SQLMinus - a far friendlier SQL client

What is SQLMinus ?

• auto-linking across tables
• dependency discovery
• simple, intuitive and powerful keys to sort columns and filter data
• tab-completion of table and column names
• expansion of abbreviations (as in vi)
• expansion of previously entered words (as in vim)
• User may select tables and columns from combo lists and construct an SQL. Does auto-joining of fields, thus making SQL construction very easy
• preferences may be configured by user in file, or specified during session
• creation of create, insert, update script from table metadata
• creation of create index scripts by just selecting table and keys
• creation of other scripts (e.g. primary key) by just selecting table and columns
• allow user to add new script templates that will generate scripts on selecting tables and columns
• data presented in text format or tabular format (JTable). Multiple tables may be viewed
• Allows reflection of java.sql classes and the database meta data
• User may save command or output area to file and read the same from
  a file
• User can run a batch command from a file. If the driver does not
  support batched SQLs, then they would be issued individually
• User may define an SQL statement to be executed for multiple tables
  (such as if a user wants to see the count of rows in many tables one
  by one, or all data in a table one by one)
• Can auto-construct a query based on table/s and field/s selected in combo.
  Will automatically create joins on identically named fields.
• One may specify links between tables in the ini file. When
  auto-constructing an SQL, descriptive fields such as person_name or
  dept_name will also be picked from the master table. See the ini
  file for an example of a link.
  
  # specify automatic sort on a table
  sort EMPLOYEE:DEPTCODE,EMPID
  
  
  # specify automatic join on a table
  
  
  # link projectcode of PROJECTRESOURCES with the same field of
  # PROJECT and show PROJECTNAME
  link PROJECTRESOURCES:PROJECTCODE:PROJECT:PROJECTCODE:PROJECTNAME
  
  
  # link EMPID with EMPID and print EMPNAME
  link PROJECTRESOURCES:EMPID:EMPLOYEE:EMPID:EMPNAME
  
• preferences can be specific to database or product or user (using
  hooks as in mutt)
• SQLs can be set as bookmarks which will appear in Bookmarks menu,
  or can be loaded from a file in XML format.
• regular expression searching in results
• paging of results
• intelligent linking across tables
• define your own keystrokes for actions
• Has been used on both Oracle and mysql
• Updating/deleting data in table view: the data tables are readonly, however, if you select a row, and press Table - Update Action, the sql to update that row will be appended into the input area. Similarly, you can press Delete Action etc. Then you modify the sql and run it.

Who is SQLMinus meant for?

What are the prerequisites?

• java 1.4
  
• Jakarta-oro package in classpath (go to jakarta-apache.org).
  
• XML Parser such as jaxp.jar and crimson.jar in classpath, used
  for the bookmarks file. (Not required if you use 1.4)
  
• a jdbc driver for a database (jdbc 2.0 preferable)
  

Downloading SQLMinus

How do I install ?

• add jakarta-ORO and the jdbc driver to your classpath
  
• add jaxp.jar and crimson.jar in your classpath (required for java 1.3 or lower).
  
• Make a copy of the mysql.ini file
  
• Edit the mysql.ini file and replace DRIVER with the name of
  your jdbc driver (it will usually start with "org.")
  Also modify the user id and password
  Modify the DSN, which helps this program connect to the database
  server. The driver documentation should help you with this. You will
  need to know the IP address and port of the database.
  

How to I run the tool?

What does the name SQLMinus mean?

What about Stability/ Bugs?

What about speed/efficiency?

What does it not provide?

How does it stack up to other clients?

• sqlplus - it lacks some functionality of sqlplus, but is far easier to use. sqlminus can connect to all database that have a jdbc driver.
• toad - toad is far better in many ways, but isn't free. It may still only run on Windows. Again, sqlminus does many things better.
• tora - tora has a lot more functionality, but sqlminus does the things i do, better than tora
• fredy's admin - cant remember, just tried it once or so.
• henplus- great for telnet session. CUI. Handles multiple sessions at one time using sub-shells. sqlminus is far friendlier.

Anyone using SQLMinus?

How can I help?

How does it look ?