Custom INSERT Scripts with Sequences and Constants

Introduction

Welcome to our blog! Today, we’re excited to introduce a new enhancement to the Create INSERT Script feature in Hora. This update gives you more flexibility and control when generating INSERT statements for your tables.

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How INSERT Scripts Were Created Previously

Until now, INSERT scripts were generated by scripting the data content of a table. You could adjust the output by:

• Filtering rows with WHERE conditions to limit the data being scripted.

• Hiding columns in the data grid to exclude their content from the export.

While these options worked well, some scenarios still required additional flexibility.

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What Was missing

Many customers asked for the ability to:

• Populate primary key columns with values from a sequence instead of the original data.

• Insert timestamps or dates using the current system date instead of existing values.

• Define other constants or function calls directly in the INSERT script, rather than exporting table values.

This level of customization was not possible—until now.

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The Solution: Fixed Values in the INSERT Script Dialog

In KeepTool 16.2.3, we’ve extended the INSERT Script dialog with a new “Fixed values” section.

This section provides a grid with two columns:

1. Column Name – Select the target column (e.g., DEPARTMENT_ID).

2. Fixed Value – Enter a value manually or choose one from a dropdown list.

You can use any constant or expression valid in an INSERT statement. Hora suggests common options such as:

• CURRENT_TIMESTAMP

• Date constants

• Sequences from your Oracle schema

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Example

Suppose you want to generate new primary key values instead of reusing exported ones.

• Select DEPARTMENT_ID.

• Set the value to DEPARTMENTS_SEQ.NEXTVAL.

Hora will then use the sequence to populate the primary key column automatically.

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The Result

The generated INSERT script now assigns primary key values from a sequence rather than reusing existing table data.

This makes it much easier to prepare scripts for populating fresh datasets, testing environments, or initializing new tables.

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Summary

With the new Fixed values feature, you can:

• Generate INSERT scripts with dynamic or constant values.

• Use sequences, functions, and expressions to replace original data.

• Simplify the process of preparing reusable and flexible INSERT scripts.

This enhancement provides greater control and streamlines your workflow when working with INSERT statements in Hora.