Building Queries Visually

Overview

Oracle SQL Developer provides the SQL worksheet, a code-editor window where one can enter and run statements that include SQL*Plus commands, SQL, and PL/SQL code - either single statements or multiple-statement scripts. Oracle SQL Developer also facilitates common query tasks with GUI tools. Using point-and-click actions in the Connections Navigator display, one can quickly view the same data that certain manually entered queries retrieve. Drag-and-drop capabilities and the query builder both help one build complex queries more quickly than one can with manual coding. This column takes the user through examples of the point-and-click, drag-and-drop, and query builder approaches, to illustrate their advantages over manual query construction.