KeepTool Blog - Current

KeepTool expands your Oracle toolbox with modern highlights: support for Windows 11 and Oracle 21c, improved XML-DB workflows with PL/SQL-based XML schema definitions and optimized data handling in Hora, Reverse DB and DB Compare, visual object markers (like a favorites star), as well as encrypted TCP/IP connections with checksums and session monitoring for greater security and transparency.

KeepTool enables you to explore dependencies between Oracle database schemas through a clear diagram on the Schema page. It highlights upstream and downstream relationships for the current schema—master schemas that it depends on and detail schemas that depend on it. Plus, digging deeper is simple: click any schema to display related objects and their specific dependencies in adjacent tables.

KeepTool now supports Oracle’s Memoptimized Rowstore (introduced in Oracle 18c), enabling blazing-fast lookups on tables primarily accessed by primary key. By activating this feature and populating the in-memory pool, queries bypass traditional I/O and SQL processing to deliver rapid results—perfect for high-frequency workloads like IoT or real-time dashboards.

KeepTool Hora now enhances your INSERT, UPDATE, and MERGE scripts with an option to escape non-ASCII or control characters using the UNISTR() function. This ensures your SQL remains robust and consistent—regardless of NLS settings or unseen characters—by automatically transforming special characters like ß into their \00DF escaped counterparts.

KeepTool 14.1.6 introduces the new SQL execution history menu under Extras, giving you instant access to recently executed SQL—whether typed manually or launched via context menus. Now you can effortlessly retrieve past statements and copy them to the clipboard for reuse in new sessions.

In the Connect dialog, you can now group your database connections by both hostname and servicename, with connection details saved automatically per login. To improve clarity, the former “Server” tab has been renamed “Database”, and both grouping tabs now display the database version in their headers for easy identification.

eepTool's Enterprise Edition now makes ER diagram creation smoother than ever. Skip the clutter of full-schema diagrams — start with a tailored subset and instantly generate clean, focused ER views. You can then easily expand via master/detail/sub-detail relationships and even produce matching HTML documentation with just a click via the DB‑Doc button.

KeepTool’s Reverse Database Engineer in the Professional and Enterprise editions now goes beyond generating DDL scripts—it can also export table data as INSERT or MERGE statements. Choose specific tables, apply WHERE filters (even using ORA_ROWSCN to capture only recently changed rows), and let KeepTool break large outputs into manageable files. It’s perfect for backing up key master data in a structured, version-friendly way

When a database session holds onto a lock for too long, it can grind other processes to a halt. KeepTool Hora simplifies troubleshooting by presenting a clear overview of blocking and blocked sessions. With its Lock Wait Graph, you can trace lock dependencies and—even better—identify the exact data record that's locked. And if needed, users with DBA privileges can instantly terminate the offending session to keep your workflows moving.

KeepTool 14 supercharges your Oracle–Excel workflow. Export your grouped query results—complete with drag‑and‑drop grouping and on‑the‑fly aggregate formulas—directly to Excel with one click, preserving group structure and calculations. Going the other way, you can import Excel data into Oracle effortlessly—even auto‑creating the target table when needed. A seamless bridge between Oracle data and Excel reporting.