Method R Trace is a zero-click trace file collector for Oracle SQL Developer. It brings you trace files, automatically. No searching. No clicking. No bother.
Method R Trace is an extension for Oracle SQL Developer. It adds a Method R Trace panel with a button to control automatic tracing of scripts run in a SQL Developer worksheet, and a button for choosing where to store the trace files you create.
Method R Trace is simple to operate, but it does a lot of work for you. When Method R Trace is enabled, Oracle SQL Developer automatically executes all of the following steps, fast, each time you click the Run Script button:
- Enable Oracle tracing at the level you have configured in the Method R Trace preferences.
- Execute the script in the current SQL Developer worksheet.
- Disable Oracle tracing.
- Find your Oracle trace file.
- Extract the trace data for the most recent script execution from your Oracle session’s trace file, along with all relevant cursor definitions and row source operations.
- Transfer the extracted trace data to your local workstation.
- Display attributes of the download in the Method R Trace panel.
Once your file appears in your file system, it is easy to load the file into the Method R Workbench application. Or you can open it with any application you choose.
Wow… Just wow.
John Scott · APEX Evangelists
Absolutely blown away by how simple yet effective it is.
Integration with Method R Workbench
Method R Trace is a trace file collector. Once you’ve collected a file, you’re probably going to want to feed that file to another software tool to analyze it. Method R Trace is designed to work best with the Method R Workbench application.
By controlling what directory Method R Trace will put your next trace file in, right from the Method R Trace panel, you can make it easy to feed files to Method R Workbench. Create directories to keep your trace files organized by project, application, and function, and instruct Method R Trace to put your files right where they belong. Then just load those files from your file manager (Finder, Explorer, …) into the Workbench files pane.
Specifications
Design imperatives: (1) automatically collect precisely-scoped Oracle extended SQL trace data when the user executes the SQL Developer Run Script feature; (2) fetch the appropriate trace data from the database server to the SQL Developer workstation; (3) organize your trace files in the workstation’s file system for easy retrieval and transfer to Method R Workbench.
Architecture: Method R Trace is an Oracle SQL Developer extension.
Platforms: Method R Trace runs on any platform where Oracle SQL Developer runs.
Output: Oracle extended SQL trace files, which may include Oracle event 10046 trace data.
Side effects: Method R Trace creates Oracle extended SQL trace files on the Oracle Database server. There are no controls within Method R Trace for deleting those files.
Workflow: Users trace SQL or PL/SQL programs executed within SQL Developer, and those trace files are automatically copied to the user’s workstation. The files are then processed with another application, such as Method R Workbench.
Interfaces: Method R Trace creates a panel and some controls within SQL Developer. It uses SQL Developer’s Oracle Database connections.
Internationalization: All controls and documentation are English language.
Integration: Drag-and-drop integration with its operating system and other applications (e.g., Finder, Explorer, Method R Workbench).
Database components: Creation of Oracle database objects is required. These objects are documented within an installation script that is distributed with the product.
Installation prerequisites: Method R Trace requires a running Oracle SQL Developer installation (4.2 or later) connected to an Oracle instance (10g or later) and a handful of database objects. Installation instructions are available here.
Documentation: Documentation is available here.
Version history: Detailed release notes are available here.
License key: Method R Trace requires a valid license key to run. A license key is valid for a pre-defined duration. A trial license key differs from a full license key only in duration.