Method R Trace

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.

A quick video introduction to Method R Trace

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:

  1. Enable Oracle tracing at the level you have configured in the Method R Trace preferences.
  2. Execute the script in the current SQL Developer worksheet.
  3. Disable Oracle tracing.
  4. Find your Oracle trace file.
  5. 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.
  6. Transfer the extracted trace data to your local workstation.
  7. 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.
Absolutely blown away by how simple yet effective it is.

John Scott · APEX Evangelists

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.

How to move files from Method R Trace into Method R Workbench

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.