SQLDeveloper - Connection parameters

Here is how I am able to connect to the database using SQLDeveloper, without using TNSNAMES option.
Note:  All the notes have been written for *nix (Linux/UNIX) OS versions
Leave the connection Type as "Basic"

 
 Determine the Hostname, port and global database name as mentioned below:

• open a terminal 
• type lsnrctl (the prompt will change to LSNRCTL>)
• type show pid
• This will display host (which you will enter in hostname) and the port values.
• Next determine service name by running the following SQL:
• SELECT VALUE AS "Service Name" FROM v$parameter WHERE name = 'service_names'
• Enter value  into Service Name
• Click on Test and ensure that you are able to connect. 
• Finally click on save to save it in the connection list.

Oracle Learning Library

Thanks to Sue's post (click here to read her post), I learned that, Oracle has introduced a Learning Library, includes online demonstrations, including APEX tutorials and SQLDeveloper demos. Truly worth watching. Click here to go to Oracle Learning Library. It is easy to search either by Product or by Category. For example to find out how to use SQLDeveloper for Microsoft Access, you would select "Database" under the "Category" and "SQL Developer" under "Product Component" and system provides a search output as shown below. Click on hyperlink under the column "Title" and a new window is launched displaying the Demo.

How to get SQLDeveloper working on Windows 7

Oracle SQL Developer 2.1

I have a 64 Bit Windows 7 installed in my laptop. So I downloaded and installed 64 bit Java software in my machine. Next I found where the jdk was installed (usually it is in the "C:\Program files\Java\jdk<version>". If you cannot find it, go to c:\ and type dir jdk*.* /s /p - 's' will search recursively and 'p' will pause after each page of display). Go to the directory where you have unzipped the SQLDeveloper and open the SQLDEVELOPER.conf file and updated the variable SetJavaHome (This file is located at sqldeveloper\sqldeveloper\bin directory. Then click on the sqldeveloper.exe (located in the same directory), a command window is opened and lanuches SQLDeveloper in a new window. (Note:Do not use the SQLDeveloper.bat - available in the same directory - to launch SQLDeveloper. This would result in problems Procedures/Packages/Function toolbar (see below)

This is the Screen from as launched from SQLDeveloper.bat;As you can see, Both the Compiler options and Procedure Toolbar are missing(Screen -01)

This is the Screen from as launched from SQLDeveloper.exe;As you can see, Both the Compiler options and Procedure Toolbar are present(Screen -02)

Version Screen for Sqldeveloper.bat(Screen -03)

Version Screen for Sqldeveloper.exe(Screen -04)

SO Exception, TNS-12514 and other errors

My Windows 7 was giving troubles of late and was crashing (Blue-screen-of-death) almost 3/4 times daily (Need to figure out that one at some other point of time). Naturally, the Linux OS installed in the VMware, also started giving problems. For the last two days, I could not connect to Oracle from SQLDeveloper. First I got ORA-12541 (Screen -1), then, ORA-12514 error and lastly, a "SO Exception".

Screen -01

Lastly, I logged into SQLPLUS as sys and ran the following command:-
Show parameter local listener (Screen -02).

Screen -02

Bingo! I found that the port number was wrong. Instead of 25000,my tnsnames and listener was set at 3801. Modified the listener.ora and tnsnames.ora and SQLDeveloper was able to connect again (Screen -03)

Screen -03

How to capture invalid Email address & lot of others things

After a long hiatus from writing in the blog, I am back;
Problem is that, it is difficult to decide whether the post will add value or is it something known to everyone, except me!

This was an interesting issue. What appeared to be a relatively straightforward work, stretched beyond 2 days with no end in sight.
There is a metalink note how to handle this 456378.1
However, this did not mention how to enable the Event - I did not see any way to enable. A little digging showed me that "Create Events" button has to be enabled. Enabled it myself using "FND: Diagnostics" option.
Once the oracle.apps.wf.notification.send.failure event was enabled, ensured that I created a malformed email address. Then created a test email by going to OAM->Workflow Manager -> Service Components -> "NotificationMailer"->View Details -> Test Email. selected my role and that is it. Now Oracle will generate an invalid email address or so I thought.
However, I found that the Notification was still in MAIL Status.
This led to question is the Background Engine on? I need to turn on the Background engine with all the three parameters as Y. No problem. But I need to know the Item type before I can start. Only problem is what is the Workflow Item Type? All I had was the Notification.
The Table WF_ITEM_TYPES_VL carries the Item_Type and is linked to WF_NOTIFICATIONS (WF_ITEM_TYPES_VL.NAME = WF_NOTIFICATIONS.MESSAGE_TYPE) .

I was able to see in the Mailer Log , that Workflow mailer has attempted to send a notification several times. all of them ended up with an error message: "451 Timeout waiting for client input"

How to Capture invalid email address?

How can invalid or mal-formed email address (or so called bouncing emails) be captured?

As note: 456378.1 says, after enabling the event WF_MAIL.Disable_Recipient_Ntf_Pref, if a recipient's email address is invalid, an email notification is sent out the SYSADMIN that an email notification could not be sent.
Note:
1. However, this will work only on or after RUP5.
2. Notification preference for SYSADMIN should be MAILHTML or MAIL

to read the complete metalink note, click here

How to display images in a seperate lines?

Pix 1:

I was trying to get two images displayed on a separate lines - although these are adjacent to each other; however to my exasperation, the images were displayed on the same lines. Have tried various tricks, including

. It is not consistent. For example these photos had to manually separated using text like this. Whereas, I was able to separate the technorati and LinkedIn icons. I will try to look at some examples later.
On a side note, these are the pictures of a bird that appeared outside our home, after I placed a toy bird - looks exactly like the one in the photo.

Pix 2: