Oracle8: The Complete Reference [Hardcover]

George Koch (Author), Kevin Loney (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 007882396X | ISBN-13: 978-0078823961 | Publication Date: August 1, 1997

This work serves as a reference on Oracle8 and contains information on handling very large databases (VLDBs) and Oracle Context. It features tutorial, theory and command references. The accompanying CD-ROM includes the reference section and all tables covered in the book. The book has been updated to cover versions 7.0 through 8.0. The book is organized into six parts. Part One introduces database concepts. Part Two discusses SQL (structured query language), which allows programmers to process information to and from a database. Part Three is the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Data Dictionary". Part Four discusses database design considerations. Part Five is an alphabetical reference for virtually every Oracle command. Part Six lists the tables used in the book. The book offers both coverage of using Oracle and a substantial command reference listing the syntax and sample usage for every major command. It also includes a new chapter called "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Oracle Optimizer". This presents the SQL operations and tuning issues directed towards a beginner-user market. George Koch is the author of "ORacle DBA Handbook".

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Any Oracle developer who has used Oracle: The Complete Reference knows that it is an elegant, indispensable guide to the overwhelming world of Oracle database interaction. Its successor--Oracle8: The Complete Reference--is even more comprehensive. Succinct examples are used to document the many functions and SQL nuances available in the Oracle toolbox. The authors provide handholding introductions to more advanced topics such as PL/SQL and object-relational databases.

The revised alphabetical reference makes it even easier to recall the order of arguments passed to long-forgotten functions and many new ones. Beginners will appreciate the exhaustive documentation of the SQLPLUS client and a discussion of user permissions, while seasoned developers can get their hands dirty in the intricacies of using large objects under Oracle8. All of this information is made easier to retrieve thanks to the accompanying, easily searchable CD-ROM. --Tim Kohn

From the Back Cover

The Most Authoritative Coverage of Oracle8 Available.

More than 500,000 Oracle Press books are in the hands of Oracle developers worldwide due to their exhaustive insider's coverage of the world's most popular RDBMS. The encyclopedic Oracle8: The Complete Reference is the cornerstone of Oracle's core curriculum. Fully revised, this #1 best-seller is back - bigger and even better than ever - providing the full story of Oracle8, The Database for Network Computing.

Written by a former senior vice president of Oracle Corporation, George Koch, and best-selling Oracle author, Kevin Loney, this easy-to-use book/CD covers the full suite of Oracle8's capabilities. In straightforward language, the authors simplify even the most complex aspects of Oracle8 - and reveal scores of insider tips and secrets along the way.

Oracle developers of all skill levels will harness the true power of Oracle8 as they use this special hardcover edition to:

• Find full coverage of Oracle8 written in understandable terms
• Implement object technology in Oracle8
• Develop applications with the Oracle ConText Cartridge, Oracle8's powerful database search tool
• Discover Oracle8's more robust handling of very large databases
• Understand basic concepts of PL/SQL
• Find every important Oracle8 command, function, syntax, keyword, concept, and product in the huge alphabetical reference

Unmatched in range, content, and authority, Oracle8: The Complete Reference has set the standard for Oracle reference guides. This one-of-a-kind book and CD package is a must have for every Oracle developer - whether a seasoned professional or just getting started.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1344 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies (August 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 007882396X
• ISBN-13: 978-0078823961
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,533,502 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Broad but surprisingly incomplete for its size, December 4, 1999

By 

Lawrence J. Winkler "Larry W" (Madison, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Oracle8: The Complete Reference (Hardcover)

I used this book as the textbook in a college course in learning SQL using ORACLE that I was teaching. I surveyed the book in the process of preparing the reading assignments, then taught the topics.

To my surprise, too often, I presented material commonly used that the book did not address or did not cover well (such as "FM" formatting code as a simple example). Students found the book inadequate for understanding, and I needed to cover material in lecture because the book did not adequately cover.

The tuning chapter does an excellent job of abstracting the tuning process but it does not relate that discussion to explain plan output.

For its discussion of SQL/PLUS I had to supplement by giving them a complete copy of the SQL/PLUS command reference from the online documentation to allow them to perform their assignments.

The book is adequate, an overview of Oracle. But for its size, it's missing the information necessary to move confidently into practice.

Unfortunately, this book may still be the best available.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ultimate Oracle Reference, December 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Oracle8: The Complete Reference (Hardcover)

1. Oracle online documentation is notoriously awkward. This book is no exception. But who cares? Forget the CD -- use the print. If you really want something to view on your computer, join the Oracle Developer Program. It's free, and many of the CD's have ALL the Oracle manuals in HTML format! Plus you get free trial software including the server software.

2. This book is NOT suitable for learning the basics of SQL (such as how to do a join). Any basic "Learning SQL" book will teach that. What it IS suitable for is finding function syntax, format masks, as well as understanding more complex issues like how the SQL optimizer works and how to code accordingly. It's also not a very good PL/SQL reference. Check out the author Steven Feuerstein for his books on those subjects.

Don't expect one book to do it all, but damn, this book comes pretty close. For in-depth server information, try the Oracle Server Concepts manual.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Useful book containing many stupid things, March 6, 2000

By 

joe_n_bloe (Ester AK USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Oracle8: The Complete Reference (Hardcover)

First, the Oracle8 Complete Reference is a useful reference book. But try not to pay too much attention to the actual words of the author(s). Some of them are laughable. I'll keep this brief, so here's just one excerpt:

"ORACLE8 does not presently support an OO concept called polymorphism. Polymorphism is the ability of the same instruction to be interpreted different ways by different objects. For example, assume that the instruction is 'fire'. The 'fire' instruction, as applied to the 'employee' object, would be interpreted in one manner; the same instruction, as applied to the 'gun' object, would be interpreted in a totally different manner."

Apparently the author doesn't know the difference between polymorphism and a pun. He certainly doesn't have any understanding of what polymorphism really means. His defense of ORACLE SQL extensions is even sillier, and his presentation of normalization is oblique and confused (and fortunately, because he apparently doesn't really understand it, he only wastes a couple of pages on the topic), but as I said, I'll keep this brief. What's bad about this is that the author is filling fresh new minds with misinformation. But that's hardly a rarity in technical publishing nowadays.

Decent books on DBMS are rare. This isn't a decent book, but it is a decent reference for ORACLE8, and probably better than many other "big thick book" alternatives. Caveat emptor.