Quest Software 3.1 Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

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Toad

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for Data Analysts 3.1

User Guide

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Toad for Data Analysts 3.1

User Guide

March 03, 2012

Introduction

Understand Toad's Workflow

Connect

Create ODBC Connections

Understand Toad Connections

Share Database Connections

Understand

Determine the Best Method to Locate Objects

Object Explorer

Filter Databases and Objects

Tutorial: Understand a Table Using the Database Explorer

Search for Objects

Tutorial: Create a Database Diagram to Use as a Query Template

Browse Data in Related Tables

Query

Tutorial: Visually Build a Query

Create Cross-Connection Queries

Considerations and Limitations of Cross-Connection Queries

Reverse Engineer Queries

Considerations and Limitations in the Query Builder

Tutorial: Build a Subquery

About Editing SQL

Configure Editor Options

Editor Shortcut Keys

View Result Sets

11

13

16

17

10

7

8

6

19

21

23

26

30

33

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Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Table of Contents

Troubleshoot Data

Tips for Working with Data

Compare Differences in Data

Export Data with One Click Export

Share Excel Linked Queries

Report

Tutorial: Create a Toad Data Report

Step 1: Run the Toad Data Report Wizard

Step 2: Update Fields

Step 3: Use Styles to Format the Report Appearance

Step 4: Update Bands and Add Controls

Manage Reports

About Managing Reports

Publish and Share Reports

Automate

Scenario: Automate a Query and Email the Report

Automate Tasks

Use Database Automation Activities

Use File Automation Activities

Use System Automation Activities

Use Variables in Automation

Generate Reports per Product (Use the Loop Dataset Activity)

73

79

83

64

66

69

40

43

45

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51

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Table of Contents

Find Unbatched Transactions (Use the Row Count Field and If..Condition..

Activity)

Execute Automation Scripts

Appendix: Contact Quest

Contact Quest Support

Toad Community

Contact Quest Software

About Quest Software

Index

91

92

93

90

91

Introduction

Understand Toad's Workflow

Most reporting projects have a general flow throughout their lifecycle that requires you to understand your data sources, create queries, generate reports based on query results, and automate scripts for repetitive tasks.

Understand—Successful queries begin with a clear understanding of the data source to which you connect. If you understand the data and the objects, as well as their relationships to one another, you can build informed queries that are effective and more optimized than you could without this understanding.

Query—Queries are the most important, and often the most time-consuming, aspect of your project. Once you have a clear understanding of the data source, you can begin to create your query.

Report—Data retrieved from a query frequently needs to be shared with colleagues or management in the form of a report, such as a pivot grid or chart.

Automate—Queries and reports usually need to run on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. With Automation, you can create a workflow that includes connecting to data sources, importing/exporting data, executing scripts, running queries, and building and distributing reports on a scheduled basis.

Connect

Create 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 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 databases that use a native provider.

To create an ODBC connection

1. Click on the toolbar (ALT+F+N+O).

2. Select ODBC from the Group list box.

3. Click

4. Click Add.

in the Data Source Name field.

5. Select an ODBC driver from the list, and click Finish.

Note: If creating an Oracle ODBC connection, select the ODBC driver provided by

Oracle. The Microsoft ODBC for Oracle driver has less functionality than the driver provided by Oracle.

6. Specify the configuration properties required for the database in the windows configuration dialog.

Notes: l

If you have an Oracle database with Unicode data, make sure to select Force

SQL_WCHAR Support on the Workarounds tab of the windows Oracle ODBC

Configuration dialog. If you do not, you will not be able to see the data.

If creating a MySQL ODBC connection to use in a cross-connection query, you must specify a database in the windows MySQL ODBC Configuration dialog. See Troubleshoot MySQL Issues for more information.

7. Specify the connection properties in the Create New Connection dialog. Review the following for additional information:

Use data source name

Data source

Select to display the Data source names.

Deselect to display the driver names.

Select the driver or data source name you added in the previous

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Connect name

User

Password

Database steps.

Enter the user name to use when connecting.

Enter the password to use when connecting.

Tip: After connecting, you can set a master password to further secure your connection in Tools | Options| Environment |

Security.

Specify the location of the database schema. Click to create a temporary connection and display available schemas in the dropdown list.

Information

Data

Source

Name

Driver

Understand Toad Connections

In Toad, a connection represents one or more actual connections to the database. Toad creates an initial database connection for general usage. It also creates a separate database connection for each Editor (the first time you execute a statement) and a separate database connection for each Data tab in the Database Explorer (the first time you select the tab and data is queried).

The database connection for each Editor and Data tab remain open until you close the associated window; however, the connections remain in an inactive state if a statement is not currently executing.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Connect

Tips: l

To view the number of actual database connections that exist for a Toad connection and how many of those database connections are active, place the cursor over the connection in the Navigation Manager or the Connection toolbar (illustrated in the following example).

9 l

You can view the progress of statements executing in the background in a progress bar located on the lower right side of the status bar. To cancel a script's execution, click the progress bar to display the Background Processes window. It is recommended to cancel only your own processes, as terminating Toad activities may lead to unexpected behavior.

Share Database Connections

Editors and Data tabs can share the same database connection when the connection is inactive if you clear the Use specific connection for each open editor checkbox in Tools

| Options | Editor | General. Any new executions or windows attempt to use this connection first. For example; if you share a database connection, you can execute a query in the Editor, execute another query in a new Editor, and then select the Data tab from the same connection. If the connection is in use and you attempt to execute it, one of the following occurs: l

(DB2 and Oracle only) If your database supports executing multiple queries simultaneously on a shared connection, the query is placed in a queue and executes as soon as the current operation completes.

If your database does not support executing multiple queries on a shared connection, a dialog prompts you to either permanently associate the window with a new database connection, cancel the previous operation, or add the query to a queue until the current operation completes, and the execute it. If you place multiple queries in the queue, each one executes in the order that it was added to the queue.

Note: Although you can share a database connection, any commits apply to the selected window only.

Understand

Determine the Best Method to Locate Objects

Toad offers a number of features to assist you in locating objects. The following table provides guidelines based on typical use cases:

If you know the....

Column name, but do not know the table name

String of DDL for an object

Dependency for an object

Use this...

Use Object Search

Criteria for excluding objects

Uses and Used By tabs in the Database

Explorer, ,and then drill-down to the object from there

Filter feature in the Object Explorer

Object Explorer

You can view database objects for the current connection with the Object Explorer. This feature is useful for dragging and dropping database objects into an open Editor, Query

Builder, or other document window. Right-click the objects in the Object Explorer to access additional features such as multiple tasks and actions.

To open the Object Explorer

1. Click on the View toolbar.

2. Review the following for additional information:

Schema (first field)

Object Filter

(second field)

Select the schema you want to view. You can filter the list of

schemas that display. See "Filter Databases and Objects"

(page 11) for more information.

You can quickly set a filter in this field. To do so, enter a name or partial name of an object and press ENTER. Any advanced object filters you set display in this field.

You can also perform advanced filtering based on case

sensitivity, statistics, or other options. See "Filter Databases

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Understand

and Objects" (page 11) for more information.

Tip: You can enable an option to filter using regular expressions in Tools | Options | Explorer | General.

Note: For tables and views, the columns, data types, and comments display at the bottom of this window.

Tips: l

To navigate to a previously selected object, click . You can also click to the next selected object.

to move l

To locate objects including procedures, functions, views, variable names and

comments in an object's source code, use Object Search. See "Search for Objects"

(page 16) for more information.

To use a different method to select objects such as tabs, drop-downs, or a tree view, click .

To generate reports, export data, create SQL statements, version control objects, or send objects to the Project Manager, SQL Modeler, or Master Detail windows, rightclick the objects and select an option.

To open the Background Processes window and cancel a query, click the progress bar at the bottom of the window.

Filter Databases and Objects

Filters can reduce the number of database and/or objects you have to work with and reduce the amount of time required to query large databases. You can set the following types of filters: l

Quick filter—Applies to the current schema, or objects in the current schema only.

Any unnamed filter you set is in effect the next time you open Toad l

Unnamed filter—Applies to the current schema, or objects in the current schema only.

Any unnamed filter you set is in effect the next time you open Toad.

Named filter—Applies to any database connection for the current database provider.

Any named filter you set is in effect the next time you open Toad.

Note: If you rename a table that has a filter defined, it results in an orphaned filter.

Orphaned filters are automatically removed unless you used a tool other than Toad to remove them.

A filter is associated with a specific list of objects from a specific database. Consider the following guidelines when setting filters:

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Understand

12 l

A filter defined for a set of objects such as tables on one specific database connection does not apply to a list of objects for another database connection.

A filter defined for a list of tables on one schema in the database does not apply to the list of tables for a different schema on the same database.

A filter set for a specific schema or object is applied when altering objects, using the

SQL Editor, Master Detail Browser, etc., for that schema or object.

Tip: To apply any filters you set to the code completion list in the editor, select the

Apply explorer filters checkbox in Tools | Options | Editor | Code Completion.

To set a quick filter

» Enter text to use for filtering in the field below the database/schema name in the

Object Explorer:

To set a named filter

1. Click beside the database or object field in the Object Explorer.

2. Define criteria for the filter in the Properties tab.

3. Select the SQL tab and select the Enable custom SQL checkbox to create a custom filter based on criteria you specify.

4. Select the Preview tab to view a list of databases or objects that meet your filter criteria before applying the actual filter.

5. Enter a name for the filter if you want to use the filter for other database connections and click .

Icon Description

A filter has not been set so all databases/objects display.

A filter has been set.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Understand

6. If you set a named filter, you can click the arrow beside the icon to apply or remove the filter:

Tips: l

To export a named filter or any filters associated with the current connection, click the arrow beside the icon and select Export Filters.

To import the filters, select File | Open from the menu.

Click in the Explorer toolbar to clear all database, object, and data filters.

Tutorial: Understand a Table Using the

Database Explorer

Click here to view a video of this feature.

Scenario

You need to build a query listing customers and want to know more about the table before writing the query.

Note: This exercise uses the Toad Sample Database. This connection does not have the relationship and script tabs. The tabs available can differ depending on the type of connection.

Note: This topic focuses on information that may be unfamiliar to you. It does not include all step and field descriptions.

To understand a table using the Database Explorer

1. Connect to the Toad Sample (Access) database in the Navigation Manager.

2. Right-click the CONTACT table and select View Details.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Understand

3. View information for the following: a. Click the Indexes tab and view the index information.

b. Click the Primary Keys and Foreign Keys tabs to view relationships.

4. Click the Data tab.

5. Place the cursor over the LAST_NAME column, click , and select Acton.

The only row that now displays is the one with Acton as the last name.

6. Click to the right of the LAST_NAME column again and select All to clear the filter.

7. Click the CONTACT_ID column to sort the rows in ascending or descending order.

8. Click in the top left of the Data tab.

9. Create the following filter in the Where Clause tab:

CONTACT_ID > 2000

The filter string displays at the bottom on the grid. Click to remove the filter.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Understand

10. Select a row of data in the grid. Notice that the row number changes in the bottom right of the status bar:

11. Under the SEX column, right-click the area below the last row in the grid that says

"Right-click to add column totals" and select Count. The total number of rows that have either a M or F value display.

12. Click to the right of the SEX column and select F. The count value updates based on the new filter.

13. Click to the right of the SEX column again and select All to clear the filter.

14. Select the SEX column header and drag it the area above the columns that says "Drag a column header here to group by that column":

You can expand each group to view the row data.

15. Switch the default view: a. Right-click within a group or row on the grid and select Show | Card View.

b. Scroll through some records.

c. Click Customize in the Card View window.

d. Click Filter beside the ADDRESS_ID column and select 100. Notice how the card view is filtered, but not the grid view.

e. Close the Card View window.

16. Edit a row: a. Select a row in the FIRST_NAME column and edit the value.

b. Press ENTER to update the row.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Understand

16 c. Go to the BIRTH_DATE column and use the date picker to change the date.

Each data type have an appropriate editor.

Note: If you are using Oracle or a database that does not have auto commit on, you will need to press Commit at the left hand bottom of the window.

17. Update the number of rows in in the data: a. Select Tools | Options | Database | General from the menu.

b. Enter 50 in the Number of rows to initially fetch in data tab.

c. Click OK.

d. Press F5 in the data grid. Notice the bottom right status bar now says "1 of 50

(scroll for more)".

The option you set controls the number of rows fetched in the Data tab.

e. Click the scrollbar and hold down to retrieve more.

f. Right-click the grid and select Read All Rows.

Search for Objects

You can quickly locate an object rather than browsing through a list of objects in the

Database Explorer orObject Explorer. Object Search locates the following: l

Names of objects for a string.

Text in objects that include source code, which typically includes procedures, functions, triggers, data types, and views. However, the database provider determines which objects include source code.

Variable names and comments in the object's source code.

Column names for tables and views.

To search for objects

1. Click on the toolbar (F4).

2. Specify search criteria and click Search.

Note: To append additional search results to the current search, click Append instead.

If you click Search, new results replace the previous search results in the data grid.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Understand

Tips: l

To remove objects from the search results, right-click the objects in the data grid and select Remove Items. This is useful if you want to narrow the list of results to relevant objects.This does not remove the objects from your database.

To create a DDL script from the search results, right-click the data grid and select

Create DDL Script. You can then paste the results into the Editor.

To perform any actions available for the object, such as creating, altering, dropping, exporting, and generating reports or SQL, right-click the results in the data grid and select an option.

Tutorial: Create a Database Diagram to Use as a

Query Template

Click here to view a video of this feature.

Scenario

Your company creates several daily and weekly reports regarding customer sales. You need to create a Database Diagram that can be used as a template for these queries.

To create a Database Diagram to use as a query template

1. Connect to the Toad Sample (Access) database in the Navigation Manager.

2. Click .

3. Drag the CONTACT table in the Object Explorer to the Diagram pane.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Understand

4. Right click the Diagram pane and clear Show Dependencies to hide the Referenced

Objects at the bottom of each table/view, as illustrated in the following:

5. Right-click the ORDERS table and select Notes.

6. Enter the following note in the window for other users:

The shipping and billing ADDRESS_ID foreign key relations are not needed in most queries and should be hidden when building a query.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Understand

7. Because it is against company policy to display sex and a home phone number in reports, right click on each of these columns in the CONTACT table and select

Hide Column.

Tip: If you have a large number of columns you need to hide, you can right-click a table and select Manage Hidden Columns to quickly select them from a list.

8. Click Add to Project from the wizard bar at the bottom of the window and enter

DBDiagram_Test asthe name for the file. This adds the file to the current project in the Project Manager under a Diagrams folder.

9. Close the Database Diagram window and open the Project Manager window.

10. Expand the Diagrams folder and double-click DBDiagram_Test to reload the file in a new Database Diagram window.

11. To share your project, hidden columns, and notes with colleagues, complete the following: a. Select Tools | Options | Environment | Network Share, and navigate to a shared drive where you want to store the Project Manager file.

b. Select Database | Cache from the open Options window and set the following options:

Object An notation Cache

Share object annotations

Share hidden column settings

Description

Select this checkbox and enter a shared drive location where users can access this file.

Select this checkbox.

c. Provide the location of the Network Share and Object Annotation Cache settings to colleagues who need to use this diagram.

Browse Data in Related Tables

Use the Master Detail Browser to browse data in parent tables and drill-down to data in related child tables. This is useful when you need to analyze or edit data. For example, suppose you need to view a list of all Nick's Flix stores and the inventory of comedy movies at each store. Using the Master Detail Browser, you specify the table that contains the list of stores as the parent table and specify the table that contains comedy movies as the child table to quickly locate comedies and analyze the inventory.

To browse tables using the Master Detail Browser

1. Select Tools | Master Detail Browser (ALT+T+A).

2. Drag one or more tables from the Object Explorer, Object Search, or Project Manager

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Understand

20 window to the Diagram pane at the top of the Master Detail Browser. Press

CTRL+click to select multiple tables at once.

Notes: l

A line between tables indicates any existing relationships between the selected tables.

At least one parent table (table without any join arrows pointing to it) must be added to the window or an error message displays when returning results.

3. Join Columns.

4. Select the checkbox beside each column you want to include.

Note: Any columns included in a join are automatically included in the results.

5. Click (F9) to retrieve data for the parent table initially. To view data in a child table, click + to the left of each row.

Click to retrieve data in the parent and child tables. If there is more than one child table, a tab displays for each child table.

6. From the data grid, you can: l

Edit the data and commit your changes to the database.

Right-click the data grid and select Send To | option to add the data to a report, chart, or pivot grid.

Tips: l

Click to align tables and snap them to the grid.

Select the parent table from the drop-down list in the toolbar to view data for a parent table if there are multiple parent tables.

Click X on the table you want to remove in the Diagram pane to remove a table and any conditions (e.g., join, where clause) associated with the table.

Query

Tutorial: Visually Build a Query

The Query Builder enables you to create a query without writing or editing SQL statements.

Even if you are familiar with SQL, the graphical interface makes it easier to create relationships and visualize the query.

Note: This procedure does not cover all of the possible steps of visually building a query. It only covers the steps required to build a query for the scenario.

Scenario

Your company wants to improve its global sales, starting with countries where it has a customer base but generally low sales. You need to create a query that identifies countries with less than

$500,000 in sales for each of the last four fiscal years.

Note: This scenario uses the SH (Sales History) sample schema that comes with Oracle 10g so you can follow the procedure.

To visually build a query based on this scenario

1. Connect to the database and click Query Builder.

2. Select the SH schema in the Object Explorer.

3. Drag the following tables from the Object Explorer to the Diagram pane: TIMES,

SALES, CUSTOMERS, and COUNTRIES.

Tips: l

Select Query Builder | Arrange Tables (ALT+Q+A) to have Toad arrange the tables in the Diagram pane.

You can press CTRL and select a table, and then drag the table into the Editor pane. Click the list to create statements.

You can also press CTRL and select all of the tables in the Object

Explorer, and then drag them into the Diagram pane. Toad automatically arranges the tables.

4. Add the following columns to the query by clicking each column:

Table

COUNTRIES

Column

COUNTRY_NAME

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Query

Table

TIMES

SALES

Column

FISCAL_YEAR

AMOUNT_SOLD

Tips: l

To view details for a table in the Diagram, click selected, details for the last selected table display.

(F4). If a table is not l

To remove a column from the query, click or drag column off grid.

5. Complete the following steps to group the data and sum the sales: a. Select the Group By field in the COUNTRY_NAME column, and then click +. The Group By field is in the Criteria pane, which is below the

Diagram pane.

b. Select the Group By field in the FISCAL_YEAR column, and then click +.

c. Select the Aggregate Function field in the AMOUNT_SOLD column and select Sum. This sums all of the sales per fiscal year per country.

Note: If you select a group by clause or aggregate function for a column, the rest of the columns in the query must also have a group by clause or aggregate function.

6. Complete the following steps to select the fiscal year range: a. Select the Where Condition field in the FISCAL_YEAR column and click .

The Where Condition window displays.

b. On the Form tab, select BETWEEN in the Operators field.

c. Select 1998 in the first Constant field.

d. Select 2001 in the second Constant field and click OK.

Note: The SH schema does not have current data. The 1998-2001 years provide the best data for the purposes of this scenario.

7. Complete the following steps to select countries with less than $500,000 in sales: a. Select the Having Condition field in the AMOUNT_SOLD column and click

. The Having Condition window displays.

b. On the Form tab, select < in the Operators field.

c. Select Sum in the Aggregate field.

d. Enter 500000 in the Constant field and click OK.

8. Select Ascending in the Sort field of the COUNTRY_NAME and FISCAL_

YEAR columns.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Query

9. Click .

The query results display in the Results tab. See "View Result Sets" (page 38) for more information.

10. To save the query, right-click the Query Builder tab and select Save File.

You can save a query and any results sets in a Toad editor file (.tef). This file format is useful for building scripts that have large result sets that you do not want to continue executing or for saving results when you have not finished building a script.

Create Cross-Connection Queries

Use the Cross-Connection Query Builder or the Cross-Connection Editor to create a query that combines data from multiple, dissimilar databases. For example, you can create a query that joins managers from a SQL Server database to their employees in an Oracle database.

(This is also often called a heterogeneous or cross-database query.) Toad uses an enhanced query engine to implement advanced execution processes that are specially designed to improve the performance of cross-connection queries.

Before creating a cross-connection query using an Oracle, Teradata or MySQL ODBC connection, or if using the Base edition, please see the special considerations listed at the end of this topic.

Notes: The enhanced and fully-optimized version of cross-connection query is available only in the Professional and Premium editions of Toad for Data Analysts.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Query

To build a cross-connection query visually

1. Select Build Query | Cross-Connection Query Builder.

Note: A blue banner along the right side of the Diagram pane indicates that you are in Cross-Connection Query mode.

2. Drag tables and views from the Object Explorer to the Diagram pane.

3. Complete the query in the same manner as you would a non-cross-connection query, but note the following exceptions.

Object Explorer Feature

Options

Filters

In Cross-Connection Query Mode...

Connection Treelist is the only view option available.

In this option, connections, databases, tables, and views are displayed in a treelist in the Object Explorer window.

Filters are especially useful in cross-connection queries to reduce the number of objects displayed in the treelist in the Object Explorer window.

Note: Review the "Considerations and Limitations of Cross-Connection Queries" section below.

To compose a cross-connection query in the editor

1. Select Editor | Cross-Connection SQL Editor.

Note: A blue banner along the right side of the Editor pane indicates that you are in

Cross-Connection Query mode.

2. Compose the SQL statement in the same manner as you would a non-cross-connection query, but note the following exceptions.

SQL Editor Task

Naming tables and views

In Cross-Connection Query Mode...

To reference a table or view, you must use a crossconnection fully-qualified name. The format for a crossconnection fully-qualified name depends on the database. The following is an example using the SQL

Server format:

<database connection string>.<database>.<schema>.<table>

'sqlserverconn'.database.dbo.table

Note: For the database connection string, use the connection string displayed in the Navigation Manager window for each connection (or in the Name field in

Connection Properties).

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Query

SQL Editor Task

Using alias names

Using code completion

In Cross-Connection Query Mode...

Tip: Copy and paste a SQL statement from a single connection editor to a cross-connection editor and Toad automatically changes the syntax of the statement to include the cross-connection fully-qualified names.

You must use alias names for tables and columns in a cross-connection query.

In Cross-Connection Query mode, the scope of available options in code completion expands to include the databases, tables, and views for all the open database connections.

Tip: To expand/collapse a database node in the code completion list, use CTRL+left arrow and CTRL+right arrow.

Tips: l

In a cross-connection code completion list, the selected database displays a descriptive tooltip containing database and connection information.

To learn how to optimize cross-connection queries, see Optimize Cross-

Connection Queries.

Considerations and Limitations of Cross-Connection

Queries

Review the following considerations and limitations before creating a cross-connection query.

Consideration/Limitation

Toad Access database

Performance concerns

Description

In the Base edition of Toad for Data Analysts, the

Query Builder uses the Access database installed with

Toad as a staging area for the query. Do not uninstall this database if you need to create cross-connection queries.

A cross-connection query may take longer to execute than a query against a single database because result sets from each database are retrieved and combined to generate a single result set.

In the Professional edition of Toad for Data Analysts, the enhanced execution engine utilizes several optimizing techniques to improve the performance of cross-connection queries.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Query

Consideration/Limitation

ODBC driver support

Using an Oracle connection in a cross-connection query

Oracle Direct Connection

Using a Teradata connection in a cross-connection query

Using a Teradata connection in a cross-connection query in the Base edition of Toad

Using a MySQL ODBC connection in a crossconnection query

Result sets

Oracle Long Data Type

Description

An ODBC driver can be selected for a single connection through each connection's Properties dialog or globally through Tools | Options | Database.

To use an Oracle connection in a cross-connection query, you must install an Oracle ODBC driver.

Note: The Oracle Full Install client includes an ODBC driver. However, if you are using the Oracle Instant client (which may not include an ODBC driver), you may need to install an Oracle ODBC driver.

You cannot use an Oracle Direct Connection in a crossconnection query.

To use a Teradata connection in a cross-connection query, you must install a Teradata ODBC driver.

In the Base edition of Toad, to use a Teradata connection in a cross-connection query, you must create and use a Teradata ODBC connection (instead of the native connection).

To use a MySQL ODBC connection in a crossconnection query, you must specify a database for the connection.

You cannot edit result sets.

Cross-connection query does not support Oracle long data types or Oracle LOBs.

Reverse Engineer Queries

One way to build a query is to begin adding columns and creating joins in the Query

Builder, and then send the query to the editor to add more complex functionality, such as a

UNION join. You can also send a query from the editor to the Query Builder. For example, you inherited a large query when an employee left and you need to edit it to resolve an issue.

After looking at the query in the editor for some time, you still cannot decipher it. So, you right-click the statement and select Send to Query Builder. Now that you can visually see how the tables are referenced, you can identify and resolve the issue.

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Considerations and Limitations in the Query Builder

Consider the following when reverse engineering a query using the Query Builder:

General

Single statement support

Quote identifiers

ODBC support

Excel support

Non-ANSI joins

(Oracle only)

Where Condition

Where condition does not display in the Criteria grid after sending it to the

Query Builder from the Editor

Where condition created in the

Criteria grid of the

Diagram tab

Description

The Query Builder only supports one statement at a time. If you add multiple statements to the Query tab, only the first statement is used. If you make any changes to the statement on the Diagram tab, the other statements are lost.

If you selected the Quote Identifiers checkbox in Tools |

Options | Database | General and generate a query from the

Query Builder in SQL Server, the query cannot be reverse engineered.

You must use ANSI SQL for the query.

Copying a generated query and attempting to reverse engineer that query results in an error. This issue occurs because the parser defaults to Oracle syntax, which does not understand quotation marks for fully qualified object names.

To avoid this issue, clear the Use fully qualified object

names and Use fully qualified column names checkboxes in

Tools | Options | Database | Query Builder or manually edit the query.

When sending a query from the Editor to the Query Builder,

Toad automatically uses ANSI joins. If you use Where clause joins, click to disable ANSI joins. This converts the statement to the correct join.

Description

If you send a query that contains a Where condition from the editor to the Query Builder, it displays in a Global Where clause bubble on the Diagram pane instead of in the Where

Condition field in the Criteria grid.

You can double-click the Global Where Clause bubble in the Diagram pane or can click to edit it.

You can also use the Where condition fields in the Criteria grid to add new Where conditions. Although they display in the grid, they are added to the Global Where clause in the

Query tab.

If you define a Where condition in the Criteria grid and edit any part of the query in the Query tab, the Where condition is removed from the Criteria grid and placed in a Global

Where Clause bubble.

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Query disappears

Having Condition

Having condition does not display in the Criteria grid after sending it to the

Query Builder from the Editor

Having condition created in the

Criteria grid of the

Diagram tab disappears

You can double-click the Global Where Clause bubble in the Diagram pane or can click to edit it.

Description

If you send a query that contains a Having condition from the editor to the Query Builder, it displays in a Global

Having clause bubble on the Diagram pane instead of in the

Having Condition field in the Criteria grid.

You can double-click the Global Having Clause bubble in the Diagram pane or can click to edit it.

You can also use the Having condition fields in the Criteria grid to add new Having conditions. Although they display in the grid, they are added to the Global Where clause in the

Query tab.

If you define a Having condition in the Criteria grid and edit any part of the query in the Query tab, the Having condition is removed from the Criteria grid and placed in a Global

Having Clause bubble.

You can double-click the Global Having Clause bubble in the Diagram pane or can click to edit it.

Description Query Builder

Diagram Tab

Comments and code regions removed after making changes in the Diagram tab

Same column cannot be used in the criteria grid

Execute with different query in the

Diagram and Query tabs

Save with different query in the Diagram and Query tabs

When reverse engineering a statement from the editor or the

Query tab and switching to the Diagram tab, if the statement contains a block comment or code region and you make a change in the Diagram tab, the comment or code region is removed from the statement.

You cannot use the same column more than once in the criteria grid. Even if you create a separate alias for the second use of the column, that column is created as a calculated field

If the query in the Diagram tab is different than the query in the Query tab, executing the query executes the SQL in the

Query tab instead of the Diagram.

The Query Builder saves both the statement and diagram in the same file. The contents of the statement and diagram can be different without losing changes.

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To reverse engineer a query

1. Right-click a statement in the Editor, and select Send to Query Builder.See "About

Editing SQL" (page 33) for more information.

Click in the Query Builder to send a statement to the Editor. Skip the remaining

steps and continue to edit the query. See "About Editing SQL" (page 33) for more information.

Troubleshooting: If the query cannot be modeled in the Diagram tab, a message displays and the statement opens in the Query tab. This usually occurs because the graphical diagram cannot support some functionality in the statement. You can view an explanation for this in the Output window or by hovering over the syntax with a red underline ( ) in the Query tab. To continue, correct the error and click apply the change and open the Diagram tab.

2. Continue to build your query visually using the diagram.

3. Select the Query tab and make any additional edits. Indicators for an edited statement are as follows:

Inserted lines

Modified or removed lines

Modified characters

Use the toolbar in the lower-right corner of the Query tab to modify the color used for each indicator.

Caution: If you manually enter or update the statement in the Query tab, you must click to model the query in the Diagram tab. If you do not do this and make additional changes in the Diagram tab, any changes you made in the Query tab are lost.

4. Click to execute the query.

Tip: If you have multiple statements in the Editor and you want to send only one to the

Query Builder, highlight the statement, then right-click it and select Send to Query Builder.

Create Cross-Connection Queries (page 23)

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Tutorial: Build a Subquery

Scenario

Your database of customer information includes detailed information for each contact you have within a customer. You need a report that lists all of your customers that have a contact that resides in (or covers) a specific region.

To build a subquery

1. Connect to the Toad Sample (Access) database in the Navigation Manager.

2. Click .

3. Drag the CUSTOMER table to the Diagram pane.

4. Click these column names in the CUSTOMER table to add the columns to the query: l

CUSTOMER_ID l

CUSTOMER_NAME

5. To add a subquery: a. Select the Where field in the CUSTOMER_ID column and click . The

Where Condition editor displays.

30 b. Select the IN operator from the list and click Subquery. A child Query Builder

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Query window displays for you to use to build the subquery.

The child (subquery) Query Builder window includes a Diagram pane, a Criteria pane, and a Queries pane for navigating back and forth between subqueries and the main query.

31 c. Drag the following tables to the Diagram pane and select the following columns:

Select this table...

ADDRESS

CONTACT

Select this column...

REGION_ID

CUSTOMER_ID d. Select the Where field in the REGION_ID column and click . In the Where

Condition editor, select the equal to (=) comparison operator, select Constant, and select a value of 1.

e. Deselect the checkbox in the Visible field in the REGION_ID column. This will remove the REGION_ID column from the result set.

Your subquery window should look something like this:

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32 f. Click to execute the subquery. Select the Results tab to review the result set for the subquery.

6. Click the Query node in the Queries pane to return to the main query window. A callout in the main query Diagram pane indicates that the statement contains a subquery and also shows the type of subquery and which column it is on.

7. Click

To use the Lookup Table to execute the main query.

Use the lookup table to add a description to ID values to aid in selecting from ID columns when building a query or subquery.

1. Click the subquery node in the Queries pane to return to the subquery.

2. In the ADDRESS table, right-click REGION_ID and select Find Lookup Table.

3. Follow the instructions in the Lookup Table dialog to specify the ID Column and the

Description Column.

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4. After completing and closing the Lookup Table dialog, again select the Where field in the REGION_ID column and click . Open the drop-down list to the right of

Constant. Notice that a description for each region now displays.

About Editing SQL

The editor combines a powerful SQL and procedure editor into a single interface.

Notes: l

See "Editor Shortcut Keys" (page 35) for more information about keyboard shortcuts

used in the Editor.

Toad has implemented a large script mode to improve performance when opening files larger than 2 MB. By default, when you open a large file, some features such as word wrap, syntax highlighting, and the Code Navigator are disabled in the Editor. When a large script loads, a message indicates that you are in large script mode in the right margin of the Editor. You can cancel large script mode by clearing the option in

Tools | Options | Editor | General.

To edit SQL

1. Click on the toolbar (ALT+T+E).

Note: You can query the worksheet from the Editor by entering a dollar sign ($) followed by a cell range to limit the results similar to the following statement:

Select * from (MyWorksheet$A1:C10)

You can also query the entire worksheet by entering a dollar sign ($) after the worksheet name; however, this returns empty rows and columns in the worksheet.

2. Review the following to help enter SQL: l

Code completion l

Navigate code

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34 l

Code regions l

Code snippets l

SQL recall l

Add/remove application code l

Object lookup (Describe) l

Macros to record keystrokes

3. Click to format the code. See Format SQL for more information.

4. Select the block of code in the Editor, and click to validate the syntax.

Note:Toad undoes any changes to the object and data in the database after executing the script (notice that the Result Sets tab is empty). To modify the object and data, you need to execute the script.

5. Click to execute SQL on the current server or multiple servers at one time.

6. Select the block of code in the Editor and click to create a stored procedure.

Stored Procedure creation dialog automatically recognizes procedure body and declared parameters.

Tips: l

Toad automatically saves a backup copy of any modified editor file in the

Application Data Directory to avoid losing your work. When you restart Toad after an unexpected close, Toad checks the timestamp on the backup file against the original file, and opens the file that has the latest timestamp. The document recovery option is in Tools | Options | Environment | General. See General Environment Options for more information.

You can save the current connection, SQL script, executed results, filters, and group execute connections/results (if enabled) in a Toad editor file (.tef). This file format is useful for building scripts that have large result sets that you do not want to continue executing or for saving results when you have not finished building a script.

In the Editor toolbar, the execute SQL buttons are grouped under . The button will retain the function of the last execute action for the active Editor window. If you switch to another Editor window, the button will change to reflect the last action for that window.

If you copy and paste a SQL statement from one editor window to another, Toad automatically rewrites the statement to match the syntax of the connection for the second editor window.

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Configure Editor Options

To...

Set options to display line numbers, line modifications, and general text formatting

Specify options to automatically replace typed text with the correct substitution text

Customize code formatting options including headers and layout characteristics

Click here to view a video of this feature.

Use this Option Page...

Editor | General

Editor | Auto-replace

Editor | Formatter

Editor Shortcut Keys

You can assign individual shortcut keys in Keyboard options. See Keyboard Options for more information. You can also customize Toad to use the shortcut keys of existing applications such as Toad for Oracle, SQL Navigator, or Query Analyzer in the Configuration

Wizard (Tools | Configuration Wizard).

Caution! If you have some global access keys assigned, make sure that Toad shortcut keys do not coincide with them. When using such duplicating shortcut keys in Toad, the third party application commands, assigned globally, will be performed instead of ones assigned by Toad.

The following table describes the default shortcut keys in Toad.

Frequently Used Functions

CTRL+PERIOD

CTRL+MINUS

CTRL+SHIFT+MINUS

CTRL+J

CTRL+M

ALT+PAUSE

Description

Displays the code completion list

Execute all statements as a batch

Execute all statements, in order, one at a time

Comments the selected line

Uncomments the selected line

Collapses all code regions

Expands all code regions

Stops script execution

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Bookmark

CTRL+SHIFT+0-9

CTRL+0-9

Case

CTRL+L

CTRL+U

Clipboard

CTRL+C

CTRL+X

CTRL+V

Code Completion

CTRL+PERIOD

ENTER

CTRL+SPACE

CTRL+<right arrow>

CTRL+<left arrow>

Comment

CTRL+MINUS

CTRL+SHIFT+MINUS

Cursor

HOME

CTRL+HOME

END

CTRL+END

Debugger

Description

Sets a numbered bookmark at the selected line

Goes to the numbered bookmark

Description

Converts the selected text to lowercase

Converts the selected text to uppercase

Description

Copies the selected text to the clipboard

Cuts the selected text for pasting in the clipboard

Pastes text from the clipboard

Description

Displays code completion list

Selects an item and close the code completion list

Selects an item without closing the code completion list

Expands a node in the code completion list

Collapses a node in the code completion list

Description

Comments the selected line

Uncomments the selected line

Description

Moves the cursor to the beginning of the line

Moves the cursor to the beginning of the file

Moves the cursor to the end of the line

Moves the cursor to the end of the file

Description

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SHIFT+F12

SHIFT+F7

F11

F12

CTRL+B

CTRL+W

Delete

BACKSPACE

CTRL+BACKSPACE

CTRL+SHIFT+DELETE

Find and Replace

CTRL+F

SHIFT+F3

CTRL+G

CTRL+I

CTRL+SHIFT+I

Indent

TAB

SHIFT+TAB

Macros

CTRL+SHIFT+R

CTRL+SHIFT+P

Step from cursor

Step into

Step out

Step over

Run to breakpoint

Run to cursor

Set breakpoint

Add watch at cursor

Description

Deletes the selected text (if text is selected); otherwise, deletes the previous character

Deletes text to the beginning of the previous word

Deletes the entire script

Description

Finds text

Finds the next occurrence of text

Finds the previous occurrence of text

Goes to line number

Performs an incremental search

Performs a reverse incremental search

Description

Indents the selected line

Outdents the selected line

Description

Starts/Stops recording a macro

Plays the recorded macro

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Miscellaneous

F4+SHIFT

CTRL+D

SHIFT+F8

CTRL+á

CTRL+â

<auto-replace token>+SPACE

CTRL+SPACE

<code snippet shortcut name>+CTRL+SPACE

CTRL+DELETE

Description

Invokes objects search

Describes the object next to the cursor

Toggles between the Editor and Data Grid

Sends SQL to Query Builder

Recalls the previous SQL statement

Scrolls up the window.

Scrolls down the window

Automatically replaces a misspelled word, inserts symbols, and expands text.

Note: You can set autoreplace in Tools | Options |

Editor | Autoreplace.

Displays the Code Snippets folder browser

Inserts the code snippet template

Sets the column value for the current cell to Null in the data grid

Insert Code Snippets

View Result Sets

The Result Sets tab displays a data grid for executed SQL statements and scripts that return data.

Troubleshoot Data

If you cannot edit data, click the red icon in the lower left corner of the grid, and then click OK on the window that displays. You do not need to edit fields in this window.

By default, auto commit is enabled and any row changes you make are automatically submitted to the database. You can disable this option in Tools | Options

| Environment | Grid.

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Tips for Working with Data

To...

Pin a result set so it is not overwritten by a subsequent query in the Editor or

Query Builder.

Do this...

Click the push pin beside the result set:

Set the value of a cell to null.

Toggle between the Editor and Data

Grid.

Add column or group summary values

Press CTRL+DELETE.

Press F6.

Show or hide columns of data.

Display data in a report, pivot grid, or chart.

Compare differences between two data sets.

Display the data in a grid or card view; grid view is useful for viewing summary information at a glance; card view is useful for viewing information in greater detail.

Apply a summary function to the data

(Sum, Min, Max, Count, Avg).

View a list of all existing values in a column, including the number of times a value is used.

Right-click the data and select Show

| Summary Footer Panel. Then, right-click the Summary Footer Panel below the column you want to add a summary total to and select an option.

If you have grouped columns using the

Grouping panel (Show | Grouping Panel), you can also add a summary total to grouped records.

Right-click a column heading in the data grid and select Chooser.

Right-click the data and select Send To

|<option>.

Right-click the data and select Send To |

Data Diff Viewer.

Right-click a record and select Show | Grid

View or Card View.

Right-click below the column you want to apply the summary function (but above the

Navigation toolbar) and select an option.

Right-click the column and select Show |

Existing Values.

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Compare Differences in Data

You can compare result sets from the current editor or a different editor in the Database

Explorer's Data tab or the editor's Result Sets without having to save one of the sets to a file.

Notes: l

If you want to synchronize data, use Data Compare instead of the Data Diff Viewer.

You cannot modify files in the Diff Viewer at this time.

To compare differences

1. Right-click data in the Editor's result set or Database Explorer's Data tab and select

Compare To | Set_number.

You can also save a result set and later use it as a historical comparison.

2. Use the Diff Viewer toolbar to view any differences.

Tips: l

To switch the contents of the left pane to the right pane, and the contents of the right pane to the left, click .

You can also open files to compare by clicking at the top of each pane.

beside the drop-down list

Export Data with One Click Export

Use One Click Export to quickly export data to an Excel report. You can also export data and include a linked query in the file. A linked query lets you create a "live" Excel report that can be refreshed dynamically. Because a linked query contains the underlying SQL for a report, each time you refresh the report the query executes and retrieves the latest data. The dynamic nature of linked query reports makes them ideal for distribution to users who need to see changes to data on demand without waiting for new static reports to be distributed.

Click here to view a video of this feature.

Notes: l

Before you can export to Excel, the Primary Interop Assemblies (PIAs) for your version of Excel must be installed.

Use the Export wizard if you need to specify column delimiters and advanced field options when exporting data.

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To export data in one click

1. Select the range of data to export or click any row in a data grid to export all data.

2. Right-click the selected range or data grid and select Quick Export.

3. Select an export option. Review the following for additional information:

Icon Option

Excel File

CSV File

HTML File

Excel

Instance

Excel

Instance at active cell

Excel Pivot

Table

Excel Pivot

Table at active cell

Description

Export data to an Excel file. The file is automatically saved under a default name in the default export folder.

Export data to a CSV file (comma separated value file).

The file is automatically saved under a default name in the default export folder.

Export data to an HTML file. The file is automatically saved under a default name in the default export folder.

Export data to an Excel instance. Data is copied to a clipboard, Excel is launched, and a worksheet is populated with data. You can save the worksheet under a name and folder you specify or in the default export folder.

Export data to an active cell in Excel. First open Excel and select a cell. Then select the Excel Instance at

active cell option.

Export data to an Excel pivot grid report. See the Excel documentation for information on creating a Pivot

Table report with external data.

Export data to an active cell for an Excel Pivot Table report. First open Excel and select a cell. Then select the Excel Pivot Table at active cell option.

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Icon Option

Excel

Linked

Query

Excel

Linked

Query at active cell

Excel

Linked

Query with pivot table

Excel

Linked

Query at active cell with pivot table

Excel

Column

Chart

Description

Export the underlying query for data to Excel.

Export the underlying query for data to an active cell in

Excel. First open Excel and select a cell. Then select the

Excel Linked Query at active cell option.

Export the underlying query for data to an Excel Pivot

Table report. See the Excel documentation for information on creating a pivot grid report with external data.

Export the underlying query for data to an active cell for an Excel Pivot Table report. First open Excel and select a cell. Then select the Excel Linked Query at

active cell with pivot table option.

Export data to an Excel chart instance. Data is copied to the clipboard, Excel is launched, and a chart is created with the data. You can then modify the chart's design and save the Excel file.

Tip: To refresh data in a linked query report, click in Excel's External Data

toolbar. This executes the underlying query for the report. See "Share Excel

Linked Queries" (page 43) for more information about creating and using linked

queries.

Note: If the window containing data does not have the focus when you select a One

Click Export option, the following message displays: "Export did not find any results sets to process".

Tip: You can specify a default export folder in Tools | Options | Environment

| One Click Export.

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Share Excel Linked Queries

You can use linked queries to create "live" Excel reports that can be refreshed dynamically.

Because a linked query contains the underlying SQL for a report, each time you refresh the report the query is executed and the latest data is retrieved. The dynamic nature of linked query reports makes them ideal for distribution to users who need to see changes to data without waiting for scheduled updates or for new reports to be distributed.

Notes: l

Any user who opens an Excel linked query must have access to a user name and password for the queried database to refresh the data. If a user does not have access to the database, they can only see the original data in the spreadsheet.

If the Excel linked query was created from an ODBC connection that uses a Data

Source Name (DSN), the DSN must also exist on the computer where the Excel file is opened to refresh the data.

Scenario

You need to create an Excel linked query so that the Regional Sales

Manager, can track whether the Sales Representatives in his region meet their monthly and quarterly goals. By providing a linked query, you only have to create the query once, and then the Regional Sales

Manager can refresh the data at any time to view the latest sales information.

To create an Excel linked query

1. Connect to the database.

2. Create a query in the Query Builder or Editor.

3. Execute the query to display data results.

4. Select the result set and click one of the following options from the toolbar:

5. Save the Excel spreadsheet.

6. Email or upload the spreadsheet to a shared network folder to share it with colleagues.

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To refresh data in an Excel linked query

1. Open the spreadsheet with the linked query in Excel. The original data from the query displays.

2. In Excel, select Data | Refresh to update the original data with the current data.

3. If prompted, enter a user name and password to connect to the database and refresh the data.

If the following error displays: "[Microsoft][ODBC Driver Manager] Data source name not found and no default driver specified", you must specify the DSN used by the query on your computer. Complete the following steps to resolve this issue:

(Excel 2003) a. Click OK.

b. Select the Machine Data Source tab, and then click New.

c. Use the wizard to select a User Data Source and create a DSN that points to the database.

d. Click OK to return to Excel and open an ODBC Driver Connect window.

e. Enter a user name and password to refresh the data.

Report

Tutorial: Create a Toad Data Report

Use the Data Report Designer to design reports visually. Stored in .tdr files, data reports are

"live" reports that can be refreshed dynamically. What makes them dynamic is that they contain the underlying queries for report data sets. Each time a data report is opened, its query runs and the latest data is retrieved. The dynamic nature of data reports makes them ideal for distribution to users who need to see changes to data without waiting for scheduled updates or for new reports to be distributed.

The process of creating a data report has the following steps: l

Step 1: Run the Toad Data Report Wizard

Step 2: Update Fields

Step 3: Use Styles to Format the Report Appearance

Step 4: Update Bands and Add Controls

Note: This procedure does not cover all of the possible steps of creating a data report. It only covers the steps required to create a report for the scenario.

Scenario

Your company wants to improve its global sales, starting with countries where it has a customer base but averages low sales. You created a query that displays countries with less than $500,000 in sales per fiscal year, but now you need to create a report to help represent and evaluate the results. The data should be grouped per country and show the total and average sales for each country. In addition, you want the report to look similar to the rest of the company's documents, which use specific colors and fonts.

Note: This scenario uses the data generated in

Visually Build a Query .

Step 1: Run the Toad Data Report Wizard

The Toad Data Report wizard creates an initial layout of the report based on options you select, including what columns to include, whether to group data, and the basic style.

To run the wizard

1. Right-click the data grid in the Results tab and select Send To | Data Report

Designer. The Toad Report Designer displays.

2. Select Standard Report and click Next.

3. Click to include all columns in the report and click Next.

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4. Select COUNTRY_NAME and click , and then click Next. This groups the data by the country name so that each country is listed as a heading and its sales per year display below it.

Tip: You can create a secondary group by selecting another column and clicking again. A secondary group is not appropriate for this scenario, but it would be if the data included regions in each country or fiscal quarters. You would need to make the region or fiscal quarter a secondary group for the data to be organized appropriately.

5. Select the Sum and Avg checkboxes for the SUM(SALES.AMOUNT) row, and then click Next. These options calculate the sum and average sales amount for each country.

6. Select Outline 1 and click Next.

Tip: The Outline and Align Left options are good choices if you grouped the data.

7. Select Casual and click Next.

8. Enter Countries with Sales Less Than $500,000 in the Report Title field, and then click Finish. The initial report layout displays in the Report window with the information grouped under bands. For more information on bands, see Add Report

Bands in the Toad help.

9. Click Preview to see what the report looks like in print. Previewing the report makes it easier to see how the bands and their content display in the printable report.

Step 2: Update Fields

You can move, rename, and update the category of a field.

To update the fields

1. Complete the following steps to update the field category: a. Select the FISCAL_YEAR field in detailBand1.

b. Click directly above the field.

c. Click by the Format String field.

d. Clear the Prefix field and click OK.

2. Double-click the following fields and enter their new name:

Field

FISCAL YEAR

Band groupHeaderBand2

Name

Fiscal Year

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Field

SUM(SALES.AMOUNT_SOLD)

Avg

Band groupHeaderBand2 groupFooterBand1

Name

Sales Amount

Average

3. Select the following fields one at a time and make them wide enough to see the full text: Sum (groupFooterBand1), Average (groupFooterBand1), and Grand Total

(reportFooterBand1).

4. Select the following fields one at a time and drag them to the one inch mark on the ruler: Sum, Average, and Grand Total.

5. Right-click the COUNTRY NAME field (not the COUNTRY_NAME field on the right) in groupHeaderBand1 and select Delete.

Note: The COUNTRY NAME field is a label that precedes the COUNTRY_NAME field value. If you preview the report before you delete the COUNTRY NAME field, the country displays as 'COUNTRY NAME Argentina'. It is clear that Argentina is the country name, so this field is redundant.

6. Select the COUNTRY_NAME field and drag it to align with the report title.

7. Select the COUNTRY_NAME field and make it three inches wide to accommodate long country names.

Step 3: Use Styles to Format the Report Appearance

The Data Report Designer uses styles to format different objects and kinds of data. Once you define a style, you can apply it to similar fields to create a consistent and easy-toupdate design.

To create, update, and apply styles

1. Complete the following steps to update the report title style: a. Select the Styles field in the Properties pane.

b. Click . The Styles Editor window displays.

c. Select Title.

d. Select the Foreground Color field, and then select MidnightBlue in the

Web tab.

Note: All colors in this scenario are from the Web tab.

e. Select the Font field and click . The Font window displays.

f. Select 22 in the Size field and click OK.

2. Complete the following steps in the Styles Editor window to create and define four new styles:

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Report a. Click four times in the Styles Editor window to create four new styles.

b. Set the following properties for the new styles:

First Style

Name

Background Color

Border Color

Borders

Font

Second Style

Name

Border Color

Borders

Font

Third Style

Name

Background Color

Font

Foreground Color

Fourth Style

Name

Font

Foreground Color

Properties

OddRow

WhiteSmoke

MidnightBlue

Bottom

Tahoma, 10pt

Properties

EvenRow

MidnightBlue

Bottom

Tahoma, 10pt

Properties

TableHeading

MidnightBlue

Tahoma, 10pt, bold

White

Properties

CountryName

Tahoma, 14pt, bold

Black

3. Complete the following steps to apply the new styles: a. Expand the Styles field in the Properties pane.

b. Select TableHeading in the Style field (under Styles) for the Fiscal Year and

Sales Amount fields in groupHeaderBand2.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Report c. Set the following fields for [FISCAL_YEAR] and [SUM(SALES.AMOUNT_

SOLD)] in detailBand1:

Field

Even Style

Odd Style

Property

EvenRow

OddRow d. Select the COUNTRY_NAME field in groupHeaderBand1 and then select

CountryName in the Style field.

Step 4: Update Bands and Add Controls

Bands group the information layout in the report and you can add controls to include additional tables, images, fields, and other items in the report. For more information on controls, see Add Controls in the Toad help. For the scenario, you will expand bands, delete a band, and add a control.

1. Right-click pageHeaderBand1 and select Delete.

2. Complete the following steps to add a line under the report title: a. Select the groupHeaderBand1 and move it down half an inch.

Tip: It is helpful to expand a band before adding controls to give you plenty of room in which to work.

b. Drag Line from the Toolbox into reportHeaderBand1.

c. Expand it to the width of the page.

d. Drag and position it directly below the report title.

e. Enter 2 in the Line Width field in the Properties pane.

3. Select reportFooterBand1 and drag it down half an inch. This adds white space between the country information.

The Data Report Designer displays with the following layout:

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Report

4. Click Preview.

The print preview displays with the following layout:

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Report

5. To save the report, right-click the Data Report Designer tab and select Save File.

Manage Reports

About Managing Reports

Use the Report Manager to create and organize data reports, add existing Toad or Excel reports, or generate reports.

To create a report

1. Select Tools | Reports | Report Manager from the menu.

2. Right-click a folder and select Create Report.

3. Complete the wizard and design the report.

4. Save the report.

5. To add the report to the Reports Manager window:

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Report

52 a. Navigate to the open Reports Manager window.

b. Right-click the folder where you want to add the report, and select Add

Existing Report.

To generate an existing report

1. Select Tools | Reports | Report Manager from the menu.

2. Double-click the existing report.

3. Review the following for additional information:

Direction

Value

Select the direction of variable from the list.

Enter the value of the variable.

Note: Enter a percent (%) in this field to generate all values.

Tips: l

To add an existing Toad or Excel report to the Report Manager, right-click the Report

Manager window and select Add Existing Report.

To send a Toad or Excel report via email or to a shared folder or other location, rightclick the report, select Send To, and then select an option.

To share reports with other users, specify a shared network directory in Network Share

Options (Tools | Options | Environment | Network Share).

DB2 Reports

The following reports are available from the Reports Manager (Tools | Reports

| Reports Manager).

Report Name

Activity

ADMIN_LIST_

HIST_V82

Database

Partitions

DB Manager

Config Info

Description

Lists and describes activity reports that the Activity Monitor for the current DB2 for LUW database uses. This report also lists the switches required to gather data for a specific activity report. Toad uses the AM_BASE_RPTS table function to generate this report.

Displays information from the database history table for the DB2 for LUW database partition to which Toad is currently connected.

Toad uses the ADMIN_LIST_HIST table function to generate this report.

Shows information about each database partition on the current

DB2 for LUW database. Toad uses the DB_PARTITIONS function to gather this information from db2nodes.cfg.

Lists the database manager configuration parameters and their values defined for the current DB2 for LUW database.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Report

Report Name Description

HEALTH_

CONT_HI

HEALTH_

CONT_HI_HIS

HEALTH_

CONT_INFO

HEALTH_DB_HI Shows the "health" status of the current DB2 for LUW database, including its highest current alert status. Toad uses the HEALTH_

DB_HI table function to generate this report.

HEALTH_DB_

HI_HIS

Shows the "health" history of the current DB2 for LUW database.

Toad uses the HEALTH_DB_HI_HIS table function to generate this report.

HEALTH_DB_

HIC

Identifies the containers that tablespaces in the current DB2 for

LUW database use and lists the highest current alert status for each container. Toad uses the HEALTH_CONT_INFO table function to generate this report.

HEALTH_DB_

HIC_HIS

Shows the "health" status of objects in the current DB2 for LUW database. Toad uses the HEALTH_DB_HIC table function to generate this report.s

Displays a "health" history for objects in the current DB2 for LUW database. Toad uses the HEALTH_DB_HIC_HIS table function to generate this report.

HEALTH_DB_

INFO

Shows the current "health" status of all containers that tablespaces in the current DB2 for LUW database use. Toad uses the

HEALTH_CONT_HI table function to generate this report.

Shows a "health" history for all containers that the tablespaces in the current DB2 for LUW database use. Toad uses the HEALTH_

CONT_HI_HIS table function to generate this report.

HEALTH_DBM_

HI_HIS

HEALTH_DBM_

INFO

HEALTH_TBS_

Shows the highest current alert status for the current DB2 for LUW database. Toad uses the HEALTH_DB_INFO table function to generate this report.

Shows the "health" status for the current DB2 for LUW instance.

Toad uses the HEALTH_DBM_HI table function to generate this report.

Shows a "health" history at the database manager level for the current DB2 for LUW instance. Toad uses the HEALTH_DBM_

HI_HIS table function to generate this report.

Shows the highest current alert status for the current DB2 for LUW instance. Toad uses the HEALTH_DBM_INFO table function to generate this report.

Shows the "health" status of all tablespaces in the current DB2 for

LUW database. Toad uses the HEALTH_TBS_HI table function to generate this report.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Report

Report Name Description

HEALTH_TBS_

HI_HIS

HEALTH_TBS_

INFO

Index Statistics

Installed DB2

Products

Installed DB2

Products_V82

Shows a "health" history for tablespace in the current DB2 for

LUW database. Toad uses the HEALTH_TBS_HI_HIS table function to generate this report.

Shows the highest current alert status for each tablespace in the current DB2 for LUW database. Toad uses the HEALTH_TBS_

INFO table function to generate this report.

Displays statistics for the indexes under the current schema for the

DB2 for LUW database and flags those indexes that need reorganization. Toad uses the REORGCHK_IX_STATS procedure to generate this report.

Lists the DB2 for LUW 9 products currently installed on your system. Toad uses the ENV_GET_PROD_INFO table function to generate this report. Products can include the following: RTCL

DB2 Run-Time Client CONSV DB2 Connect Server (any edition)

CONPE DB2 Connect Personal Edition

Lists the DB2 for LUW 8 products currently installed on your system. Toad uses the ENV_GET_PROD_INFO table function to generate this report. Products can include the following: l

ADCL DB2—Application Development Client l

ADMCL DB2—Administration Client l

CONEE DB2—Connect Enterprise Edition, DB2 Connect

Unlimited Edition, or DB2 Connect Application Server

Edition l

CONPE DB2—Connect Personal Edition l

CUBE DB2—Cube Views l

DLM DB2—Data Links Manager l

ESE DB2—Enterprise Server Edition l

EXP DB2—Express Edition or DB2 Express Edition processor option l

GSE DB2—Spatial extender l

PE DB2—Personal Edition l

QP DB2—Query patroller l

RTCL DB2—Run time client l

WM DB2—Warehouse Manager l

WSUE DB2—Workgroup Server Unlimited Edition

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Report

Report Name

Instance

Information_V82

Recommendations for Activity

Reports

SNAP_GET_

CONTAINER _

V82

SNAP_GET_DB_

V82

SNAP_GET_

DYN_SQL_V82

SNAP_GET_

TAB_V82

SNAP_GET_

TBSP_PART_

V82

SNAP_GET_

TBSP_V82

SNAPSHOT_

AGENT_V82

System

Information_V82

Description

Lists details about the current DB2 for LUW instance. Toad uses the ENV_GET_INST_INFO table function to generate this report.

Provides recommendations (in English) for the various activity reports that the activity monitor uses. Toad uses the AM_BASE_

RPT_RECOMS table function to generate this report.

Displays information and statistics about each container that tablespaces in the current DB2 for LUW 8 database use. To generate this report, Toad uses the SNAP_GET_CONTAINER table function to retrieve information from the tablespace_ container logical data group.

Lists information and statistics captured for the current DB2 for

LUW 8 database. To generate this report, Toad uses the SNAP_

GET_DB table function to retrieve information from the database and detail_log logical data groups.

Lists statistics and information about the dynamic SQL statements executed against the current DB2 for LUW 8 database use. To generate this report, Toad uses the SNAP_GET_DYN_SQL table function to retrieve information from the dynsql logical data group.

Lists information and statistics about the tables in the current DB2 for LUW database 8. To generate the report, Toad uses the SNAP_

GET_TAB table function to retrieve information from the table logical data group.

Lists information and statistics for the database partitions that make up each tablespace in the current DB2 for LUW 8 database.

To generate this report, use the SNAP_GET_TBSP_PART table function to retrieve information from the tablespace_nodeinfo logical data group.

Lists information and statistics for each tablespace in the current

DB2 for LUW 8 database. To generate the report, Toad uses the

SNAP_GET_TBSP table function to retrieve information from the tablespace logical data group.

Lists the agents working for the various applications connected to the current DB2 for LUW 8 database. To generate the report, Toad uses the SNAPSHOT_AGENT function to retrieve information from the application snapshot, especially from the agent logical group.

Displays information about the operating system in which the current DB2 for LUW 8 database operates and about the CPUs

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Report

Report Name

Table Statistics

Column View

Table Statistics

Description configured on this operating system. Toad uses the ENV_GET_

SYS_INFO table function to generate this report.

Displays statistics for the tables under the current schema in the

DB2 for LUW database and flags those tables that need reorganization. Toad uses the REORGCHK_TB_STATS procedure to generate this report.

Displays statistics for the tables under the current schema in the

DB2 for LUW database and flags those tables that need reorganization. Toad uses the REORGCHK_TB_STATS procedure to generate this report.

MySQL Reports

The following reports are available from the Reports Manager (Tools | Reports

| Reports Manager).

Report Name

Help Topic

Description

Displays the first 10 rows of the mysql.help_topic table.

ODBC Reports

The following reports are available for the Toad Sample Database in the Reports Manager

(Tools | Reports | Reports Manager):

Report Name

Customer orders

Customer list

Items to order

Description

Displays customer orders for contact IDs less than 10 from the Toad sample database. It is an example of master detail display using a single result set.

Displays a list of customers from the Toad sample database.

Displays items in stock that have a quantity of less than 50 and should be reordered from the Toad sample database.

Oracle Reports

The following reports are available from the Reports Manager (Tools | Reports

| Reports Manager).

Cluster Reports

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Report

Report Name

Clusters

Description

Displays cluster information, including the cluster type, definitions, storage parameters, and affected tables.

Other Reports

Report Name

Invalid objects

Loads into shared pool

Description

Displays any invalid objects for the selected schema and includes a subtotal of all invalid objects for that owner.

Displays packages that have been loaded five or more times, into the

Oracle shared pool.

Note: You must have DBA privileges for this report.

Displays any objects in the SYSTEM tablespace that are not owned by SYSTEM.

Non-system objects in

SYSTEM tables

Oracle initialization parameters

Tablespaces near capacity

Total shared pool reload stats

User hit ratios

Displays the values for all parameters defined in the PFILE for the selected user.

Displays tablespaces that over 90% full, and do not have the autoextend feature enabled.

Displays the number of times objects in the shared pool were reloaded.

Note: You must have DBA privileges for this report.

Displays the buffer cache hit ratio users and includes consistent gets, blocked gets, and physical reads.

Displays values for resource usage such as CPU used and SQL*Net roundtrips for each user.

User resource usage

Sequence reports

Report Name

Sequences

Sequences near max

Description

Displays the sequences that are within 10% of the maximum value.

Any sequences that do not have a maximum value set, or those that cycle are excluded from the report.

Displays the sequences that are within 10% of the maximum value.

Any sequences that do not have a maximum value set, or those that cycle are excluded from the report.

Stored Program Reports

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Report

Report Name

Arguments of stand-alone stored programs

Object type bodies

Object types

Description

Displays any parameters required for the selected stored procedure.

Displays the body or source code for a selected object.

Package bodies

Package specifications

Stand-alone stored programs

Stored functions

Stored object with source

Stored procedures

Synonym Reports

Displays the type of objects owned by a user, including whether the objects are valid and when they were created or last modified.

Displays the body or source code for a selected package

Displays specifications for a selected package, including whether it is valid and when it was created or last modified.

Displays the source code for a stored program, including the type of program and the last time DDL was generated.

Displays a list of stored functions for a selected owner.

Displays a list of all stored programs including their source.

Displays the source for stored procedures for a selected owner.

Report Name

Synonyms

Description

Displays information for each synonym, including the owner, table owner and name, and the DB link.

Table Reports

Report Name

Indexes

Non-indexed tables

Description

Displays details for the index definition, storage parameters, and columns included in the index.

Displays any tables that have not been indexed for the selected database.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Report

Report Name

Table comments

Tables

& columns

Description

Displays any comments for the selected table.

Tables

& indexes

Trigger Reports

Displays all columns for a selected table, including the maximum transactions, used/free blocks, free lists and groups, min/max extents, and columns included in this index.

Displays any indexes for a selected table, including the status, uniqueness, and columns included in the index.

Report Name

Triggers

& columns

User-defined Reports

Description

Displays triggers for a selected table, including the trigger event, status, WHEN clause, and columns associated with the trigger.

Description

Displays a sample user report based on a select * from dual query.

Report Name

Sample

View Reports

Report Name

View comments

Views & columns

Description

Displays any comments for the selected view.

Displays all columns for a selected view, including the query and columns included in the view.

SQL Server Reports

The following reports are available from the Reports Manager (Tools | Reports

| Reports Manager).

DBA Reports

Report Name

All jobs

Backup history

Description

Displays all scheduled SQL Server jobs and the job owner, organized by server.

Displays the backup start date, type, and device used for the backup for a specified database for a set number of days.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Report

Report Name

Backup status

Current lock report

Database configuration options

Database settings

Database user details

Display errors

Drive space usage

Foreign key sequence

Index description

Job details

Description

Displays the database name, date of the last backup, days since the last backup, and the type of backup performed.

Displays any locks on the server, including the database name, object or index name, type of lock, resource, mode, and status.

Displays configuration options for each database on the specified server.

Displays any common options and their values for all the databases on your server.

Displays the user name, roles, objects, granted/denied status, and column permissions for each database.

Displays a log file without entries for log backups. This is useful when you have a number of log backup entries and you need to locate non-backup errors.

Displays space for all databases on the server, including free space, space used, maximum size, and growth type.

Displays tables in the order you can either populate or delete from them without violating any foreign key constraints. Objects with the lowest wave number indicate that they can be deleted with the fewest number of foreign key references. Objects with the highest wave number should be populated first.

(SQL Server 2000 only) Displays all indexes for the current database sorted by table. Index information includes whether it is clustered, unique, index keys, and the index size. run frequency, and the maximum duration.

(SQL Server 2000 only) Displays all SQL Server jobs, including whether they are scheduled, enabled, start date and time,

Displays the number of rows for all tables on a server that contain a clustered index.

Row count for tables with clustered index

Total rows and space used

User permissions

Displays the total number of rows and space used for each table or view in the current database, including the reserved rows, unused rows, and index size. This report is sorted in descending order by reserved rows.

Displays users permissions, grouped by role name and object type.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Report

Other Reports (SQL Server 2005 only)

Report Name

Configuration change history

Schema change history

Table Reports

Description

Displays a history of all sp_configure and Trace Flag Changes recorded by the default trace.

Displays a history of all committed DDL statement executions recorded by the default trace.

Report Name

Indexes

Non-indexed tables

Table constraints

Description

Displays index information for a selected table, including whether the index is clustered, unique, ignores duplicate keys, allows page/row locks, and a list of indexed columns.

Displays any tables that have not been indexed for the selected database.

Displays any check constraints for a selected table, including whether the constraint is enabled, valid data, and affected columns.

Displays any extended properties for a selected table.

Table extended properties

Table relationships

Tables and columns

Tables and indexes

Displays any foreign key constraints for a selected table, including whether the constraint is enabled, referenced tables, and referenced keys.

Displays all columns for a selected table, including the data type, default value, whether it allows null values, and for SQL Server

2005 any extended properties.

Displays any indexes for a selected table, including the name, columns included in the index, and whether it is unique or clustered.

User-defined Reports

Report Name

Stored procedures

Description

Displays stored procedures for a selected database, including their status, status, replication information, schema version, statistics, and procedure text.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Report

Publish and Share Reports

Toad provides multiple ways to publish and share information with your business community. Use the following methods to publish and share information from the Project

Manager, Reports Manager, and Automation: l

Email reports and files, including Database Diagrams, Query Builder queries, SQL scripts, and results for reports, queries, and scripts.

Share reports and files in a central location such as the Toad shared folder.

Add reports and files to a ZIP folder or file.

Publish reports and files to a web site.

You can use the following methods to publish and share information:

To email from...

Project Manager

Reports Manager

Automation

To publish to a central location from...

Project Manager

Reports Manager

Do this...

Right-click a report or file and select Send To | Mail

Recipient.

Drag the Send Email activity to the Automation workflow and attach files as needed. The email is sent when the automation script executes.

Do this...

Automation

To send to a zip file...

Project Manager

Reports Manager

Automation

Right-click a report or file and select Send To | Toad

Shared. The file is sent to the Toad shared folder specified in

Tools | Options | Environment | Network Share.

Drag the Copy File activity to the automation workflow.

Specify the file to copy or move and a destination folder.

This can be any folder, including the Toad shared folder, or a network folder. The file is copied or moved when the automation script executes.

Do this...

Right-click a report or file and select Send To | Compressed

(zipped) Folder.

Note: This function requires that ZIP files be associated with the Compressed (zipped) Folders feature instead of WinZip or another ZIP file handler.

Drag the Zip File activity to the workflow. Add reports and files to the Zip file and specify a file name with a .zip

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Report

63 extension. The ZIP file can then be emailed with the Send

Email activity or copied with the Copy File activity.

Do this...

To publish to a web site...

Project Manager or

Reports Manager

Right-click a report or file and select Send To | Web

Publishing Wizard. Complete the wizard to specify a URL and directory for the file.

Tips: l

To export a Toad report to a file that can be read by other applications, double-click a report in the Reports Manager, click in the Report Preview window, select a file format, and add the file to a project. Share or publish the file using the Project

Manager functions.

To capture report results in a file, add the

Toad Report

automation activity. This activity runs a Toad report and saves the results in a file format you select. Share or publish the file using the Automation functions.

To execute and save a query in a file, add the Select To File automation activity. This activity runs a query or SQL script and exports the results to an Excel spreadsheet.

Share or publish the spreadsheet using the Automation functions.

Automate

Scenario: Automate a Query and Email the Report

Scenario

You need to create an Excel report that contains current regions and addresses and email it to your manager every week.

Note: This scenario uses the Toad Sample (Access) database that ships with Toad for

Data Analysts.

To automate a task for this scenario

1. Connect to the Toad Sample (Access) database in the Navigation Manager.

2. Enter the following statements in the Editor and save them to a single file named

AutomationTest.sql:

Select * from region;

Select * from address;

3. Select Tools | Automation from the menu.

4. To send yourself an email if an error occurs, click Settings in the Automation design window and enter the following:

Stop or continue on error

Send email when an error occurs

Compose Email

Select Stop On Error

Select this option.

Email Server

Settings

Click Compose Email and enter your email address in the

To and the From fields.

In the Compose Email form, click Email Server Settings and enter your SMTP server address and the port number.

5. Click the Select To File database activity in the toolbox to add it to the design window.

6. Click the File_1 activity and select Toad Sample Database in the connection field.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Automate

7. Click the File_1 activity and enter the following in the Activity Input window:

SQL file

Export file

Select AutomationTest.sql.

Select the following options: l

Destination—Ensure that the Excel file option is selected.

Then, select a folder and enter AutomationTestExcel as the file name.

Add Date/Time suffix to filename—Select this checkbox.

8. Click the Send Email file activity in the toolbox to add it to the design window.

9. Click the Send Email activity and enter the following in the Activity Input window:

From

Add

Attachments

Subject

Body

Enter your email address.

Click Add Attachments. Select AutomationTestExcel from

Activity Reports and click Add. Click the X in the upper-right corner of the dialog.

The file is added as an email attachment.

Enter Weekly Report.

Enter the following: Attached is a copy of the weekly regions and addresses report.

Click Email Server Settings and enter your SMTP server address and port number.

Server

Settings

10. Save the Automation script.

11. Click Test on the wizard bar to ensure that the script works. The automation script is compiled, then executed. All results display in the Log window.

12. Review the log and click the link to the Excel file generated to open the Excel file in Toad.

Notice that the results of each SQL statement are in a different worksheet.

13. To schedule the automation script to run at a later time, click Schedule on the wizard bar.

14. Complete the following fields:

Task Tab

Set password

Description

Click this button and enter and confirm your O/S password.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Automate

Schedule

Schedule task

Start time

Description

Select Once.

Select a time that is 2 minutes from the current time.

15. Check your email for confirmation of execution as well as the status of the job manager window.

Automate Tasks

Use Automation to schedule a single script to run reports and queries, save results in Excel spreadsheets, and distribute results to the business community via email. You can schedule scripts that perform long-running tasks to run when database activity is light.

You can also use variables in automation scripts. With variables, you can update information that may be different each time you run the script, such as the department name, revenue,

fiscal quarter, or product name. See "Use Variables in Automation" (page 83) for more information.

For example, assume you are an analyst at Nick's Flicks movie rentals. You need to run inventory and movie rental reports on a daily basis and distribute them to managers of the inventory department. Using Toad, you create an automation script that runs the reports, exports them to Excel spreadsheets, and emails the spreadsheets to the inventory department everyday at 2:00 AM.

Troubleshooting: l

If Toad displays a "Variable must be initialized before referencing itself" error, you

need to initialize the variable. See "Use System Automation Activities" (page 79) for more information.

You must surround a variable name with the # sign (for example, #sleep#).

Note: This topic focuses on information that may be unfamiliar to you. It does not include all step and field descriptions.

To automate tasks

1. Click Automate.

2. Select the Settings icon in the script design window to specify the script settings before building your script. Use the Activity details pane in the bottom portion of the

Automation window to enter your settings. Review the following for additional information:

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Automate

Activity

Input

Stop or continue on

Error

Send email when error occurs

Select Stop On Error to stop the script if an error occurs.

Use relative path to find

SQL files

Select this option to send an email on script error.

If selected, you must also click Compose Email to compose the email message and to edit the Email Server Settings.

Note: When you specify the error email settings, Toad saves your settings and uses them in all subsequent automation scripts.

Select to use a relative path that does not include the drive or full path for all activities in the script. This is useful if you want to share your automation scripts with colleagues, use them with version control, or place them on a shared network folder.

Select to embed the actual SQL from SQL files in the script.

This makes it easier to share the script with colleagues.

Embed

SQL into

Automation script

Truncate log

Run Mode

Select to overwrite the log file each time the script runs.

Select Test mode to run your script in test mode using the database connection specified under Test settings.

Select Production mode to run your script in production mode using the database connection specified under Production settings.

Note: The default connection is the currently active, open connection.

Activity Info

Name Enter a script name.

3. To build your script, click an activity in the Toolbox, or drag an activity from the

Toolbox to the Automation script design window. Repeat to add additional activities to your script.

Note: You must drag the activity to the , then release the mouse button after you see the activity's icon replace the .

4. For each activity in your script, select the activity in the design window and then

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Automate

68 specify the activity's properties in the Activity details pane.

See the following topics for details about each activity and its properties: l

Use Database Automation Activities (page 69)

Use File Automation Activities (page 73)

Use System Automation Activities (page 79)

Tip: You can save an activity and its properties as a template to reuse in other scripts.

Right-click the activity in the design window and select Save As Template. After you create the first template, a Templates toolbox displays.

Note: Click Settings in the design window at any time to go back and review the

Automation script settings.

5. When you finish building your script, select one of the following actions from the

Automation toolbar or the Wizard bar:

Add to Project

Save

Run

Schedule

Add an automation script to the current project in the

Project Manager. The script is automatically placed in the project's Automation Scripts folder.

Save an automation script (.tas) in a folder on a local or network drive.

Run an automation script before scheduling it. The script executes once and the execution log is displayed in the

Log window. Resolve any problems that cause activities to fail, or disable failed activities before scheduling the script.

Tips: l

Press F5 to run the automation script.

To view the script log, select the Log tab or select

View | Output.

Schedule an automation script in the Job Manager. You can schedule a script to execute once or to run periodically

at a defined interval. See "Execute Automation Scripts"

(page 90) for more information.

Tips: l

Double-click an activity in the script design window to open the Activity Properties pane in a format used in earlier versions of Toad.

Right-click within the script design window and select Print Script to print the script's workflow diagram.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Automate

Use Database Automation Activities

You can use the following activities in automation scripts.

Note: When building an automation script, you must have the appropriate connections open for database activities.

Tip: You can save an activity and its properties as a template to reuse in other scripts. Rightclick the activity in the design window and select Save As Template. After you create the first template, a Templates toolbox displays.

Activity

Database

Connection

Select to File

Description

In previous versions of Toad, the Database Connection activity was required in order to specify database connection details.

In the current version of Toad, the database connection details are specified in each activity's properties.

Notes: l

If the connection was open before the script ran, it closes the connection once the activities in the connection box are complete.

You can include connections for multiple databases in the same automation script.

Execute an existing SQL script or Query Builder query and export the results to an Excel, HTML, or CSV file. You can then use additional activities to add the exported result file to a zip file, attach the file to an email, or copy the file.

Review the following for additional information: l

Row count variable—Enter a name for the row count variable.

The value assigned to this variable equals the number of rows returned from the activity. You can use this variable with the

If..Condition.. and While system activities. See "Use Variables in Automation" (page 83) for more information on use cases for

this field.

SQL—Manually enter SQL or select a SQL script or Query

Builder query to run. For SQL scripts, you can create a new worksheet for the results of each SELECT statement in a script by entering GO after each statement.

Note: To manually enter SQL in the text box, deselect Link

SQL file.

Export file—Click the drop-down list to select the export file type. Then, select the file location and enter the name. You can use a variable in this field by entering the number sign before

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Activity

Execute Script

Select to

Editor with

Results

Description and after the variable (#VariableName#). If you select Excel

file, you can append the date and time that the file was generated to the file name as a suffix.

Note: You can only use one variable per field or file name (a suffix counts as one variable for a file name).

Execute an existing SQL script or Query Builder query.

Review the following for additional information: l

Row count variable—Enter a name for the row count variable.

The value assigned to this variable equals the number of rows returned from the activity. You can use this variable with the

If..Condition.. and While system activities. See "Use Variables in Automation" (page 83) for more information on use cases for

this field.

SQL—Manually enter SQL or select a SQL script or Query

Builder query to run. For SQL scripts, you can create a new worksheet for the results of each SELECT statement in a script by entering GO after each statement.

Result variable—Enter a name for the result variable, which contains a data table with the results of the execution script.

You can use the result variable with the Loop Dataset activity.

See "Use System Automation Activities" (page 79) for more information.

Execute an existing SQL script or Query Builder query and save it and any results sets in a Toad editor file (.tef).

This file format is useful for building scripts that have large result sets that you do not want to continue executing or for saving results when you have not finished building a script.

Review the following for additional information: l

Row count variable—Enter a name for the row count variable.

The value assigned to this variable equals the number of rows returned from the activity. You can use this variable with the

If..Condition.. and While system activities. See "Use Variables in Automation" (page 83) for more information on use cases for

this field.

SQL—Manually enter SQL or select a SQL script or Query

Builder query to run. For SQL scripts, you can create a new worksheet for the results of each SELECT statement in a script by entering GO after each statement. l

Editor File—Select the file location and enter the name. You can use a variable in this field by entering the number sign before and after the variable (#VariableName#).

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Activity Description l

Suffix—Select a suffix to append to the file name. The suffix can be the date and time that the file was generated or the content of a variable that you define with the Set Variable

system activity. See "Use System Automation Activities" (page

79) for more information.

Note: You can only use one variable per field or file name (a suffix counts as one variable for a file name).

Export Wizard Export data from databases, tables, views, or a query into a CSV,

Excel, or other file.

Review the following for additional information: l

Export template—You can select an existing template, edit an existing template, or create a new template.

Use automation connection—Select this option to use the connection associated with the database activity. Clear the checkbox to use the connection associated with the export template.

Import Wizard Import data from a CSV, Excel, or other file into a new table or append to an existing table.

Review the following for additional information: l

Import template—You can select an existing template, edit an existing template, or create a new template.

Use automation connection—Select this option to use the connection associated with the database activity. Clear the checkbox to use the connection associated with the import template.

Toad Report Use this activity to open one or more Toad data reports and export the contents as a PDF, HTML, Excel, CSV, RTF, or MHT file. You can then add another activity to your script to zip the new file, attach it to an email, or save it to a new location.

Review the following for additional information: l

Row count variable—Enter a name for the row count variable.

The value assigned to this variable equals the number of rows returned from the activity. You can use this variable with the

If..Condition.. and While system activities. See "Use Variables in Automation" (page 83) for more information on use cases for

this field.

Report files—Select one or more Toad data reports from the

Project Manager or other location, or edit an existing report.

Export file—Select the file type and location and enter the

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Activity

Toad Pivot

Grid

Clean Data

Description name. You can use a variable in this field by entering the number sign before and after the variable (#VariableName#).

Suffix—Select a suffix to append to the file name. The suffix can be the date and time that the file was generated or the content of a variable that you define with the Set Variable

system activity. See "Use System Automation Activities" (page

79) for more information.

Note: You can only use one variable per field or file name (a suffix counts as one variable for a file name).

Refresh an existing pivot grid and export results to an Excel, HTML, or CVS file. You can then add another activity to your script to zip the new file, attach it to an email, or copy it to a new location.

Review the following for additional information: l

Row count variable—Enter a name for the row count variable.

The value assigned to this variable equals the number of rows returned from the activity. You can use this variable with the

If..Condition.. and While system activities. See "Use Variables in Automation" (page 83) for more information on use cases for

this field.

Pivot file—Select a Toad pivot file from the Project Manager or other location, or edit an existing pivot file.

Export file—Select the file type and location and enter the name. You can use a variable in this field by entering the number sign before and after the variable (#VariableName#).

Suffix—Select a suffix to append to the file name. The suffix can be the date and time that the file was generated or the content of a variable that you define with the Set Variable

system activity. See "Use System Automation Activities" (page

79) for more information.

Note: You can only use one variable per field or file name (a suffix counts as one variable for a file name).

Execute data cleansing to create a new data set by filtering an existing data set or data source.

Review the following for additional information: l

Data cleansing creates a new, cleansed table and leaves the source table intact. Implement a data hub repository or some form of internal data store. Alternatively, you can specify a schema or database to create, or alter and drop tables.

Each data hub table needs a name and Test Representation

Language (TRL) representation. Groups of tables, data

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Activity Description validation actions, and the sequential flow between them are grouped and stored into projects displayed in the workbench.

Data Cleansing file—Select a data cleansing file or edit an existing file.

Row count variable—Enter a name for the row count variable.

The value assigned to this variable equals the number of rows returned from the activity. You can use this variable with the

If..Condition.. and While system activities. See "Use Variables in Automation" (page 83) for more information on use cases for

this field.

Export to file—Select a file location and enter the name. You can use a variable in this field by entering the number sign before and after the variable (#VariableName#).

Export to local storage—Select or create a database and table in local storage to receive cleansed data.

Notes: l

Status—Select Enabled to include the activity in script execution. Select

Disabled to disable the activity, for example, when testing other activities. Or right-click the activity in the design window and select/deselect Enabled.

Stop on Error—Allows you to select, for each activity, whether to stop or continue execution if Toad encounters an error.

Select the Log tab to review a script's execution log.

Automation does not support positional parameters denoted by a question mark.

For each activity, you can specify the database connection in the activity's properties. The default connection is the currently active, open connection.

Use File Automation Activities

You can use the following activities in automation scripts.

Activity

Copy File

Description

Copy or move one or more files to a shared folder where they can be accessed by your business community. You can copy or move a file generated by other activities in the automation script and overwrite an existing copy of a destination file.

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Activity

Delete File

Log Comment

Zip Files

Description

Review the following for additional information: l

Source file—Select a single file to copy, or use an asterisk

(*) as a wildcard to select multiple files in the same directory to copy.

Copy name—Enter the name. You can use a variable in this field by entering the number sign before and after the variable (#VariableName#).

Suffix—Select a suffix to append to the file name. The suffix can be the date and time that the file was generated or the content of a variable that you define with the Set

Variable system activity. See "Use System Automation

Activities" (page 79) for more information.

Move/Copy—Select Move to move a file from the source folder to a destination folder. Select Copy to copy the file to the destination folder.

Notes: l

If you want to use this activity for files generated by other automation activities, those activities must precede this one. The filenames and paths specified should match the directories and names displayed in properties for the preceding activities.

You can only use one variable per field or file name (a suffix counts as one variable for a file name).

Delete one or more files from a specified location. You can use this activity to delete files that are created earlier in the script.

Note: You can use an asterisk (*) in the FileName field as a wildcard to select multiple files in the same directory to delete.

Writes a comment to the scripts's log.

Create a zip file and add files to it. Files generated with other activities can be added to the zip file. You can then email the zip file to colleagues.

Review the following for additional information: l

Archive name—Select a location and name for the zip file.

You can use a variable in this field by entering the number sign before and after the variable (#VariableName#).

Encryption—Select whether to create a zip file without encryption (Standard) or to encrypt the zip file.

Note: If you encrypt the zip file, you must have a zip utility that can support 128-bit or 256-bit decryption.

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Activity

Find and Replace

Description l

Zip all files in this directory—Select a directory. All files in the directory will be included in the zip file.

Source files—Select one or more files. You can select files that are generated by the automation script.

Notes: l

You can only use one variable per field or file name (a suffix counts as one variable for a file name).

This activity opens one or more files and performs a find and replace within those files. You can write the results to a different location and file name.

Review the following for additional information: l

Find/Replace—You can have multiple Find/Replace tasks within one activity. You can specify a different set of properties for each Find/Replace task.

Source file—Select the file in which to perform the find and replace activity. To select multiple files for one

Find/Replace task, use standard wildcard characters in the file name.

Find—Enter the content to find.

Replace with—Select the type of replacement content: a value, contents from a file, or a variable.

Set value—Enter the replacement value, enter the replacement variable, or select a file containing replacement content.

You can use a variable in this field by entering the number sign before and after the variable (#VariableName#). In the following example, if variable X has a value of 10, the updated file would display "Region 10" instead of

"Region".

Save file—Select a location and file name.

Default file is the source file.

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Activity

Send Email

Description l

Suffix—Select a suffix to append to the file name. The suffix can be the date and time that the file was generated or the content of a variable that you define with the Set

Variable system activity. See "Use System Automation

Activities" (page 79) for more information.

Notes: l

You can only use one variable per field or file name (a suffix counts as one variable for a file name).

Use drag and drop or up/down arrows to change the order of multiple Find/Replace tasks in one activity.

Send an email to notify yourself or colleagues about the automation script status. The message automatically includes execution status for each activity that precedes the email activity.

You can also attach files generated by other activities and include a log file or error messages in the email.

Note: To use this activity, an SMTP service must be running.

Review the following for additional information: l

Enter recipient email address, subject line, and body text.

Email Server Settings—Specify SMTP server name and port.

Default settings are the Email Server Settings specified in

Settings properties.

Add Attachments—Click to add files created by this script or to browse for other files to add as attachments.

Use file for body—Select a file to use as the body of the email. This is useful if you need to send an email to a mobile device that does not support attachments. For example, you could send the results of an Execute Script activity in the body of the email.

If you use the Toad Report activity, you can select

HTML as the output format type. You can then select that

HTML file as the body for the email to produce a more professional looking email version of the report.

You can also customize the file with the Find and Replace activity.

Notes:

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Activity

FTP File

Run Automation

Script

Description l

For the To, CC, Subject, and Body fields: You can use a variable in this field by entering the number sign before and after the variable (#VariableName#).

You can only use one variable per field or file name (a suffix counts as one variable for a file name).

Upload or download a file using an FTP or SFTP connection.

Review the following for additional information: l

Select an FTP connection—Select an FTP connection or define a new connection.

Transfer ONLY if—Select this option to set conditions for

FTP transfer, and then select a condition from the list. If you select this option, the FTP activity only runs if the conditions you specify are met. For example, you would select remote file exists if a vendor uploads a file to the

FTP site containing a mailing list l

Local directory—If you selected local directory exists or

local file exists, select the local directory to check.

Local file—If you selected local file exists, enter the name of the local file.

Remote directory—If you selected remote directory exists or remote file exists, select the remote directory to check.

Remote file—If you selected remote file exists, enter the name of the remote file.

Define Operations—Review the following for additional information: o Use file mask—Select this option if you want to match files that use the file mask specified in the

File mask field at the bottom of this page.

o Move files—Select whether to move the files from the source location to the target location when uploading or downloading the files.

Run another automation script in your current automation script.

Review the following for additional information: l

Automation script—Select an automation script (.tas file).

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Activity

Compare Data

Description l

Return code—Enter a variable name, such as "RC," for the return code. Return code values are: o 0 = Successful execution o 999 = An error occurred during execution o 111 = An error occurred, but you selected continue on error.

You can use this variable with the If..Condition activity.

Open a Toad data compare project and export the contents as a

PDF, HTML, Excel, CSV, RTF, or MHT file.

Project file—Select a Toad data compare project file.

Report file—Select a file location, file name, and file type for the export file.

Suffix—Select a suffix to append to the file name. The suffix can be the date and time that the file was generated or the content of a variable that you define with the Set

Variable system activity. See "Use System Automation

Activities" (page 79) for more information.

Visualize Data Open a Toad data visualization project, refresh the chart, and export contents as a PDF, HTML, image, Excel, RTF, or MHT.

Data Visualization document—Select a Toad data visualization file (.tdv).

Output file—Select a file location, file name, and file type for the export file.

Suffix—Select a suffix to append to the file name. The suffix can be the date and time that the file was generated or the content of a variable that you define with the Set

Variable system activity. See "Use System Automation

Activities" (page 79) for more information.

Notes: l

Status—Select Enabled to include the activity in script execution. Select

Disabled to disable the activity, for example, when testing other activities. Or right-click the activity in the design window and select/deselect Enabled.

Stop on Error—Allows you to select, for each activity, whether to stop or continue execution if Toad encounters an error.

Select the Log tab to review a script's execution log.

Automation does not support positional parameters denoted by a question mark.

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Use System Automation Activities

You can use the following activities in automation scripts.

Activity

Run Program

Set Variable

Description

Run a program with optional command-line arguments. Review the following for additional information: l

Program—Select a .bat or .exe file.

Arguments—Enter command-line arguments. You can also enter a variable, such as #sleep# in this field.

Note: If you want to run a macro in Access, enter

databasename /x macroname in this field. For example, if you have a macro that beeps and runs in your Northwind database, you would enter Northwind 2007.accdb /x beep. l

Run Directory—Select the directory to change to when running the program.

Return Code Variable—Enter a name for the return code variable. You can use this variable with the If..Condition

activity.

Verb—Enter verbs used when running the program, such as

"Print".

Wait for program to exit—Select this option to pause if there is an error. Select duration of wait time in minutes.

Note: If the script opens a command-line window, you must manually close the window once the script completes.

Add one or more variables to the script. When you execute the script,

Toad replaces the variable with the defined value. With this feature, you can update information that may be different each time you run the script, such as the department name, revenue, fiscal quarter, or product name.

Review the following for additional information:

Value—Select this option to specify a value for the variable or to build a variable expression. Click to build an expression. Build your expression by selecting from the list of variables, operators, and functions. (Click a list name in the left pane to display the items in the right pane. Double-click an item to add it.) Click Test to test the expression. See the following link for more information on VBScript functions: http://www.w3schools.com/VBscript/vbscript_ref_

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Activity

If..Condition

While..

Description functions.asp

SQL—Select or enter a variable value, you can enter a SQL statement to use as the variable. If you enter a statement, the value from the first row and column returned in the query is used as the variable value.

This is useful if you need a variable with a date.

See "Use Variables in Automation" (page 83) for more information.

Note: You can only use one variable per field or file name (a suffix counts as one variable for a file name).

Execute activities conditionally based on the value of a variable. For each condition you can define unique activities, such as connecting to a database, generating files, and sending emails.

To use this activity you must define a variable in the automation script with the Set Variable activity.

This activity can have one or more conditions. To delete a condition, select it and press DELETE. To add a condition, right-click the

If..Condition.. activity and select Add Branch. If you have multiple conditions, they do not have to be mutually exclusive. Multiple branches can be true.

Build condition expression—To define a condition, enter the variable name and expression in the expression field. Build your expression by selecting from the list of variables, operators, and functions. (Click a list name in the left pane to display the items in the right pane. Double-click an item to add it.) Click Test to test the expression. See the following link for more information on VBScript functions: http://www.w3schools.com/VBscript/vbscript_ref_functions.asp

Execute activities while the variable condition is true. The activity ends when the condition becomes false, or when it completes the selected number of loops.

To use this activity you must define a variable in the automation script with the Set Variable activity.

This activity can have one or more conditions. To delete a condition, select it and press DELETE. To add a condition, right-click the

If..Condition.. activity and select Add Branch. If you have multiple conditions, they do not have to be mutually exclusive. Multiple branches can be true.

Review the following for additional information: l

Build condition expression—To define a condition, enter the variable name and expression in the field. Build your expression by selecting from the list of variables, operators, and functions. (Click a list name in the left pane to display the

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Activity

Loop dataset

Description items in the right pane. Double-click an item to add it.) Click

Test to test the expression. See the following link for more information on VBScript functions: http://www.w3schools.com/VBscript/vbscript_ref_functions.asp

Loop—Enter the number of times to loop the activity. If the condition never becomes false, Toad ends the activity after this number. The default is 10.

Execute activities on each row of a data table. The data table must be the result set from an Execute Script activity that occurs previously in

the automation script. See "Use Database Automation Activities" (page

69) for more information.

You can reference a column in the data table by setting the value of an initialized variable to 'DataTableName.ColumnName'. To initialize a variable, your script must have two different Set Variable activities.

The first Set Variable activity defines the variable value with a numeric value (such as 0 or 1.53), and the second defines it with the column variable name.

For example, assume you want to perform a set of activities on each of your company's products. You add the following activities and values: l

Execute Script—Execute a script that returns product IDs. You enter ProductIDTable in the Results variable field.

Set Variable—Add activity to give the variable an initial value.

You enter ID in the Name field and 0 in the Value field.

Loop dataset—Loop based on the dataset from the Execute

Script activity. You enter ProductIDTable in the Data Table field.

Set Variable—Add a second variable activity to reference the

Product_ID column in the data table. You enter ID in the Name field and ProductIDTable.Product_ID in the Value field. This redefines the values of the ID variable to the values in the

Product_ID column.

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Activity Description

Pause

See "Use Variables in Automation" (page 83) for more information on

a scenario that uses this activity.

Stops an activity for a set number of seconds before continuing. This is useful, for example, if you are using parallel activities and need to pause one branch while waiting for results or the complete execution of another branch.

Use this activity to group and organize two or more activities together.

Group

Activities

Parallel Run two or more activities in parallel. After adding a parallel activity to the design pane, you can right-click it to add additional branches for parallel activities.

Notes: l

Status—Select Enabled to include the activity in script execution. Select

Disabled to disable the activity, for example, when testing other activities. Or right-click the activity in the design window and select/deselect Enabled.

Stop on Error—Allows you to select, for each activity, whether to stop or continue execution if Toad encounters an error.

Select the Log tab to review a script's execution log.

Automation does not support positional parameters denoted by a question mark.

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Use Variables in Automation

Variables are a powerful feature that allow you to change data in your script or use a dataset collected from an activity in the automation script. For example, you can use variables to perform the following tasks: l

Send an email to a group of people where the list of recipients is automatically selected with a query.

Generate repetitive reports where only the product number, date, region, or other single element changes.

Customize file names by including a variable in the file name or automatically including the date that the automation script ran.

Find content in a file and replace it with the value of a variable.

Note: You must surround a variable name with the # sign (for example, #sleep#).

Generate Reports per Product

(Use the Loop Dataset Activity)

This scenario describes generating a report for each product, but you can use variables for a variety of reporting purposes: l

Report on warehouse inventory—query warehouse inventory with the inventory number as the variable, and then use the If..Condition.. activity to create different reports for items with no inventory, low inventory, and high inventory.

Report on revenue for each fiscal quarter—create a query with the fiscal quarter as the variable.

Report on revenue per sales person—create a query with the sales person's name or identification as the variable.

Scenario

Your Sales Manager wants a separate sales report for each of the company's products every week. He wants you to email the reports to him after they are generated.

To provide the reports to the Sales Manager, you need to create the product queries and the sales report. Then, you can use them in an automation script to run the queries, generate reports, and email the

Sales Manager every week.

To generate reports per product

1. Use the Query Builder to create a query that returns the product IDs.

2. Save the query and name it ProductIDQuery.tsm.

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3. Use the Query Builder to create a query that returns the sales information for products and enter the following search criteria in the specified columns:

Column

Product_ID

Order_Date

Search Criteria

Click in the Where Condition field. Select = and then Constant. Enter :ID in the field to define the variable.

Click in the Where Condition field. Select the Date

Range tab and then Last week.

4. Save the query and name it ProductSalesQuery.tsm.

5. Click Run Query and enter a value for the ID variable. The query results display.

6. Right-click the query results and select Send To | Data Report Designer.

7. Create the data report.

8. Save the report and name it ProductSalesPerWeek.tdr.

9. Close the report.

10. Click Automate to create a new automation script.

11. Click the Execute Script activity to add it to the Design pane and complete the following fields:

SQL file

Variable

Select ProductIDQuery.tsm.

Enter ProductIDTable.

12. Click the Set Variable activity and complete the following fields:

Name

Variable value

Enter ID.

Enter 0. Entering a number initializes the variable, which is required before you can redefine the value to another variable.

13. Click the Loop dataset activity and enter ProductIDTable in the Data Table field.

This loops activities on the content of the ProductIDQuery.tsm query.

14. Click the Set Variable activity to add a second variable and drag it into the Loop row.

15. Complete the following fields for the new Set Variable activity:

Name

Variable value

Enter ID.

Enter ProductIDTable.Product_ID. This uses the content of the Product_ID column in the

ProductIDTable table as the values for the variable.

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16. Click the Database Connection activity and drag it into the Loop row beneath the Set

Variable activity.

17. Click the Toad Report activity and drag it into the new Database Connection activity.

18. Complete the following fields in the Toad Report activity:

Report files

Export files

Select ProductSalesPerWeek.tdr.

Select the file location and enter SalesForProduct#ID# for the file name. When the automation script runs, it replaces #ID# with the variable value.

Note: You can only use one variable per field or file name (a suffix counts as one variable for a file name).

19. Click the Send Email activity and drag it beneath the Database Connection activity in the Loop row.

20. Enter the following information and then complete the remaining required fields for the Send Email activity:

Subject

Body

Add Attachments

Enter the Sales Manager's email address.

Enter Weekly sales report for product #ID#. When the automation script runs, it replaces #ID# with the variable value.

Enter the following: Attached is the weekly sales report for product #ID#. See the attached file.

Select the file created in the Toad Report activity and click Add.

21. Click Test to ensure that the script works. The following image displays the automation script in the Design pane:

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If ProductIDQuery.tsm returns five product IDs, Toad creates a report and sends an email for each one. If the first product ID is 101, the first email would have the following properties:

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Attachments

Subject

Body

SalesForProduct101.xls

Weekly sales report for product 101

Attached is the weekly sales report for product 101. See the attached file.

22. Save the automation script.

23. Schedule the automation script to run weekly. See "Execute Automation Scripts"

(page 90) for more information.

Find Unbatched Transactions

(Use the Row Count Field and If..Condition.. Activity)

Scenario

Your company has a web site that customers use to order products.

The orders are automatically batched, and each order is recorded as a row of data. When the batch is sent, it updates a column in the order row.

You need to run a daily report to find orders that were submitted but not batched. If there are any unbatched orders, you need to send an email to yourself with a list of the unbatched orders. If there are no unbatched orders, you need to send an email to yourself so you know that all orders were batched successfully.

To generate a daily report of unbatched orders

1. Save the query and name it UnbatchedOrders.tsm.

2. Click Automate to create a new automation script.

3. Click the Execute Script activity to add it to the Design pane and complete the following fields:

Row count variable

SQL file

Enter rc.

Select UnbatchedOrders.tsm.

4. Click the If..Condition.. activity.

5. Complete the following steps to define the first condition: a. Select the first condition and enter rc=0 in the Build condition

expression field.

b. Click the Send Email activity and drag it into the first condition.

c. Complete the required Send Email activity fields and enter No unbatched

orders in the Subject field.

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6. Complete the following steps to define the second condition: a. Select the second condition and enter rc>0 in the Build condition

expression field.

b. Click the Database Connection activity and drag it into the second condition.

c. Click the Select to File activity and drag it into the Database Connection activity in the second condition.

d. Complete the following Select to File activity fields:

SQL file

Export file

Select UnbatchedOrders.tsm.

Click the drop-down and complete the following: l

Excel file—Select this option, and then select the file location and enter

UnbatchedOrders_ for the file name.

Use column names for header row—Select this option and select a header row color.

Add Date/Time suffix to filename—Select this option and then select Date in the drop-down. This option appends the date the automation script ran to the file name.

e. Click the Send Email activity and drag it beneath the Select to File activity.

f. Enter the following information and then complete the remaining required fields for the Send Email activity:

Attachments

Subject

Body

Select the file created in the Select to File activity and click Add.

Enter #rc# unbatched order(s). When the automation script runs, it replaces #rc# with the variable value.

Enter the following: There were #rc# unbatched orders. See the attached file for more information.

7. Click Test to ensure that the script works. The following image displays the automation script in the Design pane:

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Automate

If there are no unbatched orders, Toad executes the first condition and sends an email with "No unbatched orders" in the subject . If there are unbatched orders, Toad executes the second condition. If there are two unbatched orders and you test on

December 10, 2009, the email would have the following properties:

Attachments

Subject

Body

UnbatchedOrders_2009-12-10.xls

2 unbatched orders

There were 2 unbatched orders. See the attached file for more information.

8. Save the automation script.

9. Schedule the automation script to run daily. See "Execute Automation Scripts" (page

90) for more information.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Automate

Execute Automation Scripts

You can execute automation scripts on demand from the Automation window or the

Project Manager. You can also schedule scripts to run on a recurring basis at a specific time. For example, schedule a script that performs long-running tasks to run when database activity is light.

To schedule an automation script

1. With a script open in Automation, click Schedule in the Wizard bar. A Windows

Scheduler task is created for the script and a task properties window displays. See

Schedule Windows Tasks for more information.

2. Select scheduling options in the Schedule tab of the task properties window.

3. After the script executes, to view the script's execution log, select View | Output or select the Log tab in the script's open Automation window.

Note: When you view the Toad Event Log in the Output window, all log content moves to that window. As a result, the log is cleared.

To execute a script from the Automation window

1. Click Test in the Wizard bar. The script is compiled and executes immediately.

2. To view the script's execution log, select the Log tab.

3. If you want to schedule the script, first resolve any problems that caused activities to fail or disable failed activities. An activity can be disabled from its Activity

Info window.

Tip: To execute a script from the Project Manager, right-click the script and select Execute.

Appendix: Contact Quest

Contact Quest Support

Quest Support is available to customers who have a trial version of a Quest product or who have purchased a Quest product and have a valid maintenance contract. Quest Support provides unlimited 24x7 access to SupportLink, our self-service portal. Visit SupportLink at http://support.quest.com

From SupportLink, you can do the following: l

Retrieve thousands of solutions from our online Knowledgebase l

Download the latest releases and service packs l

Create, update and review Support cases

View the Global Support Guide for a detailed explanation of support programs, online services, contact information, policies and procedures. The guide is available at: http://support.quest.com

Toad Community

Get the latest product information, find helpful resources, and join a discussion with the Toad for Data Analysts team and other community members. Join the Toad for Data Analysts community at http://tda.inside.quest.com/index.jspa

Contact Quest Software

Mail [email protected]

Quest Software, Inc.

World Headquarters

5 Polaris Way

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

USA

Web site www.quest.com

See our web site for regional and international office information.

Toad for Data Analysts User Guide

Contact Quest Support

About Quest Software

Quest Software simplifies and reduces the cost of managing IT for more than 100,000 customers worldwide. Our innovative solutions make solving the toughest IT management problems easier, enabling customers to save time and money across physical, virtual and cloud environments. For more information about Quest go to www.quest.com

Index

A activities, automation automation database activities execute automation scripts file activities system activities variables

B build queries create cross-connection queries reverse engineer queries

C code automating shortcut keys view result sets connections create ODBC share for all session windows understand contact support cross-connection queries

D data browse parent tables compare differences