TOAD for Oracle, the "Auto Replace" feature for frequently used SQL commands

In TOAD for Oracle, the "Auto Replace" feature allows you to automatically replace certain text strings with other text as you type. This is particularly useful for abbreviating frequently used SQL commands, object names, or snippets.

Steps to Set Up Auto Replace in TOAD for Oracle

1. Open TOAD for Oracle:

   • Launch TOAD for Oracle on your system.

2. Access the Auto Replace Feature:

   • Go to the main menu and select View > Toad Options.
   • In the Options dialog, expand the Editor section.
   • Click on Auto Replace.

3. Add Auto Replace Entries:

   • In the Auto Replace settings window, you will see a list of existing replacements, if any.
   • To add a new auto replace entry:
     • Click on the Add button.
     • In the Replace column, enter the text you want to be replaced (e.g., sel).
     • In the With column, enter the text you want it to be replaced with (e.g., SELECT * FROM ).
   • You can also specify case sensitivity by checking the Case Sensitive box.

4. Apply and Save:

   • Once you have added your desired auto replace entries, click OK to save and close the Options dialog.

5. Using Auto Replace:

   • Now, whenever you type the text you specified in the Replace column in the SQL Editor, TOAD will automatically replace it with the corresponding text from the With column.

Example

Suppose you frequently type SELECT * FROM in your queries. You can set up an auto replace so that typing sel will automatically expand to SELECT * FROM.

1. In the Auto Replace settings:

   • Replace: sel
   • With: SELECT * FROM

2. After setting this up, whenever you type sel in the SQL Editor and press space or any punctuation mark, it will be replaced with SELECT * FROM.

Managing Auto Replace

• Editing Entries: You can edit any existing auto replace entry by clicking on it and modifying the Replace or With fields.
• Deleting Entries: To delete an auto replace entry, select it and click the Delete button.
• Export/Import: You can export your auto replace settings to a file or import them from a file using the Export and Import buttons.

Watch this video

Conclusion

The Auto Replace feature in TOAD for Oracle can significantly enhance your productivity by reducing repetitive typing and helping you maintain consistent code snippets. It's particularly useful for developers who write a lot of SQL queries and want to streamline their coding process.