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Toad for Oracle 16.1 - Getting Started Guide

Welcome to Toad Toad Resources Required Privileges Create and Manage Database Connections Editor Basics Schema Browser Basics Data Grid Basics Work with Data Work with Database Objects Work with Code
Write Statements and Scripts Work with the Query Builder Execute Statements and Scripts Save Statements (SQL Recall) Work with PL/SQL Objects Debug Analyze Code Optimize SQL
Customize your Toad Environment Use Other Quest Software Products with Toad

Create and Manage Database Connections

Toad can connect to one or more databases. You can create, store, change, and organize these connections all from one convenient location.

 

About Database Connections

You can create, store, view, and edit database connections from the Database Login window.

To open the Database Login window

From the main Toad menu, select Session | New Connection.

To connect to an Oracle database, Toad requires the following:

  • Username and password.
  • Connection details Host/Port/Service Name provided directly, through TNSNames.ora or LDAP configurations.

Toad does not require an Oracle client to connect to a database.

Connecting to a database without an Oracle Client:

  • Toad can connect to databases natively.
  • Features requiring Oracle Utilities will be unavailable including but not limited to: SQL*Plus, Data Pumps, Import/Export Utilities, SQL Loader, TKProf, TNSPing, Wrap.
  • Connections may be made using the Direct or TNS Tab.
  • For TNS Connections, a TNSNames.ora file is required and may be placed in a folder specified by your TNS_ADMIN environment variable, or in the same folder as Toad.exe

Connecting to a database with an Oracle Client:

The Oracle client installation generally includes connection configuration files that are used to facilitate communication between your computer and the database. Toad uses the following connection configuration files, depending on the connection type you select.

Oracle connection files

Connection File Description
SQLNET.ora

Specifies configuration details for Oracle's networking software, such as trace levels, the default domain, session characteristics, and the connection methods that can be used to connect to a database (for example, LDAP and TNSNAMES). If a method is not listed, you cannot use it.

Toad uses the SQLNET.ora file for all connection methods, and consequently you must be able to access this file for any connection method.

TNSNames.ora

Defines database address aliases to establish connections to them. Toad must be able to access the TNSNames.ora file for TNS connections.

IFILE

Toad supports the IFILE directive within TNS Names files. The IFILE directive allows you to link to an external TNS Names file and dynamically include its contents along with the contents of your local TNS Names list. You can include TNS files up to three levels deep in order to organize and manage TNS entries within your company.

You can open an IFILE reference by right-clicking the reference and then selecting Open in Other Editor.

LDAP.ora

Defines directory access information using Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). Toad must be able to access the LDAP.ora file for LDAP connections.

 

Create or Edit a Connection

Use the Database Login window to create and edit database connections.

Note: Toad does allow you to enter the connection information directly in the Database Login window, but this method forces you to connect to the database, and you cannot enter some of the additional connection information until after you connect.

To connect to an Oracle Cloud Database, see the online help. You must set it up so you connect from Toad to the cloud database by establishing an SSH tunnel and then directing the Toad connection through the tunnel.

To create or edit a connection

  1. Click on the standard toolbar to open the Database Login window.

    You can also select Session | New Connection.

  2. On the Database Login toolbar, click (Create New Connection) to create a connection, or select a connection then click (Edit Login Record) to edit an existing record. The Add Login Record or Edit Login Record window is shown.

  3. Complete the User/Schema and Password fields.

  4. Select a connection method:
    Method Description

    TNS

    Select a database in the Database field. Toad uses the listings in your TNSNames.ora file to populate the list. You must use TNS when connecting to an Oracle Cloud database.

    Direct

    Enter the Host, Port, and either the Service Name or SID of the database to which you want to connect.

    You must use Service Name rather than SID to connect to an Oracle 12c Pluggable database.

    LDAP

    Select the LDAP descriptor in the LDAP Descriptor field.

    Notes:

    • Toad must be able to access the SQLNET.ora file to use any of the connection methods.
    • Toad must be able to access the LDAP.ora file for LDAP connections.
    • Toad must be able to access the TNSNames.ora file for TNS connections.

    If Toad cannot connect to one of these files, a red X displays beside the editor button for that file. For example, the following image indicates that Toad cannot access the LDAP.ora file. You would have to resolve the issue before you could make an LDAP connection.

  5. Complete the remaining fields as necessary.

    Field Description
    Connect as

    Select the connection privilege level field.

    Color

    You can use connection colors to help you distinguish between open connections. Color Code the User Interface per Connection

    Connect Using

    Select the Oracle home.

    Default Oracle homes can be assigned for a connection or for Toad. When a default Oracle home is assigned to a particular connection, any time you make that connection from the connection grid, Toad automatically uses that Oracle home. When a default Oracle home is assigned to Toad, Toad automatically uses that Oracle home any time you create a connection to a new database.

    See Select a default Oracle Home in the online help for more information about how Toad manages Oracle homes.

    Alias

    Enter a description or Toad based alias or nickname for the connection.

    By default the alias only displays in the connections grid, but you can have Toad display the alias instead of the database name. To enable this option, select View | Toad Options | Windows and select the Use alias instead of database checkbox.

    Execute Action upon Connection

    An Action in the Automation Designer can be automatically executed upon making a connection:

    1. Highlight the connection and click Edit Login Record.

    2. Select Execute Action upon Connection and specify the Action. The Action displays in the Action field of the connection window. You can also select a parameter file.

    See Automation Designer Overview in the online help for more information about how to automate frequently used tasks.

    Notes: Toad only executes actions upon connection when you execute through the user interface. Toad does not execute actions when it is executed through command line.

    Custom Columns

    Complete the custom fields, if you have defined any.

    Organize Database Connections

    Save Password

    Select to have Toad remember the password for only this connection.

    Note: If Save passwords is selected in the Database Login window (to save passwords for all current and future connections), then this field is selected by default.

    Save Connection Passwords

    Auto Connect

    Select to have Toad automatically make the selected connection on startup.

    Favorite

    Select this checkbox to mark the connection as one of your favorites. You can have the Database Login window only display your favorites by selecting Show favorites only at the bottom of the window.

    Read Only Select this checkbox to make the connection read only, meaning that you cannot make any changes to the database. This option is especially helpful when you want to access data for a production database but you do not want to accidentally make any changes.

  6. Save the login record.

    • To save the record without connecting to the database, click OK
    • To save the record and connect to the database, select the Connect checkbox and click OK.

    • To save the record and reuse the field values to quickly enter new connections, click Post.

 

Save Connection Passwords

You can have Toad save all passwords automatically or individually save passwords for selected connections.

Passwords are saved in an encrypted file named Connections.xml. The encryption is tied to the currently logged in user profile, and it supports roaming profiles and Citrix installations.

Important: To save a connection password, you must connect to the database first.

Note: If the Save Password field is disabled, your ability to save passwords may have been removed during installation. See the Toad for Oracle Installation Guide for more information.

To save all passwords automatically

  1. Click on the standard toolbar to open the Database Login window.

    You can also select Session | New Connection.

  2. Select Save passwords at the bottom of the window. All passwords for current and future connections will be saved automatically.

To save passwords for individual connections

  1. Click on the standard toolbar to open the Database Login window.

    You can also select Session | New Connection.

  2. Clear Save passwords at the bottom of the window.

  3. Select the connection in the connection grid.

    Note: If the connection is not listed in the connection grid, ensure that the Show favorites only and Show selected home only fields are cleared. If it still does not display, connect to the database again.

  4. Click to open the Edit Login Record window
  5. Enter the password in the Password field on the right.
  6. Select Save Password.
  7. Click Connect.

 

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