Customer Reviews

Oracle8: The Complete Reference

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I got into this book in depth when I was studying for test 1 of 4 for Oracle DBA Certification. That test, and this book, cover application level concepts, such as SQL, privleges, data dictionary stuff, PL/SQL, and the like. The explanations and examples are extremely good, very clear and easy to understand. They are well developed, coherent, easy to follow, and use good sample data. There is no way you won't have an in-depth understanding of Oracle from an application developers standpoint if you read this book. It was literally a joy to read after studying some of the sloppy certification guides that are out there. I'm very confident in my Oracle skills, with this book at my side.

This is very good book for the beginners I found this book very helpful.The language and examples are easily understood and it answers almost all of your questions on Oracle database.The reference material at the end is really useful but I wish there was more coverage on PL/SQL.

What's great about this book is that it answers your questions while they're still forming in your head! Before you can say "Well why is this..." it has your answer in the next line. The book also starts out in easy to understand language so you don't get scared away. I liked it!

This is an excellent book for learning SQL, SQL Functions, PL/SQL, ORACLE database structures like Procedures, Packages, Functions, Triggers, Tables, Synonyms, Views , Indexes and clusters .

This book is highly recommended for ORACLE programmers (both:- who program in PL/SQL and ORACLE Dev2k) and starters. It explains SQL, SQL Functions ,PL/SQL , Procedures, Functions, Packages very exhaustively and also explains the database structures (which I mentioned in the first line) only to a limit required by an ORACLE programmer. The authors have done a stupendous job and the explanation offered never fails to enphasize the minute points which we tend to forget.

Finally the recommendation:-

If you are :-

(1)An ORACLE programmer (starter as well as experienced) grab a copy of this book right now.

(2)An ORACLE DBA , must for you as well but in conjuction with a book which covers ORACLE internals (the hardcore DBA concepts).

(3)A jump starter , please find some other book as this one will make you a master but will take time too.

(4)An OO programmer trying to evaluate new OO features in ORACLE 8 , its for you.

(5)An OO programmer who is interested in just the OO features of ORACLE 8 then there might be some other books around as well.

Not bad if all you want is a large book of definitions with little how to.

This book cover writing code in SQL and PL/SQL. First few chapters give introduction to database design. I was hoping for information on Developer 2000. I needed information on how to create forms, reports, and a user interface. I think I should have read the description a little more carefully.

...First of all, this is NOT the book to use if you want to learn Oracle, or SQL. This is NOT the way to get your feet wet in database programming. However, if you are already a database professional, who needs a detailed, COMPREHENSIVE reference of Oracle's many features, functions, and capabilities, this is well worth the asking price. The CD documentation is not all that great, but the book's index is pretty thorough, so I'm willing to forgive that. Remember - this book is designed for the PROFESSIONAL.