Oracle PL/SQL Programming [Paperback]

Steven Feuerstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 1997 | ISBN-10: 1565923359 | ISBN-13: 978-1565923355 | Edition: Second Edition

The first edition of Oracle PL/SQL Programming quickly became an indispensable reference for both novice and experienced PL/SQL developers. Packed with examples and recommendations, it helped everyone using PL/SQL (from the Oracle Forms developer to the database administrator) make the most of this powerful language.

Oracle8 presents PL/SQL programmers with new challenges by increasing both the possibilities and complexities of the language. This new edition updates the original book for Oracle8, adding chapters describing the new PL/SQL object features (object types, collections, object views, and external procedures). The second edition also contains a much-requested chapter on tuning PL/SQL, as well as expanded discussions of debugging and tracing PL/SQL execution.

The book comes with a companion diskette containing the Companion Utilities Guide for Oracle PL/SQL Programming, an online tool developed by RevealNet, Inc. The online guide contains more than 100 file of source code and documentation prepared by the authors.

Even if you've already read the first edition of Oracle PL/SQL Programming, you'll find an enormous amount of new and revised information in this second edition and on its companion diskette. If you're new to PL/SQL, you'll soon find yourself on the road to mastery.

NOTE: To make room for the new material, some summaries and code from the first edition have been moved to the companion disk.

Oracle PL/SQL Programming is divided into seven parts:

Foreword Preface

Part I: Programming in PL/SQL

• 1. Introduction to PL/SQL
• 2. PL/SQL Language Fundamentals
• 3. Effective Coding Style

Part II: PL/SQL Language Elements 4. Variables and Program Data 5. Conditional and Sequential Control 6. Database Interaction and Cursors 7. Loops 8. Exception Handlers 9. Records in PL/SQL 10.PL/SQL Tables Part III: Built-in Functions and Packages

• 11. Character Functions
• 12. Date Functions
• 13. Numeric, LOB, and Miscellaneous Functions
• 14. Conversion Functions

Part IV: Modular Code

• 15. Procedures and Functions
• 16. Packages
• 17. Calling Stored PL/SQL Functions from SQL

Part V: PL/SQL Oracle8 Features

• 18. Object Types
• 19. Nested Tables and VARRAYs
• 20. Object Views
• 21. External Procedures

Part VI: Making PL/SQL Programs Work

• 22. Code Design Tips
• 23. Managing Code in the Database
• 24. Debugging PL/SQL
• 25. Tracing PL/SQL
• 26. Tuning PL/SQL

Part VII: Appendixes

• A. What's on the Companion Disk?
• B. Calling Stored Procedures from PL/SQL Version 1.1
• C. Built-in Packages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

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.

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 987 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; Second Edition edition (January 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565923359
• ISBN-13: 978-1565923355
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,304,117 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The TRUE bible for PL/SQL programming (not the one by Urman), March 27, 2000

By 

jaramill "gjaram" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oracle PL/SQL Programming (Paperback)

I recommend this book wholeheartedly for beginners as well as veterans of PL/SQL. Especially against the Oracle Press book by author Scott Urman. That book (though it covers the basics), it does not give you the tips and tricks or insight as does Steve's book.

The O'Reilly series book is well crafted, with excellent examples. The style of writing is humorous as well as straight forward. And it is a companion amongst other Oracle books by O'Reilly. O'Reilly Publishing seems to know Oracle better than Oracle Press knows itself.

Gio

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book for the PL/SQL connoisseur !, May 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Oracle PL/SQL Programming (Paperback)

May be it is not the book for a person seeing PL/SQL for the first time. But this is one book close to my heart. Combined with Feuerstein's humor and distinctive style of writing and the O'Reilly stamp , this is one book which you would like to savour -- line by line -- Feuerstein has nuggets of info hidden away. Read if you have time to enjoy it ! Not really a book for fast reference. Also this book does not talk about database triggers .For a quick lookup, may be Scott Urman's (Oracle Press) PL/SQL book is better. I have both. But , if you're a serious PL/SQL programmer and looking for the finer points -- this book is an absolute must !

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference for PL/SQL programming, October 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Oracle PL/SQL Programming (Paperback)

If you need a single reference/learning book for PL/SQL, this would be it. If you are a beginner to PL/SQL, when you buy this book, please spend the time to read it and experiment. For a quicker start, maybe Scott Urman's (Oracle Press) PL/SQL book is better. I have both. But, if you're a serious PL/SQL programmer and looking for the finer points -- this book is an absolute must!