQL Developer more smartly.

Even if you have some time using the tool and are currently using some of its features, there's most likely something in this course that you don't know and can be helpful to you.

Learn the features that can help you work with your Oracle database better and faster:

Install and customize SQL Developer in a way that works and feels best for you.
Take full advantage of the most useful features of the tool.
Create and share beautiful and interactive reports.
Take advantage of features that will make you more effective and efficient at work.
Learn a lot of tricks and enjoy being seen as an SQL Developer expert.

All Oracle SQL Developer features are free. Take advantage of them:

This course was created because there appears to be a pattern among Oracle SQL courses and the database community in general: “If you are able to install it and connect to a database, you are good to go".

What's more: Experience shows that even developers who are already working with Oracle databases as part of their job, tend to not look for ways to work faster in SQL Developer, and usually only investigate features they don't currently use when it is strictly necessary for their jobs.

The goal of this course is to fill the gap most SQL courses leave about this great tool so that it can serve as a foundation if you are planning to learn Oracle SQL, and also to help you take advantage of the tool's features if you are already working with Oracle databases as part of your job, so that you can be more efficient and productive, and thus, stand out.

Content and Overview:

The course includes more than 3 hours of content and covers many of the most useful features of SQL Developer.

There is usually one lecture per feature, so, if for any reason you are not interested in any of the included tips, you can simply skip it, and go directly to the one you want to learn about.

The course content will continue to be updated over time, to make sure you always know about the most important features available to you, as new versions of Oracle SQL Developer are released.

Learn these tips and apply them to your work, and you will not only be well prepared to work more smartly and efficiently, but will also enjoy being seen as an experienced and knowledgeable developer by your friends and peers.

Who this course is for:

Application or database developers already working with Oracle databases who want to do their job in a smarter way and stand up from the competition.
Aspiring application or database developers looking to work with Oracle databases.
Anyone taking or planning to take Oracle SQL or PL/SQL courses.
College/University students who need to learn and use SQL for Oracle to pass their database-related courses.

Oracle SQL Developer: Mastering its Features + Tips & Tricks

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction2 lectures • 4min

Program Installation2 lectures • 5min

Oracle SQL Developer Basics5 lectures • 21min

Useful Customizations7 lectures • 23min

Reports8 lectures • 54min

More Useful Features, Tips and Tricks18 lectures • 1hr 35min

Extras3 lectures • 18min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: