Unlike previous versions, this version of SQL Navigator does not perform server-side conversion of data into the string format. The only exception in this version is for numeric fields with more than 15 digits. These are retrieved and handled as text strings.
This approach has allowed us to implement some new features, such as a pop-up calendar for date editing and sorting by any column in SQL Editor, Browse/Edit Data, Find Objects and DB Navigator.
It also affects the way data is represented to the user. All Oracle DATE values containing the time-of-day part are automatically displayed with both date and time values present, regardless of the NLS_DATE_FORMAT setting on the server. Moreover, all dates are displayed in the same format throughout the user interface regardless of individual sessions' default date formats.
This format is controlled by the user via the Date Displayed Format setting under General | User Interface preferences. For convenience, the NLS_DATE_FORMAT for each new session is by default set to the same value as the Displayed Format. Users can change the Default Date Format under Session preferences if they wish to make it different from the Displayed Format, although we recommend keeping it the same to avoid confusion. Note that it is the NLS_DATE_FORMAT setting that is used implicitly when the user specifies date values as strings in SQL statements, for example SELECT * FROM emp WHERE hiredate < '1/4/87'.