SQL Developer Configuration

Snippets

Break your routine by dragging and dropping complex, repeatable queries.

• Navigate to: View -> Snippets
• Snippet file path: %USER%\AppData\Roaming\SQL Developer\UserSnippets.xml

Code Templates

Speed up query writing by creating custom keyboard shortcuts for autocompletion. Use templates with variable binding for added efficiency.

Example:
Create a template SELECT name FROM table1 t1 WHERE t1.id = :parameter with the code SFT1.
When typing SFT1 in a worksheet, wait for autocomplete (~400ms).

• [ ] Preferences -> Code editor -> Code templates
  Customize popup speed and other settings:
• [ ] Preferences -> Code editor -> Completion insight

Path for Import/Export (as XML):
%USER%\AppData\Roaming\SQL Developer\CodeTemplate.xml

Code Formatting

Ensure your code is consistently formatted.

• [ ] Code editor -> Line gutter -> Show line numbers
• [ ] Code editor -> Format
  • Autoformat Dictionary Objects SQL: true
  • Indent spaces: 3
  • Identifiers case: lower
  • Keywords case: upper

Default Path

Set a custom directory instead of 'App/Roaming' for storing scripts.

• [ ] Preferences -> Worksheet -> Select default path to look for scripts

NLS Settings

Change how date and time are displayed in SQL results or data previews.

• [ ] Preferences -> Database -> NLS

Theme

• [ ] Preferences -> Environment -> Look and feel: Windows
• To install a dark theme, visit: ozmoroz/ozbsidian-sqldeveloper
  Alternatively:
• [ ] Preferences -> Code editor -> PL/SQL syntax color

Font

Use a readable monospace font.

• [ ] Preferences -> Code editor -> Hack (monospace)

Zebra Pattern

Highlight alternating rows in the grid.

• [ ] Preferences -> Database -> Worksheet -> Grid in checkerboard or Zebra pattern

Backup / Migration

• [ ] Connections:
  Right-click the Connections pane -> Import/export connections or locate connections.xml
• [ ] User data:
  %USER%\AppData\Roaming\SQL Developer\UserSnippets.xml, CodeTemplate.xml, SqlHistory.xml
• [ ] IDE config files:
  settings.xml

Version

Tested on SQL Developer 21.4.3