Toad Tips & Tricks

for DBA’s 

Bert Scalzo, Domain Expert, Oracle Solutions

Bert.Scalzo@Quest.com

Copyright © 2006 Quest Software

About the Author …
Domain Expert & Product Architect for Quest Software

Oracle Background:
• Worked with Oracle databases for over two decades (starting with version 4)
• Work history includes time at both “Oracle Education” and “Oracle Consulting”

Academic Background:
• Several Oracle Masters certifications
• BS, MS and PhD in Computer Science
• MBA (general business)
• Several insurance industry designations

Key Interests:
• Data Modeling
• Database Benchmarking
• Database Tuning & Optimization
• "Star Schema" Data Warehouses
• Oracle on Linux – and specifically: RAC on Linux

Articles for: Articles for:

• Oracle’s Technology Network (OTN) • Dell Power Solutions
• Oracle Magazine, Magazine
• Oracle Informant • The Linux Journal
• PC Week (eWeek) • www.linux.com
• www.orafaq.com 2
Books by Author … Coming in 2008 …

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Agenda

• Quick Toad History

• Toad options & bundles for DBA’s

• How to leverage Toad for DBA’s

• Key Database Admin Interfaces & Utilities

• Some non-obvious yet very useful tidbits 

• Some slides, but mostly live demo of Toad …

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 History
Original Toad Freeware

Oct ‘98 June ‘99 Feb ’00 Dec ‘00 April ‘01 Dec ‘01 Apr ‘02 Oct ‘02 May ‘03

v5 V6.1 V6.3 v6.5 v7.0 v7.2 v7.3 v7.4 v7.5

Initial Quest Already has 70 Debugger, SQL DBA Module. Toad Reports. Script HTML Schema Project Team Coding,
release. distinct Modeler, Oracle 8 Manager, Generator, Manager, Data Grid
Yahoo! Groups and screens. object support. SQL*Loader CMD Line QSR. support for
Toadsoft.com Wizard. Support. advanced data
established. types.

Toad for Oracle Freeware

Update July ‘05

Nov ‘03 July ‘04 June ‘05 Oct ’05 Oct ’06 Jun ’07 Nov ’07 Apr ’08

v7.6 v8.0 v8.5 v8.6 v9.0 v9.1 v9.5 v9.6

Session XML Support, JIT Debugging, Re-designed Single Merged Policy Manager. Integration with Debugger into
Browser, CodeXpert, Citrix, RAC, Modeler, M/D Brower, Editor. Action Recall. SQL Optimizer 7.2 Standard, Schema
new Script Debugger. enhanced 10g New Reporting Engine. Improved Toad Tips Debugger, Profiler, Browser merged
CodeXpert Vista support. Code Xpert with DB Browser,
toolbars. Rebranded – support.
integration. enhancements. integration with
Toad for Oracle StatsPack Browser QCTO and TDM,
ASM, ADDM, AWR
Mgt Oracle 11g Vulnerability
support. Assessment in
Health Check
Alternatives
1. Freeware
2. Toad for Oracle
3. Toad for Oracle +
Lacks several dozen key
DB Admin Module
DBA oriented features!!!
4. Toad DBA Suite
for Oracle 

1. Toad For Oracle Xpert

2. Toad DB Admin Module
3. Toad Data Modeler
4. Benchmark Factory
5. Spotlight on Oracle!!!
TOAD DBA Suite for Oracle
Tuning
Checklist
 DB Menus

New DB Browser
Eliminates need
for most of these!
Outline
•Options
•General
•Startup
•Executables
•Windows
•RMAN Templates

•DB Browser
•Reload from tnsnames
•Right Hand Mouse Menu
•Tree-view of non-schema objects
•Subset portion of Schema Browser
•Server & Multi-Select Cumulative Totals
Outline
•Session Browser
•What happened to Kill/Trace screen
•Configure, configure, configure
•New top-level “Waits” tab
•“Wait” hyper-links (displays info)
•Long-Ops

•Script Runner
•Organize your scripts
•Load into Editor
•Run in place & via Quest Script Runner
•Place useful scripts into main menu list
•Combine scripts to create new ones
Outline
•Health Check
•Can do multiple databases at once
•New Vulnerability Assessment (VA)
•New un/select by major category
•User can adjust the “Params”
•Can schedule & email results

•Log Miner
•Filter
•Options -> Undo Operation
•Send SQL to Editor
•Use “Save As” for undo commands
•***VERY POWERFUL UTILITY***
Outline
•TKPROF Interface
•Local files & FTP interface
•Handy – but see next item

•Trace File Browser

•For those who prefer wait event analysis based
upon drilling into “Oracle Instrumentation Data”
•Why pay for $$$ for Hotsos Profiler ???
•Tree-view into trace file
•SQL Statement, Explain Plan, Raw Data
•Query Summary graph
•Trace file header
•Open in external editor – but why 
Outline
•Stats Pack Browser
•Nice, simple GUI to massive info pool
•Offers Wait Event Advice (to 10 events)
•Can run standard stats pack report
•Can schedule collections
•Can manage snapshots

•AWR Browser
•Same as above
•But must have OEM diagnostic pack
•Must use another screen for reports
•ADDM/AWR Reports
•That screen also offers Baseline mgmnt
Outline
•UNIX Monitor
•Database Monitor
•Database Probe
•Index Monitoring
•HTML Schema Doc Generator
•DBMS Redefinition Wizard
•Compare Data
•Compare Schemas
•Compare Databases
•SGA Trace Optimization
•Top Session Finder
•RAC – Toad does ASM & RAC too !!!
 Thank you
Please offer any questions or comments

Remember:

• Like the old Prego spaghetti sauce TV commercial – “It’s in there”…

• Toad’s DBA options & bundles makes Toad = SQL Developer + OEM

• Test Drive Today: The Evaluation Copy Activates All Toad Features!!!

Toad World: The single web portal for all things Toad …

http://www.toadworld.com
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