Can SQL Developer be used for Oracle Support "HTML Output" Diag Scripts ?

Question

Hi All,
Oracle Support has asked me to run a diagnostic script (OTL_Diag.sql for anyone familar with the script) that produces output in HTML format using SQL*Plus to help troubleshoot an OTL problem we are having. Unfortunately I don't have SQL*Plus installed and my company is not on board with me installing it because of the SQL*NET connection required. Instead I have access to SQL Developer 3.1.0.7. While this works fine for most situations I'm having problems generating the required .html output file that Support needs.
I've tried runing the OTL_Diag.sql a couple of ways using SQL Developer. First, I opened the file from SQL Developer and using the Run Script functionality (F5) I executed the code that way. This method did give me an opportunity to input the necessary parms and it did create the 'start' of the HTML file on my (Windows) file system, but the script seemed to abort with a java error that indicated some sort of format error (sorry, I'm not a java person so I can't provide any more info, but I'll be glad to get the exact error message if anyone thinks that will help solve my issue).
My second approach was to open a SQL Window where I typed in @C:\OTL_Diag.sql without quotes. This approach also gave me the opportunity to enter the necessary input parms and it seemed to end normally. It also created the 'start' of the diaganostic output file on my Windows file system, but it 'completed' before any of the 'real' diaganostic output was written to the .html file.
The Metalink note clearly specifies that the OTL_Diag.sql script is to be run with SQL*Plus 10.2 or above so I don't think I can complain too loudly to Oracle about this...but given that I don't have access to this product (and it is useless for me to again ask to install it) I am hoping someone out there has some ideas or insight as to how I can use SQL Developer to execute this diag script in a manner that will produce the required .html output file.
Thanks in advance to anyone taking time to read my post !!
Jeff
Edited by: user13111861 on Jul 10, 2012 6:43 PM
Edited by: user13111861 on Jul 10, 2012 7:51 PM

Answer 1

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As a result, at this point in time my only available tool to run the OTL_Diag.sql script (provided by Oracle Support) is SQL Developer
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Then you will have to edit the script, break it into pieces, execute each piece manually and save the output to feed into the next piece as required based on what the script is actually doing. Don't post the script or contents as that will likely violate your support agreement.
As I already mentioned the script may be using syntax and/or commands that are simply not supported by sql*developer. One likely area is the script may be producing intermediate output scripts that are then processed by a later portion of the script. If that is the case then my suggestion to execute the pieces manually should work but you will need to do some trial-and-error to see.
Even if you appear to be successful you will still have an issue when you communicate the results of your 'test' to Oracle support and they determine you didn't follow their instructions to use the proper tool.
Sounds like your management is either ignorant or incompetent so I suggest you cover yourself by documentating the instructions from Oracle support and the direct orders you were given to disregard those instructions. No need to discuss that issue further but clearly there are resources available somewhere in the org that has the proper privileges or they wouldn't be able to maintain and support the database. If they want to pay for support they should heed their advice. Nuff said.