SQLcl 24.2 Is Out! Here’s Everything You Need To Know and More

[Download SQLcl 24.2: HERE]

Hope everyone is having a nice start to the summer! SQLcl 24.2 is now officially out. Here’s what’s new.

Summary

This release we have new features surrounding directory stacks, automatic workload repository reports, connections, and the new Oracle Database 23ai domains feature. There is also a list of bug fixes provided at the bottom of this post.

For logging any bugs and issues you encounter you can do so through the My Oracle Support portal and if you have any specific SQLcl questions you can always reach out to me at zachary.talke@oracle.com

The Cliff Notes

• You can get the download HERE

• Commands added to create and manage a list of directories you can shortcut to through a directory stack.

• awr command added that creates and retrieves automatic workload repository (AWR) reports.

• Option added to pass custom TNS Location when starting up SQLcl from your operating system’s command prompt.

• Support added for saving proxy connections in named connections.

• If connection attempts fail there is no longer a retry prompt and you will need to input the startup or connect command again.

• -thin parameter added to the sql startup command. This sets SQLcl to use the JDBC drivers.

• Run oraversion to display the database version of your current connection.

• describe and info commands now include the new domains feature introduced in Oracle Database 23ai in column definitions.

The Details

Directory Stack

We’ve added commands to create and manage a list of directories you can shortcut to through a directory stack. These are very similar to the Bash Directory Stack Commands.

dirs displays the list of currently saved directories.

pushd adds directories to the stack.

popd removes directories from the stack.

Automatic Workload Repository (AWR) Command

An awr command has been added that creates and retrieves automatic workload repository (AWR) reports. These reports provide metrics on the database’s workload, performance, and resource usage.

Connections

An option has been added to pass a custom TNS (transparent network substrate) Location when starting up SQLcl from your operating system’s command prompt.

• Note that this is for the sql startup command, not the connect command you use to connect to your database if you are already in SQLcl through sql /nolog

• To access this new option use the new -tnsadmin parameter as part of the sql startup command.

-thin parameter added to the sql startup command. This sets SQLcl to use the JDBC drivers.

• If neither the -thick or -thin parameter is set and there is an ORACLE_HOME it will attempt thick

Support has been added for saving proxy connections in named connections.

• Create a new named connection via the connect command and the -save parameter.

• List your named connections with connmgr list.

• Connect to one of your saved connections with the connect command and -name parameter.

If connection attempts fail there is no longer a retry prompt and you will need to input the startup or connect command again.

• Previously the connection would be retried up to three times.

Display Database Version of Current Connection

New alias oraversion provided out of the box with SQLcl. Run oraversion to display the database version of your current connection.

Describe and Info Include Oracle Database 23ai Domains Feature

describe and info commands now include the new domains feature introduced in Oracle Database 23ai in column definitions.

• To learn more about domains, check out this RESOURCE

Bug Fixes:

Here is a list of issues fixed in 24.2. This list isn’t comprehensive so if you don’t see your specific issue check My Oracle Support.

• 36267492 - Parser doesn’t recognize “instances” keywords for “create materialized view log”

• 36579914 – SODA commands fail when connected to 23ai database

• 35315378 – Error shown when login.sql has “show connection”

• 36493438 - describe and info commands don’t show vector information correctly

• 36387137 – describe package command not working as expected

• 36010058 – apex export -dir parameter not creating new directory

• 36627790 - Intellisense does not work after between clause

• 36622578 - Parser failure for exported materialized views

• 36212405 - Aliases are case sensitive

• 36478929 - Codescan false positives

• 36212396 - describe command slow

• Liquibase Functionality in SQLcl

  • 36654639 - Liquibase not respecting FAILONERROR=”TRUE” attribute in changelog header

  • 36438248 – liquibase update-sql SQL output file can’t be run completely due to missing / at end of package body

  • 35042293 - Liquibase grants and filter options return errors when used together

  • 36242264 - liquibase generate-schema fails with grants parameter

  • 36519116 - liquibase generate-ords-module failing with JAVA.LANG.BOOLEAN.BOOLEANVALUE

  • 36486336 - liquibase drop-all command failing

  • 36557643 - liquibase update command using a combination of -output-default-schema, -default-schema-name, and -liquibase-schema-name parameters cause validation error

  • 36518887 - liquibase generate-ords-schema failing with error

  • 36735091 - Liquibase updates breaking sequence database object counter

  • 36409273 – Liquibase output not being logged in spool files

  • 36400458 - Background task for Liquibase displaying STD Out at prompt vs staying in jobs log

  • 36641556 - -show-summary parameter values are case sensitive