How can I Make SQL Developer Data Modeler Work on MacOS Big Sur?

Did you check you still have the Java version installed that is expected by Data Modeler? It might be that a BigSur install removes Java. I cannot test unlucky enough, my MBP is just a few months too old to upgrade to BigSur.

DataModeler runs as SQL developer on Java, so may have the same solutions. On the SQL Dev discussions several solutions have been mentioned, see e.g.: https://community.oracle.com/tech/developers/discussion/4477890/sql-developer-on-macos-big-sur#latest

For the problem with missing "Msvcr100.dll" file see this post:

https://community.oracle.com/tech/developers/discussion/comment/15659130#Comment_15659130

Did you get Data Modeler working? I posted on the SQL Developer form but will re-post here for convenience:

I'm still unable to get Data Modeler to launch. I downloaded SQL Developer, in the hopes of figuring it out and sure enough, SQL Developer had the same issue, but with the article you linked to above (@thatJeffSmith-Oracle posted it - I've not been around long enough to post links; great summary and fixed SQL Developer just not Data Modeler), I was able to get it working by changing the SetJavaHome path in the product.conf file.

SetJavaHome /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-11.0.10.jdk/Contents/Home

I didn't see a hidden directory for Data Modeler at first but after downloading SQL Developer, I saw:

/Users/<username>/.oraclesqldeverloperdatamodeler. In hopes the same fix would work, I changed the SetJavaHome in:

Users/<username>/.oraclesqldeveloperdatamodeler/19.5.0/product.conf

also to

SetJavaHome /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-11.0.10.jdk/Contents/Home

But that did not work. When I try to run it, I can see it pop up briefly in Force Quit Applications but it immediately disappears. 

If I try to run it from the command line, I get this:

➜ MacOS bash datamodeler.sh

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Home

datamodeler.sh: line 9: cd: datamodeler.sh: Not a directory

In System Preferences / Security & Privacy in the bottom panel under "Allow app from", I have "App Store and identified developers" checked.

I have Java installed:

➜ MacOS java -version

java version "11.0.10" 2021-01-19 LTS

Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment 18.9 (build 11.0.10+8-LTS-162)

Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM 18.9 (build 11.0.10+8-LTS-162, mixed mode)

➜ MacOS /usr/libexec/java_home

/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-11.0.10.jdk/Contents/Home

Thanks for any help on this!

user5876769 you are my new favorite person! Changing the JDK from 11 to 8 did the trick. I can even run it normally now by clicking on the icon :)

Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!

To summarize my issue: Oracle data modeler would not open (or open and immediately close; you could see the process immediately quit). I was able to get SQL Developer to work by changing the JDK in the Product.conf file. I changed that same line in the Oracle Data Modeler product.conf file to JDK 11 but it had no effect. But changing to JDK 8 did work.

If you have this problem on Mac OS Big Sur, try this:

Find the JDKs you have installed (download JDK 8 if you don't have it) by listing them here:

/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/

➜ JavaVirtualMachines ls -l

total 0

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 96 Jan 29 07:18 jdk-11.0.10.jdk

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 96 Aug 10 2020 jdk-11.0.8.jdk

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 96 Aug 11 2020 jdk1.8.0_261.jdk

➜ JavaVirtualMachines

Since I have JDK1.8.0_261.jdk installed, I used that in the product.conf file here:

/Users/<username>/.oraclesqldeveloperdatamodeler/19.5.0/product.conf

and uncommented and modified line 20 so it became this:

SetJavaHome /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_261.jdk/Contents/Home

Thanks again user5876769!!