Database Navigator

The DBNavigator is a powerful utility tool that allows the users a way of navigating between tables inside a database, and performing different operations on the tables. In addition to the First, Last, Next, and Previous buttons, the DBNavigator also allows editing, and has options for Commit, RollBack, Insert, Delete and Refresh.

It provides the essential functionality every database application needs. Buttons like Table, View and Synonym are optional and can be mixed and matched at will.

DBNavigator is a cross platform database tool relying 100% on the JDBC, Java Database Connectivity API's.

The following sections describe the functionality of the DBNavigator and how to work with it.

Requirements

Access to a database

An appropriate JDBC 2.0 driver

Java runtime environment

Resources available on the active Desk. If the active Desk does not contain any resource, the DBNavigator does not contain any resource and a message is displayed on the Status Bar.

While working with the DBNavigator, if you want to view the resources on another Desk, make that Desk the active Desk, close the current session of DBNavigator and reopen it again.

Using the DBNavigator

Click on Tools > DBNavigator on the main menu to bring up the DBNavigator. A few of the benefits of the DBNavigator are:

builds database demos quickly and easily

works with all the major databases - (SQL, Oracle, Cloudscape, Postgres, MySql, Informix)

navigation between records in tables

immediate validation of database design

The DBNavigator dialog that comes up displays all the resources and its tables that exist in the Desk. The following buttons can be used to view the tables, views and synonyms existing in the database.

Table Clicking on the

button on the left side of the dialog displays all the tables existing in the database. This is by default, enabled.

View Clicking on the

button displays the list of database objects view in the database. This button, by default is disabled. A view is a database object made up of columns from one or more database tables, combined into one logical table.

Synonym Clicking on the

button displays the synonyms available in the database. This button, by default is disabled. A synonym is another name assigned to a table for easy identification.

While referring to tables residing in other accounts or databases, it may be convenient to define a synonym for the long string of identifiers. If a table name changes, simply redefining the synonym is required, rather than rewriting all related queries.

Filter Enter the filter and press on the Get button to view only the required number of tables, views or synonyms in the DBNavigator.

To view all tables starting with the letters IS, type is* in this field and click "Get". This displays all the tables starting with IS in the Tables field.

To view all the existing tables in the database, type * in the Table Filter field.

Using the Data Tab

On selection of a table node on the left side of the dialog, two tabs - Data and Schema are displayed on the right side of the dialog. Select the relevant table node on the left side of the dialog and use the following options to edit and view the data in the Data tab.

The Data tab is selected by default, and it displays all data and data related operations that can be performed.

Insert Row Click on the

icon to add a new blank row at the end of all existing rows in the table. In the row that gets added, enter the field descriptions.

Delete Row Select the row to be deleted and click on the

icon. This removes the row from the table.

Commit Click on the

icon to commit the updates with all the additions, modifications, or deletions defined in the Data tab to the database. Ensure that all the changes are required before using the commit button, as it cannot be undone. Individual tables also cannot be selected and committed.

RollBack Clicking on the

icon rolls back to restore tables and columns to their database definitions (the state they were in at the time of the last commit, or if you have not performed a commit, to their status at the time you first included them in the Data tab).

First Clicking on the

icon button takes the user to the first page of the table. Each page displays a maximum of fifty rows.

Last Clicking on the

icon button takes the user to the last page of the table.

Previous Clicking on the

icon button takes the user to the previous page of the table.

Next Clicking on the

icon button takes the user to the next page of the table.

Viewing the Schema tab

The second tab is Schema. A schema refers to a collection of database objects, such as tables or views, that are defined in your database. The Schema tab in the DBNavigator is a tool that allows you to view the all the database object details. The details that can be viewed in this tab are Column Name, SQL Type, Length, Precision, and Constraint. The fields in this tab are not editable.

Loading a Database Script File

Clicking on any of the resource nodes on the left side of the dialog, brings up a new panel on the right side with the options Load..., Save As, and Run. Clicking on the Load... button brings up the file browser, where the database script file to be loaded can be selected. Select the file that contains the SQL script that can be executed on a resource; and contains queries that are seperated by semicolons.

Select the database and click on Open. This loads the database in the DBNavigator.

Saving a Database Script File

After loading the database script file in the DBNavigator, click on the Save As button. This brings up the Save dialog, where browse for the appropriate location for saving the script file, name it and click on the Save button.

Running a Database Script File

To run a database script file from the DBNavigator, load it and click on the Run button. This connects to the database and runs it.

Any SQL query be executed by clicking on Run, provided the SQL query is written in the space provided.

Enter the command, Select * from PROTONACCOUNT and then click on Run view the result in the space below.