Learning Oracle PL/SQL

Larger Cover

By Bill Pribyl, Steven Feuerstein

Publisher: O'Reilly Media

Released: November 2001

Pages: 426

PL/SQL, Oracle's programming language for stored procedures, delivers a world of possibilities for your database programs. PL/SQL supplements the standard relational database language, SQL, with a wide range of procedural features, including loops, IF-THEN statements, advanced data structures, and rich transactional control--all closely integrated with the Oracle database server.

Knowing where to start with Oracle's procedural language is not always obvious to a newcomer, especially considering the language's feature set and the sheer size of the official documentation (not to mention Oracle's ever-increasing number of pre-built PL/SQL programs). But Learning Oracle PL/SQL offers the signposts and guidance you need to come up to speed on the language, delivered in a manageable number of pages while covering all the essentials.

Topics include:

PL/SQL--what is it, and why use it? Why use PL/SQL instead of Java?
Syntax and examples of all core language constructs
Creating, using, and reusing stored procedures, functions, and packages
Building web-based applications using PL/SQL features available "out of the box" (such as PL/SQL Server Pages)
Securing PL/SQL programs against attack
Benefits of third-party developer tools and integrated development environments
Connecting PL/SQL to email, Java, and the Internet

Meticulously crafted with all-new examples downloadable from examples.oreilly.com/learnoracle, the book addresses language features available in all versions of Oracle, from Oracle7 to Oracle8i to Oracle9i.

Learning Oracle PL/SQL was written by PL/SQL experts Bill Pribyl and Steven Feuerstein, whose easy-to-read style and attention to detail has made other O'Reilly books (such as the bestselling Oracle PL/SQL Programming) very popular among Oracle developers worldwide. Learning Oracle PL/SQL is meant for a wide range of target audiences, including both beginning programmers and those already experienced with other programming languages. Whether you are a new developer, a crossover programmer from another database system, or a new database administrator who needs to learn PL/SQL, this book will get you well on your way. It is the perfect introduction to Oracle PL/SQL Programming, also by Pribyl and Feuerstein.

Chapter 1 PL/SQL: What, When, and Where
1. What Is PL/SQL?
2. Why Use PL/SQL?
3. What You Need to Get Started with PL/SQL
Chapter 2 Fundamentals
1. PL/Lingo
2. Running Your First PL/SQL Program
3. Introduction to Program Structure
4. Variables
5. Common Operators
6. Conditional Logic
7. Executing in Circles: Loop Statements
8. Code Formatting: Requirements and Guidelines
9. Some Advanced Fundamentals
Chapter 3 Let's Code!
1. Some Background on the Example
2. A First Programming Exercise
3. Retrieving a Book Count with a Function
4. Make Your Code Resilient
5. Using PL/SQL Packages to Organize Code
6. Going to the Next Level
7. Now What?
Chapter 4 Go Web, Young Man
1. Introduction to HTML
2. Using PL/SQL to Create Web Pages
3. What Else?
Chapter 5 Fetch!
1. What's the Big Deal?
2. A Simple-Minded Approach to Retrieving One Row
3. Retrieving More than One Row Using a Cursor
4. Presenting Query Results via a Web Page
5. Building a Web-Based Search Page Using Dynamic SQL
6. Advanced Data Retrieval Topics
Chapter 6 Keeping House
1. Organize Your Code
2. Use Tools to Write Code Effectively
Chapter 7 Security: Keep the Bad Guys Out
1. Oracle Security Primer
2. Organizing Accounts to Improve Security
3. Analyzing the Library System's Requirements
4. Keeping a Trail of Database Changes
5. Special Security Topics for PL/SQL Developers
Chapter 8 Communicating with the Outside World
1. Sending Internet Email from PL/SQL
2. Using the Mail Sender in the Library System
3. Receiving Email Inside the Database
4. Fetching Data from a Remote Web Site
5. Integration with Other Languages
Chapter 9 Intermediate Topics and Other Diversions
1. Riding the Software Lifecycle
2. Lists o' Stuff (Collections) in PL/SQL
3. Exception-Handling Packages
4. Transaction Control
5. The PL/SQL Compiler
6. Managing Patron and Librarian Privileges
7. Still More PL/SQL Features
Chapter 10 Afterword: "Making Good" of Database Programming
1. The Evidence
2. The Problem
3. Answering the Objections
4. What to Do

Glossary
Colophon

Title:

Learning Oracle PL/SQL

By:

Bill Pribyl, Steven Feuerstein

Publisher:

O'Reilly Media

Formats:

Print
Ebook
Safari Books Online

Print:

November 2001

Ebook:

June 2009

Pages:

426

Print ISBN:

978-0-596-00180-3

| ISBN 10:

0-596-00180-0

Ebook ISBN:

978-0-596-55598-6

| ISBN 10:

0-596-55598-9

Bill Pribyl

Bill Pribyl, author, teacher, and software consultant,is the primary author of Learning Oracle PL/SQL and the coauthor of Oracle PL/SQL Programming and its companion pocket reference, all published by O'Reilly & Associates. An Oracle user since 1986, Bill has consulted on many aspects of using Oracle products. He recently spearheaded PLNet.org, a Web-based repository where developers can share open source PL/SQL.

View Bill Pribyl's full profile page.
Steven Feuerstein

Steven Feuerstein is considered one of the world's leading experts on the Oracle PL/SQL language. He is the author or coauthor of Oracle PL/SQL Programming, Oracle PL/SQL Best Practices, Oracle PL/SQL Programming: Guide to Oracle8i Features, Oracle PL/SQL Developer's Workbook, Oracle Built-in Packages, Advanced Oracle PL/SQL Programming with Packages, and several pocket reference books (all from O'Reilly & Associates). Steven is a Senior Technology Advisor with Quest Software, has been developing software since 1980, and worked for Oracle Corporation from 1987 to 1992.

View Steven Feuerstein's full profile page.

Colophon

Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects. The animal on the cover of Learning Oracle PL/SQL is a zebra butterfly, also known as a zebra longwing. The zebra butterfly is named for its long, narrow wings that have zebra-like yellow stripes. It has a thin abdomen and long black antennae. In caterpillar form, the zebra butterfly has a white body with long black spines and a yellow head. When zebra butterflies are caterpillars, they feed on the leaves of passion flowers, which contain toxins that make the butterflies poisonous and unpleasant tasting to predators.

Native to tropical climates, including the southern U.S. from Texas to Florida, heliconius charitonius is perhaps the most intelligent butterfly and leads a surprisingly social life. Zebra longwings roost in flocks with their kin, returning to the same perch every night, and giving first choice of perches to their elders. The butterflies sleep so soundly that you could pick them up, until th efirst light of day, when the first on up wakes the others with a gentle touch.

Adults live on flower nectar and pollen and are especially fond of lantana and shepherd's needle. The female lays her eggs on the passion vine, which will serve as food when the pupae emerge as caterpillars. The total life span of a zebra longwing can ran from as short as 21 days to as long as 8 months. Catherine Morris was the production editor and copyeditor, and Sue Willing was the proofreader for Learning Oracle PL/SQL. Leanne Soylemez and Claire Cloutier provided quality control. Judy Hoer wrote the index.

Ellie Volckhausen designed the cover of this book, based on a series design by Edie Freedman. The cover image is a 19th-century engraving from the Dover Pictorial Archive. Emma Colby produced the cover layout with QuarkXpress 4.1 using Adobe's ITC Garamond font.

Mihaela Maier converted the files from Microsoft Word to FrameMaker 5.5.6 using tools created by Mike Sierra. The illustrations that appear in the book were produced by Robert Romano and Jessamyn Read using Macromedia FreeHand 9 and Adobe Photoshop 6. THe tip and warning icons were drawn by Christopher Bing. This colophon was written by Linley Dolby.

Description

Table of Contents

Product Details

About the Author

Colophon

Recommended for You

Chapter 1 PL/SQL: What, When, and Where

What Is PL/SQL?

Why Use PL/SQL?

What You Need to Get Started with PL/SQL

Chapter 2 Fundamentals

PL/Lingo

Running Your First PL/SQL Program

Introduction to Program Structure

Variables

Common Operators

Conditional Logic

Executing in Circles: Loop Statements

Code Formatting: Requirements and Guidelines

Some Advanced Fundamentals

Chapter 3 Let's Code!

Some Background on the Example

A First Programming Exercise

Retrieving a Book Count with a Function

Make Your Code Resilient

Using PL/SQL Packages to Organize Code

Going to the Next Level

Now What?

Chapter 4 Go Web, Young Man

Introduction to HTML

Using PL/SQL to Create Web Pages

What Else?

Chapter 5 Fetch!

What's the Big Deal?

A Simple-Minded Approach to Retrieving One Row

Retrieving More than One Row Using a Cursor

Presenting Query Results via a Web Page

Building a Web-Based Search Page Using Dynamic SQL

Advanced Data Retrieval Topics

Chapter 6 Keeping House

Organize Your Code

Use Tools to Write Code Effectively

Chapter 7 Security: Keep the Bad Guys Out

Oracle Security Primer

Organizing Accounts to Improve Security

Analyzing the Library System's Requirements

Keeping a Trail of Database Changes

Special Security Topics for PL/SQL Developers

Chapter 8 Communicating with the Outside World

Sending Internet Email from PL/SQL

Using the Mail Sender in the Library System

Receiving Email Inside the Database

Fetching Data from a Remote Web Site

Integration with Other Languages

Chapter 9 Intermediate Topics and Other Diversions

Riding the Software Lifecycle

Lists o' Stuff (Collections) in PL/SQL

Exception-Handling Packages

Transaction Control

The PL/SQL Compiler

Managing Patron and Librarian Privileges

Still More PL/SQL Features

Chapter 10 Afterword: "Making Good" of Database Programming

The Evidence

The Problem

Answering the Objections

What to Do

Glossary

Colophon

Bill Pribyl

Steven Feuerstein

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