Oracle Tip: recovering SQL Developer passwords

I must admit that I am quite lazy (and not a very tidy person either). When I am given a new database connection to work with, I configure it in SQL Developer and save the password (so I do not have to type it when I connect and, more important, I do not have to remember it or store it safely somewhere else - shame on me!). As a consequence, when I am ask to provide the password to somebody else, it happens quite often that I do not remember it.
SQL Developer stores the saved passwords in an encrypted fashion in a file called connections.xml, which is normally available in \AppData\Roaming\SQL Developer\system folder.

Googling around, I have found a number of Java routines that can decrypt the passwords, but why spending time in compiling some Java code if a solution is already available?
This link http://show-me-password.tomecode.com has the instructions for installing a simple SQL Developer extension. It works great and it's the perfect shortcut for a lazy and forgetful programmer.

ODI Tip: Get Physical Schema from Logical Schema in an ODI variable

When it comes to file paths you do not want to hard-code them because they will need to be manually updated when you migrate from one environment to another.
The best way to retrieve a file path at runtime is to get it from the physical schema that you have configured in the Topology.
You can create an ODI variable and use the following code for its refresh:


select '<%=odiRef.getSchemaName("EXTRACT_FILES_LS","W")%>' 
from dual

where EXTRACT_FILES_LS is the Logical Schema name.

When you migrate to a new environment, the only thing that will need to be updated is the Topology Physical Schema and by refreshing the variable you will have the updated file path.