Entering Column Names In Online Mode

This problem with the admin tool is so annoying that I thought I'd mention it on this blog. When you're using the admin tool in online mode, there can be a very long delay when typing in names of new logical columns. When connecting over the Internet (e.g. via VPN) the delay can increase. So you type...and nothing happens...and then you type the same thing again because you don't see anything...and a while later you notice the additional typing was indeed redundant. Then you have to delete...and more delay. And while these delays are going on, your cursor won't appear in the logical table dialog window. You could well conclude that working with the admin tool this way just isn't practical.

Maybe someday Oracle will fix this, if they're not too busy adding new features to fix existing features. (Personally, there aren't many new features I'm dying for. And when I see them, well, they rarely bowl me over, a subject for another post. But polishing existing features would really be nice. "Just saying.")

In the meantime, here's the WORKAROUND I use: type the logical column name in the Description edit box. No delays there! Then copy and paste that into the Name edit box. There aren't any delays when you do that, either. This works great -- until you forget, which you inevitably do.

Oracle, if you're reading this, here's another easy thing to fix: make Ctrl-A (select all) work in every edit box window -- with highest priority on the edit box where you enter the SQL for physical layer SQL objects.