Oracle Tool Adds Access For Rival Databases

Oracle SQL Developer 1.1 offers read-only access to MySQL, SQL Server and Microsoft's Access, as well as full connection support for Oracle databases from Oracle 9i onward. The free tool is designed to help developers with common tasks such as browsing database objects, running SQL statements and scripts, PL/SQL debugging and running reports.

Oracle unveiled SQL Developer, code-named Project Raptor, last March. Built in Java atop Oracle's JDeveloper IDE, the tool runs on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. It's intended to ease Oracle development and reduce customers' reliance on third-party development and debugging tools.

In addition to bug fixes and additional database support, Oracle SQL Developer 1.1 offers extended filtering and search functionality, interface enhancements and additional user-privilege controls. Later this year, Oracle plans to incorporate a data-migration feature that will allow developers to move objects from MySQL, SQL Server and Access into an Oracle database.

Oracle SQL Developer 1.1 is available for download on Oracle's Web site. The Redwood Shores, Calif., company offers product support for customers with support licenses for the Oracle databases with which they're using the tool.