Tech Tip: Connect to SQL Server Using Oracle SQL Developer
I spend a lot of time reverse engineering client databases to see what kind of design they are working with or to simply create a data model diagram for them (so they know what they have).
Along the way I often need to actually look at the data as well to do some analysis and profiling.
Often this means looking at data and models in SQL Server as well as Oracle.
What’s an Oracle Data Warrior to do?
Hook up my FREE handy dandy Oracle SQL Developer to the SQL Server database.
How do you do that?
First you need to get the right driver. You can find it here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/jtds/files/jtds/1.2.5/jtds-1.2.5-dist.zip/download
Then follow these steps:
- Download and unzip the file into the main SQL Developer directory (or the directory of your choice).
- In SQL Developer go to Tools -> Preferences -> Database -> Third party JDBC Drivers
- Click the “add entry” button
- Navigate to the jtds-1.2.5.jar file.
- Save and exit preferences.
- Close and restart SQL Developer
- Open “Add Connection” – there should now be a SQL Server tab.
SQL Developer Preferences
With this in place, you can now connect to SQL Server without having to load any other software.
Pretty useful.
Happy Querying!
Kent
P.S. You can connect to other non-Oracle dbs as well. Check out this post by Jeff Smith for even more details.
Thanks much Kent. Perfect timing.
You are welcome!
I set my machine up this way quite some time ago, being an Oracle bigot I am embarrassed to say I like SSMS better than SQL Developer for connecting to SQL Server.
George M. Laframboise LightWorx Technology Consulting 303-517-2454 Sent from iPhone
I like the fact that I can be connected to both an Oracle and a SQL Server db at the same time. Very helpful for my data warehouse type work. But I can imagine that using the native tool for SQL Server would be superior for some activities.
Hi Kent,
it’s also worth to mention how you can adjust connection string, because SQL Developer doesn’t allow to do it through GUI, one has to edit file %USERPORFILE%\AppData\Roaming\SQL Developer\system3.2.09.23\o.jdeveloper.db.connection.11.1.1.4.37.59.48\connections.xml
Thanks for the tip Alex!