Oracle SQL*Plus: The Definitive Guide [Paperback]

Jonathan Gennick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 1999

This book is the definitive guide to SQL*Plus. If you want to take best advantage of the power and flexibility of this popular Oracle tool, you need this book.

SQLPlus is an interactive query tool that is ubiquitous in the Oracle world. It is present in every Oracle installation and is available to almost every Oracle developer and database administrator. SQLPlus has been shipped with Oracle since at least version 6. It continues to be supported and enhanced with each new version of Oracle, including Oracle8 and Oracle8i. It is still the only widely available tool for writing SQL scripts. Despite this wide availability and usage, few developers and DBAs know how powerful SQL*Plus really is.

This book introduces SQLPlus, includes a quick reference to all of its syntax options, and, most important, provides chapters that describe, in step-by-step fashion, how to perform all of the tasks that Oracle developers and DBAs want to perform with SQLPlus -- and maybe some they didn't realize they COULD perform with SQLPlus. You will learn how to write and execute script files, generate ad hoc reports, extract data from the database, query the data dictionary tables, customize your SQLPlus environment, and use the SQL*Plus administrative features (new in Oracle8i).

This book is an indispensable resource for readers who are new to SQL*Plus, a task-oriented learning tool for those who are already using it, and a quick reference for every user.

A table of contents follows:

• Preface
• Introduction to SQLPlus
• Interacting with SQLPlus
• Generating Reports with SQLPlus
• Writing SQLPlus Scripts
• Extracting Data with SQLPlus
• Exploring Your Database with SQLPlus
• Advanced Scripting
• Tuning and Timing
• The Product User Profile
• Administration with SQLPlus
• Customizing Your SQLPlus Environment

Appendices

• A. SQLPlus Command Reference
• B. Connect Strings and the SQLPlus Command

Editorial Reviews

Review

'One puzzling aspect of the O'Reilly series is how the publishers have managed to find such competent authors when other companies seem unable to get anyone who can string a sentence together. You really get the feeling that the authors want to tell you how to solve a problem rather than demonstrate how clever they are. ... Oracle SQL*Plus is a strong candidate for the bookshelf, with information you'd otherwise have to check in four of the Oracle manuals, and There's a human voice helping you.' Computer Shopper, July 2000

About the Author

Jonathan Gennick is an O'Reilly & Associates editor specializing in database and programming titles. Prior to joining O'Reilly, Jonathan amassed some 17 years of programming and database management experience. During the latter part of his career he specialized in relational database programming, and more recently in database management. Jonathan got his start with relational database systems in 1990, first working with Ingres, and later with Digital's Rdb software. During that period he developed a fondness for SQL, and for the challenge of applying SQL creatively in ways that leveraged it's set-oriented capabilities. In 1994 Jonathan made the leap to Oracle, and is now often found writing about it. Recent projects include Oracle SQLLoader (O'Reilly & Associates, 2001); Oracle SQLPlus Pocket Reference (O'Reilly & Associates, 2000); Oracle SQL*Plus: The Definitive Guide (O'Reilly & Associates, 1999); More recently, Jonathan has made forays into other database products, coauthoring Transact-SQL Cookbook (O'Reilly & Associates, 2002) and editing Practical PostgreSQL (O'Reilly & Associates, 2002). Jonathan is certified as an Oracle DBA and is a member of MENSA and the Oracle Technology Network. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Information and Computer Science, with a Business Administration minor, from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Jonathan currently resides in Munising, Michigan with his wife Donna and their two children: Jenny and Jeff. Jonathan may be contacted by email at [e-mail], and you can learn more about him personally by visiting his website at http://gennick.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1 edition (March 17, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565925785
• ISBN-13: 978-1565925786
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #977,021 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am an Oracle DBA, computer book editor, and writer residing in Munising, Michigan, and only six

blocks from Lake Superior. If you want to know more about me, please visit http://Gennick.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good quick start!, October 27, 2000

By 

Judy Bowman (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oracle SQL*Plus: The Definitive Guide (Paperback)

Oracle was new to me, although I've worked with other RDBMSs, and I needed a reference for the SQL Plus interface. Gennick's book turned out to be just the thing. The writing is clear, there are lots of examples, and the topics are inclusive -- from the basic environment to advanced scripting and tuning. I've recommended this book to students.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for an Introduction to SQL Plus, March 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Oracle SQL*Plus: The Definitive Guide (Paperback)

As a mainframe programmer making the transition to the client-server environment, I found this book to be a great introduction to SQL*Plus. The one thing that became immediately apparant (while reading the book), was that one had to work through the examples with SQL*Plus. Gennick is a good author and is able to get the material across in an efficient and effective manner. I highly recommend this book to any individual desiring an introductory and working knowledge of SQL Plus.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SQL*PLUS is a hit with me and my colleagues !, August 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Oracle SQL*Plus: The Definitive Guide (Paperback)

I'm a newbie, as far as ORACLE is concerned, I have used a similar Database management system - UniVision, which has it's own language (Vision), I found this book an excellent introduction/guide to SQL*PLUS. So much so, that I've recommended it to colleagues and customers who are more experienced than I am - and they all agree with me. Splendid stuff.