Toad Data Point 6.3

Toad Data Point 6.3

Release Notes

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Contents

About Toad Data Point

Toad^® Data Point is a multi-platform database query tool built for anyone who needs to access data, understand data relationships, and quickly produce reports.

With Toad Data Point, you can:

• Connect to almost any database or ODBC data source (see the Release Notes for a list of tested ODBC connections)
• Write SQL queries and join data across all platforms
• Automate and schedule frequent and repetitive tasks
• Streamline data collection
• Collaborate with team members
• Export data in a variety of file formats

Toad Data Point provides a full-featured Database Explorer, Query Builder, and Editor for the following databases:

• Oracle®
• SQL Server® and SQL Azure
• IBM® DB2® (LUW and z/OS)
• SAP® ASE, IQ, SQL Anywhere, and HANA
• Teradata®
• MySQL
• Snowflake®

Toad Data Point also provides querying and reporting functionality via the following provider types:

• ODBC
• Business Intelligence and NoSQL data sources
• Microsoft® Excel®
• Microsoft Access®

ODBC Connections

The purpose of the ODBC provider is to offer basic connection and querying capabilities to any database that supports an ODBC 3.0 or later driver. For a list of databases tested with the ODBC provider, see the System Requirements in the Release Notes. This form of connectivity allows connections to databases such as Netezza, IBM iSeries, Ingres, and Vertica™. Because this form of connectivity is generic, it is not full-featured and may not be as robust as the fully-exploited providers for the other databases.

Business Intelligence and NoSQL Data Sources

Toad Data Point provides users with the ability to connect to non-traditional data sources, such as Business Intelligence and NoSQL sources. You can connect to these data sources and explore data and objects, query data, report results, and automate tasks.

The following data sources are supported:

Toad Data Point 6.3 is a minor release with new features, security enhancements, and resolved issues.

New Features

In Toad Data Point 6.3 the following new features were implemented:

AI Ask

AI Ask is a new preview feature in Toad Workbook that leverages advanced AI to streamline data querying and enhance your analysis experience.

Note: AI Ask is a preview feature available to Toad Data Point Subscription users. Refer to the Knowledge Base for instructions on how to enable it. Learn more about AI Ask at Toad World.

Allow horizontal grouping of AND/OR conditions in the Where clause in the Diagram tab of the Query Builder

Enhanced functionality:

This new feature allows you horizontal GROUPING of WHERE conditions as well as multiple OR lines in query builder diagram. There are also some new user friendly changes in FIELD and SORT options.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If changes in Workbook aren't saved prior closing particular Workbook or closing application, original version (without any changes) would be preserved.

Functionality for moving Data area values from Row to Column area

Enhanced functionality:

This new feature for Toad Data Point has the specific task of providing end users with the option of choosing how the data will be grouped in the Pivot Grid based on the Data Values item location.

When creating the Pivot Grid, after dragging at least two columns to the Data area, the Data values item will be visible in the Column area:

Users can choose where to place the Data Values item, to Column or Row area, by simply dragging the item from one area to another.

When the Data Values item is placed in the Column area, the headers of Data area values are grouped in the Column area of the pivot grid:

When the Data Values item is moved from the Column to the Row area, the format of the Pivot Grid remains the same. Only the headers of the Data area columns are moved under the Row columns in the Pivot Grid:

Every export option for the Pivot Grid preserves the formatting options caused by moving the Data Values item. All changes made to the Pivot Grid file are recognized and preserved downstream (Reports in Toad Workbook, Automation...)

Saving Auto-filter row settings in the Result Sets tab

In this release, we have improved the behavior of the Auto Filter Row feature based on user feedback and usage patterns, to ensure a more intuitive and streamlined experience when working with data grids, providing greater control and efficiency in data filtering and search operations.

The "Auto Filter Row" option is still enabled by default, but when hiding the Auto-filter row after the initial run, this preference is globally retained for subsequent runs and remains in effect when opening new Query Builder or Query Editor tabs within the same Toad Data Point instance. Furthermore, Auto-filter Row settings persist even when re-launching a Toad Data Point.

Connection lending

Enhanced functionality:

Connection Lending is a new feature for Toad Intelligence Central admins to provide specific connections to individual Toad Data Point users through the TIC connections without having to guide their users to add data-source connections to Toad Data Point.

This means that the Toad Intelligence Central admin can publish a connection into Toad Intelligence Central from their copy of Toad Data Point as a "leased connection" type and share it through Toad Intelligence Central to users or groups registered in Toad Intelligence Central.

When Toad Data Point user connects to Toad Intelligence Central, any “leased connection” that has been published and shared with them will automatically appear in their connection list in the Navigation Manager and will be available for their use. Similarly, when that same Toad Data Point user disconnects from Toad Intelligence Central any “leased connections” that have been shared with them through Toad Intelligence Central will disappear.

Having this functionality will allow the necessary data source connections sharing between the defined users or group of users with all the properties of those connections (except password) from a centralized location.

This feature will enhance user experience in managing the list of users that are allowed to access only the needed data sources while preserving the security settings.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

- Only Toad Intelligence Central admins can publish Toad Data Point connection as a leased connection and choose the users that can be shared with

- “Leased connection” can be used only for direct data sources thru Toad Data Point and cannot be used for connections that acquire ODBC drivers, catalogs, or any additional software for successful connection

- A shared connection with the user will have all of the necessary parameters except the password which the user must enter himself

- Toad Data Point “leased connection” users will not have the possibility to publish any data to Toad Intelligence Central

Export result set to JSON file format

Using the Export Data Wizard in Toad Data Point 6.3, you can export data from databases (tables, views), or a query into a JSON file. This functionality is also available through the Export Wizard database activity in the Automation Wizard.

Auto-Update service for upgrading Toad Data Point Subscription

Toad Data Point 6.3 Subscription edition includes Quest Auto Update, a service that periodically checks for and delivers product updates. Quest Auto Update is configured to run automatically using the Local Service account after successful installation, Product updates are automatically downloaded, and a notification window alerts you to pending updates.

Quest Auto Update provides daily notifications of available updates. The X button on the notification, snoozes the notification for 24 hours, while the Dismiss option prevents that specific version update from appearing again. Additionally, the notification popup includes a link to the Release Notes of the latest version.

New filter options in Data Compare wizard

New filter options in the Data Compare wizard allow you to effectively customize which objects to compare. Using the "Export filter to file" option, specified filters can be exported to a .xml file, saved, and subsequently applied to other databases or data sources using the "Import filter from file" option. Filters can be edited and removed using the Edit filter or Remove filter options.

Additionally, the newly added fields, Source rows, and Target rows, enhance the user experience by providing the number of records at a glance.

Idea Pond

Got a great idea for a new Toad Data Point feature or enhancement? Share it with the Development Team and the Community by posting it on Idea Pond. Visit Toad Data Point - Idea Pond where you can submit your ideas. You can also read and vote on the enhancement ideas submitted by other Toad users.

Learn More

Remember, you can find blogs, videos, and forums at the Toad Data Point Community.

• Toad Data Point Videos - Learn about new features from product video demos.
• Toad Data Point Forum - Find answers to your questions in the forums.
• Toad Data Point Blog - Learn tips and tricks from blog posts.
• Toad Data Point - Idea Pond - Submit your idea to the Development Team.

System Requirements

Client Requirements

Before installing Toad, ensure that your client system meets the following minimum hardware and software requirements:

Server Requirements

Before installing Toad, ensure that your server meets the following minimum hardware and software requirements:

Virtualization Support

User Requirements

User Requirements to Install Toad

Only Windows Administrators and Power Users can install Toad.

Note: The following exceptions exist for Power Users:

• (DB2 only) A Power User can install Toad as long as this user belongs to the DB2ADMNS or DBUSERS group.

If an Administrator installs Toad, the Administrator can share the Toad shortcut icon on the desktop and menu items with any user—a Power User, Restricted User—on the computer.

If a Power User installs Toad, a Restricted User cannot do the following:

• Associate file extensions.
• View the Toad shortcut icon on the desktop or the Toad menu options in the Windows Start menu. As a workaround, Restricted Users can create a shortcut to Toad from the install directory and place the shortcut on their desktop.

User Requirements and Restrictions for Running Toad

The following describes the requirements and restrictions for users who launch and run Toad:

• (DB2 only) A Windows Power User or Restricted User must belong to the DB2ADMNS or DB2USERS group. To add the user to one of these groups, select Start | Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Computer Management | System Tools | Local Users and Groups | Groups | DB2ADMNS or DB2USERS.
• (DB2 only) A Windows Power User or Restricted User does not have the authority to add or remove DB2 catalog entries using the Toad Client Configuration wizard. However, these users can use the Import Profile function in the Toad Client Configuration wizard to import catalog entries to Toad.

• (DB2 only) To take full advantage of Toad for DB2 LUW functionality, the user ID specified in the Toad connection profile for each DB2 for LUW database connection requires the authorizations listed in the following document:

  ToadDB2LUWAuthorizations.xls

• (DB2 only) As a minimum requirement to manage a DB2 for z/OS subsystem in Toad, the user ID defined in the Toad connection profile for the subsystem must either have SYSADM privileges or SELECT privileges on the DB2 catalog tables. For a complete list of authorizations (and corresponding GRANT statements) a user requires to take full advantage of Toad for DB2 z/OS functionality, refer to the following document:

  ToadDB2zOSAuthorizations.doc

• To create or modify the QuestSoftware.ToadSecurity table to enable Toad Security, the user who maintains this table must have privileges to create, insert, update, and delete it. All other users need only the ability to read the QuestSoftware.ToadSecurity table to use Toad Security features.

Resolved Issues and Enhancements

The following is a list of issues addressed and enhancements implemented in this release of Toad Data Point:

Resolved Issues in 6.3