Toad Data Studio 1.0

Toad Data Studio 1.0

Release Notes

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Contents

About Toad Data Studio

Toad^® Data Studio is a heterogeneous database IDE intended to assist Data Engineers and other technical users to easily manage, query and develop against any database in your environment.

With Toad Data Studio, 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
• Compare and synchronize databases
• Export data in a variety of file formats
• Version control SQL databases and objects

Toad Data Studio 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 Studio 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 Studio 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 Studio1.0 is the first release of a new product which has been added to the Toad portfolio.

Features

Toad Data Studio 1.0 offers a combination of well-known Toad functionalities and new capabilities which make it unique in the Toad portfolio.

Database Diagram

The Diagram tool offers a visual representation of database relationships as well as the capability of creating new ones. Its drag and drop functionality enables users to simply drag objects to the Diagram pane in order to display all dependencies of the selected object. Users have the option to select a specific level of depth for the visual representation along with different options for arranging objects presented in the Diagram.

Visual Query builder

Query Builder

Toad’s visual query builder allows users to understand and combine data and form a more complete result set without writing or editing SQL statements. It offers a graphical interface that allows users to quickly interact with their data and analyze it.

The Query Builder also provides the ability to create calculated columns, Unions, functions, to group and sort data as well as to export result sets simply by using the graphical interface.

Cross-Connection Query Builder

The Cross-Connection Query Builder can be used to create a query that combines data from multiple, disparate data sources. It allows for heterogeneous queries to be designed by using simple drag and drop workflows. Toad utilizes an enhanced query engine to implement advanced execution processes that are specially designed to improve the performance of cross-connection queries.

SQL Query Editor

SQL Editor

The SQL Editor combines a powerful SQL and procedure editor into a single interface. It enables users to create and execute SQL scripts, save the output, and examine the explain plan. It offers customization options and shortcuts to make the editor look and behave according to user preferences.

Commands which are available in the toolbar and context menu allow it to be used in conjunction with other features in the tool to export and profile the output, as well as to visualize and automate queries.

Cross-Connection SQL Editor

Users are able to write and execute cross-connection queries between different data sources by opening the Cross-Connection SQL Editor and by using fully-qualified names which include the database connection string displayed in the Toad’s Navigation Manager window for each connection.

Result Options

The Results tab is brought up upon the execution of queries and is divided into five distinct tabs which offer an array of functionalities that can be used to view, edit and analyze both queries and the data they return.

The Result Sets tab displays a data grid for SQL statements or scripts executed via SQL Editor or Query Builder. It offers search and filtering functionality and also allows you to modify the data by enabling Editing mode and entering the changes directly in the grid.

The Message tab shows the details of the execution status for the query or script along with the timestamp, SQL text or error message.

There is also the Explain plan tab that can be used to display the execution plan, while Pivot & Chart and Profiling tabs utilize the capabilities of Toad Pivot Grid and the data profiling feature.

XML/JSON Editor

Toad Data Studio 1.0 offers the ability to manipulate XML and JSON data and to view it in its native format via a specialized Editor which can be brought up from the Data Grid of a result set or the Object Explorer.

This feature enables users to efficiently manage XML and JSON data, allowing them to edit, insert, remove, filter, export, and import XML and JSON data effortlessly.

Pivot Grid

Toad’s Pivot Grid, much like Pivot Tables in Excel, allows for a data set to be easily summarized and manipulated in order to compare and contrast data values, and quickly derive useful analytics for a variety of business scenarios.

The Pivot Grid panel is a robust data analytics tool with extensive filtering, value, field and exporting settings. Bar charts, graphs and graphics provide visual representation of the analysis and the ability to refresh the pivot grid allows for the latest output to be returned, reflecting the current data from the source database.

Profiling Data

Data Profiling allows users to inspect data to assess its content and data quality. It can be used to find duplicates and nulls, to identify anomalies and patterns, and to view statistics about the data. Graphs and charts help in visualizing data quality. Data Profiling can assist in identifying data quality issues prior to ETL processing by allowing the user to drill down to more-detailed information and generate Data Profiling reports.

Data and Schema Comparison

Heterogeneous Data Compare

Toad Data Studio allows you to perform data comparison and synchronization of databases hosted on the same or different data sources, facilitating the capability to update and synchronize data between test and production environments. It enables a number of scripts to be executed against different servers at the same time and offers intuitive mapping options along with object and script filters for fine-tunning the comparison and synchronization.

Homogeneous Schema Compare

This feature enables homogeneous comparison and synchronization of the source schema with single or multiple target schemas using live connections or pre-saved snapshots.

Customizable comparison options which are available provide flexibility in the comparison process.

A results dashboard offers users the ability to manage results: filter, group, and view differences between object scripts, and to exclude objects from synchronization.

The synchronization wizard offers customized scripts, output, and time of execution to manage and finalize synchronization. This feature is currently supported for Oracle, SQL Server, SAP ASE, SQP IQ, and SAP SQL Anywhere.

Import and Export Data

Import Data

The Import Wizard can be used to import data from a single or multiple files of the same type in a folder, from multiple files in different folders, from a SQL query, or from a SharePoint list. The data can be imported into a new or existing table, and there is also an option to create a new snapshot when importing data to Local Storage, which is Toad’s very own internal database that allows you to store data locally.

Export Data

The Export wizard provides a single interface to select file formats when exporting tables and views, as well as their dependent objects or databases. This wizard is useful if you need to export the data you are working on to a database neutral format such as SQL statements, an Excel file, or a CSV file.

Automation Script Designer

The Automation Script Designer enables users to create an automation workflow by combining tasks from multiple features available in the tool and to schedule them as tasks in the job management window, which uses the local Windows scheduler. A basic automation script consists of settings, a database\file\system activity and generally an email notification, used to confirm success and distribute reports.

Each script is built using the toolbox activities and script settings. The script activity contains values for error processing, logging level and changing connections from test to production. These activities can also be saved as templates and reused in other automation scripts.

Source Control

Database developers can now manage version control, covering various object types such as procedures, functions, tables, and views. This feature offers compatibility with diverse data sources which include Oracle, SQL Server, SAP ASE, SAP IQ, and SAP SQL Anywhere as well as compatibility with various Git hosting providers and services such as GitHub, GitLab and Bitbucket.

It provides flexible connection options, allowing users to create HTTPS, SSH or local file connections and offers robust local repository support, ensuring an efficient and collaborative development experience.

The Action center tab is the central point of the feature where all the current differences between the Database and repository are presented. It can be used to commit changes, view differences, filter objects, and change the current active branch.

Other capabilities include creating or removing project folders on the repository (during the linking process), creating a new branch, and viewing object or project history.

Idea Pond

Got a great idea for a new Toad Data Studio feature or enhancement? Share it with the Development Team and the Community by posting it on Idea Pond. Visit Toad Data Studio - 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 Studio Community.

• Toad Data Studio Videos - Learn about new features from product video demos.
• Toad Data Studio Forum - Find answers to your questions in the forums.
• Toad Data Studio Blog - Learn tips and tricks from blog posts.
• Toad Data Studio - 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 link:

  DB2 LUW connectivity user requirements and restrictions

• (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 link:

  DB2 z/OS connectivity user requirements and restrictions

• 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.

Known Issues

The following is a list of issues known to exist at the time of this release.