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Toad® Data Point Version 3.2

New in This Release August 07, 2012

General

Toad Data Point - Professional Edition

Toad Data Point - Base and Pro Edition

Idea Pond

General

New Name - Same Great Features !

Beginning with this release, Toad for Data Analysts is now Toad Data Point. Toad Data Point has all the same great features that you have come to rely on as a Toad for Data Analysts user, plus more!

Toad Data Point is Available in Two Editions: Base and Professional

Beginning with this release, Toad Data Point is available in two editions: the Base Edition and the Professional Edition. The Professional Edition includes all the functionality previously provided, plus all of the functionality that was released in v3.1 within the Premium Edition—namely the Quest Data Services connections. With this new Professional Edition, you can now create connections to Salesforce.com, Oracle BI Enterprise Edition, Business Objects, and Hive.

In addition, the Professional Edition with Advanced Analytics includes all the Professional Edition functionality plus a library of 172 advanced analytic functions.

© 2012 Quest Software, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Toad Data Point 3.2 New in this Release

Toad Data Point - Professional Edition The Toad Data Point Professional edition includes the following new features and enhancements.

Integration with Toad BI Suite and Toad Intelligence Central (TIC)

Toad Data Point Professional is now part of the Toad Business Intelligence Suite, which includes a Toad Intelligence Central (TIC) server and Toad Decision Point, a tool for end-users. As part of its new association with the Toad BI Suite, Toad Data Point now includes new functionality that allows it to integrate with a Toad Intelligence Central server. If you have implemented the Toad BI Suite, you can now connect to and publish data to a TIC server using Toad Data Point Professional. To learn more about the Toad BI Suite, see www.toadbisuite.com.

Note: Using the new integration features requires access to a Toad Intelligence Central server.

Toad Intelligence Central Workflow

For a video demonstration of this feature, please see Publishing to Intelligence Central.

Publishing to Intelligence Central

Starting with this release, you can use Toad Data Point to publish data to a TIC server where it can be accessed by other data analysts and data consumers. Toad allows you to publish data from any Quest Data Services (QDS), ODBC, or native database provider connection (non-QDS sources must be ODBC-compliant). This also includes the ability to publish data from cross-connection queries.

• You can select and publish data from an object in the Object Explorer, a query in the Editor or Query Builder, or a data grid.


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• You can publish data to Intelligence Central as a snapshot, view, or dataset.



The key features of using Toad to publish data to Toad Intelligence Central include:

• You can publish data objects from many different data sources to one central location making it convenient and easy for end-users to access.

• End-users who use Toad Decision Point can access the data you publish.

• End-users can explore, analyze, and join data from a variety of different data sources, including business intelligence, cloud, and traditional relational database management systems.

• You can publish data from any data source that you can connect to from Toad using Quest Data Services (QDS), ODBC, or native provider connectivity (non-QDS sources must be ODBC-compliant).

• You can use TIC to share data with users who do not normally have access to the source database.

• Make data objects in TIC public, private, or share them with a selected group of TIC users.

• You can grant manage privileges to all, none, or some TIC users.

• Use snapshots as a way to capture data at a particular point in time. Snapshots can be refreshed manually or automatically at specified intervals to reflect the current data.

• You can automate the tasks of publishing data as a dataset or refreshing a snapshot by including these tasks in an Automation script.



Using Toad Data Point with Toad Intelligence Central

If you are using Toad Data Point to publish data objects to Toad Intelligence Central (TIC), it is recommended that you install a copy of Toad Data Point on the same server as TIC. This has two benefits:

• The ODBC drivers for DB2, MySQL, and Sybase are included in the Toad Data Point installation. This will ensure that these drivers are installed on the TIC server.

• You can easily use Toad Data Point to help debug any connectivity issues.

Quest Data Services

The Toad Data Point Professional Edition now includes the Quest Data Services connections previously available only in the Premium Edition.

Quest Data Services Mapping

For all Quest Data Services (QDS) connections (OBIEE, Salesforce, Business Objects, and Hive), when you make an initial connection, Toad now automatically maps the data source objects. The mapping process runs in the background allowing you to access other modules and perform other tasks. While the process runs, however, there may be a slight delay when attempting to access the columns and data you are currently mapping.

Improved Performance

In this release of Toad Data Point, the process of creating a new Quest Data Services connection and mapping the data objects has been noticeably improved.

• Upon initial connection to the QDS data source, the objects are now mapped in the background, allowing you to preview and query columns and data much quicker than in the previous release.

• The initial process of mapping objects is automatic, and you no longer need to select which objects to map.

• The initial mapping process gathers metadata which is cached and retained between sessions for one month. After one month, all objects are remapped (the metadata is automatically refreshed). You can refresh objects at any time (select an object or node and go to View | Refresh All).

• The actual columns and data are mapped as needed, such as when you execute a query or view columns in the Database Explorer.

Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition (OBIEE)

In this release of Toad you will find several new enhancements to Oracle Business Intelligence connections. Your data source objects are now organized and displayed in a way that is similar to the OBIEE Web interface.

• You will see the Subject Areas displayed in the Object Explorer. You will find that each Subject Area is made up of categories (representing OBIEE folders). And you will find that columns are grouped and displayed by these categories (folders) in the Database Explorer.



• The default Subject Area is now included in the OBIEE connection string and displayed in the Navigation Manager.

• OBIEE query statements composed using code completion or built in the Query Builder now include the Subject Area, the category, and the column.

Salesforce.com

• You can view the native relationships between tables for a Salesforce.com connection.

• When you drag more than one Salesforce.com table to the Query Builder, any existing native relationships are automatically displayed.

• You can also now drag a table from the Object Explorer to the Database Diagram to see related tables and relationships.

• In this release of Toad Data Point, improvements have been made to the mapping process to work with Salesforce.com’s 65K row limit. Toad now uses the varchar field lengths from the original data. Previously, Toad used varchar(255).

• You can view character field lengths for each column in Salesforce.com by opening a table in the Database Explorer and viewing the Columns tab.



Support for Hive Data Warehouse - New !

Toad Data Point now allows you to create a connection to a Hive data warehouse system.

• This new connection type is part of the Quest Data Services premium connections.

• With a Hive connection, use the same Toad functionality you normally use to explore and query data, to generate reports, and to automate tasks.

• Toad also allows you to create an SSH (secure shell) connection to Hive.

• You can also take advantage of this release’s new features. You can save data from Hive as a snapshot in Local Storage. Or you can save Hive data as a snapshot, view, or dataset in the new Intelligence Central remote server.

Local Storage

• When you save data to Local Storage, you can now choose to save the data as a snapshot.

• A snapshot contains data from a table, a view, or the results of a query, retrieved at a specific point in time. Snapshots can then be refreshed to reflect the current data from the source database object/objects. Snapshots replace the refreshable Table option that was available in the previous release of Toad for Data Analysts.

Notes:

• If you saved data to Local Storage using Toad for Data Analysts 3.1 or earlier (and the table is capable of being refreshed), this table now displays as a snapshot in Toad Data Point 3.2 or later. You can, of course, convert a snapshot back to a table if you prefer by saving the snapshot to Local Storage as a table.

• You cannot export data from a Local Storage snapshot in this release of Toad Data Point.



• Local Storage snapshots can be refreshed manually to reflect the current data from the source database object.

• A Local Storage snapshot retains its origination information, such as the query (if there was one) or the transform and cleanse actions (if the snapshot originated in this manner) or the parameters of the import action (if the snapshot was created using the Import Wizard).

• Field lengths from the original data are now used when you save data to Local Storage. Previously, Toad saved all columns using the maximum field length for that column’s data type.

• In addition, you can also edit data types when saving data to Local Storage. You can edit the data type and the field length.



Note: Please note that if you are upgrading to Toad Data Point 3.2 from a previous release, your Local Storage folder retains the former product name: Toad for Data Analysts Data Hub. If you are installing Toad Data Point for the first time, your Local Storage folder uses the new product name: Toad Data Point Data Hub. To view the name and location of your Local Storage folder, go to Tools | Options | Local Storage.

Automation

Execute Script Activity

• The Execute Script activity allows you to save data as a snapshot in Local Storage.

• Now you can also use the Execute Script activity to publish data to Intelligence Central as a dataset.



Refresh Snapshot Activity

Automation now includes a new “Refresh Snapshot” activity. Use this activity to refresh a snapshot that you previously added to Local Storage or published to an Intelligence Central server. This action will update the snapshot to reflect the current data in the original source table.



Clean Data Activity

In the Clean Data activity, when you export to Local Storage, you can now select to create a Local Storage snapshot.

Note: Access to a Toad Intelligence Central server is required in order to use Intelligence Central snapshot and dataset functionality.

Important! Toad includes significant enhancements to Automation that affect attributes in the actual automation script. If you open an automation script from a previous version, a message informs you that the script will be upgraded so it will work in the current version of Toad.

Caution: If you upgrade this script, it will no longer be compatible with previous versions of Toad. However, a backup copy of your script will be saved in the Automation\bak folder in the Application Data Directory under Help | About.

Import Wizard

You can use the Import Wizard to import data into Local Storage as a snapshot.



Toad Data Point - Base and Pro Editions The Base and the Professional editions of Toad Data Point contain the following new features and enhancements.

Virtual Views

This release of Toad includes the new Virtual Views feature which allows you to create and save your own personal views. Not only can you use Virtual Views to reuse SQL statements, but with Virtual Views you can rename your views, organize them into folders, modify existing views, and create new views.

For a video demonstration of this feature, please see Introduction to Virtual Views.

• Use Virtual Views to save long and complex queries that you use frequently, or save complex views that you routinely query against. Creating your own personal views can be especially useful if you do not have the necessary privileges to create views in the database.

• Use Virtual Views to conveniently reuse a single SQL statement on more than one database, for instance on similar but separate databases, like development and production databases.

• Easily create a Virtual View from the Editor or Query Builder windows or from the SQL Recall pane (right-click the SQL statement and select Add to Virtual Views).

• Use the Virtual Views pane to organize, modify, and re-use your views. Or send a view to the currently-open project in the Project Manager.




• To use a Virtual view, drag it to the Editor or the Query Builder window. The Virtual Views you create are also available in code completion in the Editor.

• The syntax format for a Virtual View is the name of the view surrounded by curly brackets.

Database Diagram

Cross-Connection Query

You can now use the Database Diagram tool to create improved cross-connection relationships that can be saved and reused in the Query Builder.

• The relationships you create are automatically saved in the Object Annotation Cache and displayed the next time you diagram the same objects.

• Each table in the diagram now displays an icon indicating the database type to help you easily distinguish between connections.

• When you send the diagram to the Query Builder, the diagram opens in a cross-connection Query Builder window and contains the relationships that you created in the Database Diagram tool.



Idea Pond

Got a great idea for a new Toad Data Point feature or enhancement? Share it with the Development Team and the Community by posting it on Idea Pond.

Visit Toad Data Point - Idea Pond where you can submit your ideas. You can also read and vote on the enhancement ideas submitted by other Toad users.

Learn More

Remember, you can find blogs, videos, and forums at the Toad Data Point Community.

• Learn about new features from product video demos.

• Find answers to your questions in the forums.

• Learn tips and tricks from blog posts.

• Find product documentation

Notes for Toad for Oracle Users

• Starting with release 3.2, Toad Data Point will no longer be included in a Toad for Oracle Suite. However, Toad for Oracle customers who are current on maintenance are entitled to use Toad for Data Analysts version 3.1 free of charge. Toad for Data Analysts version 3.1 can be downloaded from Quest Support at www.quest.com/support.

• Toad for Oracle Base, Professional, and Xpert Edition customers that are current on maintenance can purchase Toad Data Point 3.2 for an upgrade fee. Contact your Quest account representative for more information.

• Toad DBA Suite for Oracle and Toad Development Suite for Oracle customers can download and use Toad Data Point Professional Edition version 3.2 free of charge utilizing their Toad for Oracle keys. Toad Data Point Professional Edition version 3.2 can be downloaded from Quest Support at www.quest.com/support.


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© 2012 Quest Software, Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

This guide contains proprietary information protected by copyright. The software described in this guide is furnished under a software license or nondisclosure agreement. This software may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the applicable agreement. No part of this guide may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording for any purpose other than the purchaser’s personal use without the written permission of Quest Software, Inc.

The information in this document is provided in connection with Quest products. No license, express or implied, by estoppel or otherwise, to any intellectual property right is granted by this document or in connection with the sale of Quest products. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN QUEST'S TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS SPECIFIED IN THE LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR THIS PRODUCT, QUEST ASSUMES NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER AND DISCLAIMS ANY EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY WARRANTY RELATING TO ITS PRODUCTS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL QUEST BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR LOSS OF INFORMATION) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THIS DOCUMENT, EVEN IF QUEST HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Quest makes no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this document and reserves the right to make changes to specifications and product descriptions at any time without notice. Quest does not make any commitment to update the information contained in this document.

If you have any questions regarding your potential use of this material, contact:

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Quest, Quest Software, the Quest Software logo, LiteSpeed, Simplicity at Work, Toad, TOAD, T.O.A.D., and TOAD WORLD are trademarks and registered trademarks of Quest Software, Inc. For a complete list of Quest Software’s trademarks, see http://www.quest.com/legal/trademark-information.aspx. Other trademarks and registered trademarks used in this guide are property of their respective owners.

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