Can connect using sqlplus, cannot using SQL Developer

Question

Hi
I cannot find out why I cannot connect using SQL developer, while sqlplus works fine with the same login information.
*1. TNS ping:*
C:\>TNSPING manila
TNS Ping Utility for 32-bit Windows: Version 10.2.0.1.0 - Production on 24-GRU-2
010 13:28:38
Copyright (c) 1997, 2005, Oracle. All rights reserved.
Used parameter files:
C:\oraclexe\app\oracle\product\10.2.0\server\network\admin\sqlnet.ora
Used TNSNAMES adapter to resolve the alias
Attempting to contact (DESCRIPTION = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = 10.0.0.171)(PORT = 1521)) (CONNECT_DATA = (SERVER = DEDICATED) (SERVICE_NAME = XE)))
OK (370 msec)
*2. sqlplus*
SQL> CONNECT SULU_DEV/<pass>@MANILA
Connected.
*3. sqlplus - by IP*
SQL> CONNECT SULU_DEV/<pass>@10.0.0.171:1521/XE
Connected.
*4. SQL Developer*
Username: SULU_DEV
Connection type: TNS
Network alias: MANILA
Error: I/O Exception: Connection reset
*5. SQL Developer - by IP*
Username: SULU_DEV
Connection type: Basic
Hostname: 10.0.0.171
Port: 1521
SID: xe
Error: I/O Exception: Connection reset
*6. SQL Developer - without username*
Username: <blank>
Connection type: TNS
Network alias: MANILA
Error: ORA-01017: invalid username/password
It seems that I have connection to the server, but from some reason it is disconnected when I'm using SQL Developer, but works fine with sqlplus.
Any ideas on what it might be?
Thank you in advance,
Regards,
Marek

Answer 1

The connection export function it's available in 2.1.1.64, you need to right click on the main Connections node, and it will allow you to export all or part of the current connections, or import from a previously exported file.
As for the highlight statement feature it's available in SQLDeveloper; actually you do not even have to highlight the required statement, as long as you take the habit of ending every statement with a ";", in this case you only need to place the caret inside the statement and SQLDeveloper will automatically highlight it for you (if you want to manually highlight a statement you can still do so without problems).
Finally as a last try to solve your connection problem without having to call for network support you could try to check
Preferences -> Database -> Advanced -> Use OCI/Thick DriverThis will force SQLDeveloper to use your oracle client for connections instead of it's native JDBC based connections (even if you use TNS based connections you will still use JDBC unless you have this checked).
As for other graphical tools for Oracle there are many both free or for a price.
1) In the for price world Toad stands out, i heard of a free option too but I'm not sure of the limitations.
2) For free you can use DBVisualizer which is fairly good (never used it too much thou).
3) Finally there is SQuirreL which is both free and open source but it has fairly basic functionality compared to the two above.
Obviously there are many others, but IMHO few will provide you with the same functions of SQLDeveloper or Toad for Oracle databases