Oracle8 for Dummies [Paperback]

Carol McCullough (Author), Ned Dana (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 16, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0764502395 | ISBN-13: 978-0764502392

Oracle is one of the most powerful, most sophisticated databases around. But let's face it -- the accompanying manuals leave something to be desired. Fortunately, with Oracle8 For Dummies, you can get up to speed quickly with the latest version of this top database program.

Professional Oracle database administrator Carol McCullough covers all the essential topics, including

• Using SQL Worksheet, a utility that uses industry-standard SQL (Standard Query Language) to let you get at your data, wherever it may reside
• Working with a diagram to make sense of an existing database or to make your own new database sensible from the get-go
• Thinking in terms of objects and realizing their relational potential for your data
• Creating tables and controlling security and data sharing
• Generating precise, useful reports that transform mere data into valuable information
• Optimizing Oracle8 and your SQL programs for quick, as well as accurate, results

Plus, Oracle8 For Dummies comes complete with a bonus Windows NT 4 CD-ROM containing a sample database along with sample scripts to experiment with and adapt for your own projects.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Free Oracle8 "Cheat Sheet" Inside!

Manage Your Relational Databases More Effectively with the New Features Included in Oracle8! Unleash the power of Oracle8 with Oracle8^™ For Dummies^®. Inside, you'll find practical advice on how to create solid relational databases, work with examples of SQL that will run on any Oracle8 platform, and save time as you explore Oracle8's unique features. Whether you use Oracle8 at home or at work, this reference offers clear answers and is logically organized for easy access to the information you need. About the CD The valuable bonus CD includes SQL sample scripts and complete tables with sample data from the book. System Requirements: PC with Windows NT 4.0 or higher; Oracle8; 16MB RAM; and a CD-ROM drive Ask for IDG Books' …For Dummies^® Books, the Fun and Easy Way to Find Out about Computers. Also look for IDG Books' Java^™ Programming For Dummies^®, 2nd Edition, the fun and easy way to program with Java, and ActiveX^™ For Dummies^®, the fast and friendly way to build dynamic Web sites.

Inside, find helpful advice on how to:

• Work with dozens of examples of SQL code
• Design expert relational databases
• Develop tuning tips on how to best index columns
• Make sure that your databases are secure
• Apply SQL Plus examples and instructions for all Oracle8 platforms
• Diagram your database by following Carol's clear, simple steps
• Use Oracle8's Enterprise Manager to control all aspects of your databases
• Decipher databases and SQL jargon
• Find and remove errors from your databases

About the Author

About the Author Carol McCullough is an Oracle database administrator. She has designed and taught courses in SQL, Oracle performance tuning, and database design. As a computer consultant specializing in Oracle, she built database systems for state government and private companies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 380 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (October 16, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764502395
• ISBN-13: 978-0764502392
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,962,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for Beginners. Poor for Advanced Admin/Developers, November 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Oracle8 for Dummies (Paperback)

The book is actually very good at the basics, and getting a user up and running very quickly with Oracle8. Note, however, the entire book applies to only Oracle8 running on NT4.0, and not any other platform.

The author could have aided the user further by going into more depth in many areas instead of making cute comments throughout the book. I read books for information, not to be entertained.

The CD was poor. It did not even load, and there is no way to contact the author, or a web-site to get bug fixes, or updates. The majority of the books example's rely on the CD and it sample database. And of all the people that buy and actually need this book (aka Dummies), the author needs to provide on-line help for them, or conduct better editing and quality testing before publishing this book.

In summary: if you are completely new to Oracle, but this book. If you have been using Oracle for more than two months, you are no longer a "Dummy", and you will only be satisfied with books of a higher caliber.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Another example of a rush to meet a deadline, January 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Oracle8 for Dummies (Paperback)

I've read several different books on a host of computing languages. I'm not a "God" in any of them, but I CAN read code. I thought that this, my first foray in to "the Dummies" series, might offer a nice leg-up to understand Oracle, Unfortunately this book appears to fall into that morass of books where examples are given without someone checking that the example code actually works. Missing end line ";" characters and vague examples did not expand my understanding of the power of ORACLE 8. The attempts at a folksy writing style merely made me have to search through poor puns, jokes and examples to determine if there was important content, or just yet another reference to the author's home state of Maui or her favourite TV show Star Trek; TNG. The exceptionally poor part was the complete truncation of the last chapter: examples using both the Enterprise Manage and SQL code were shown in parallel. The SQL code was where I was making most progress in understanding ORACLE, but the chapter ends with "... next is an example using SQL." Then the glossary started. Ugh. I'm sorry I bought this book for $40. Bottom line: Lots of repetitive examples for how to boot up, step-by-step each example. Poor code demonstration. Sections left incomplete.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for beginners, July 4, 2000

By 

Susan Wilson (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oracle8 for Dummies (Paperback)

Oracle 8 for Dummies, covered the fundamentals very well. I feel it is a good place to start for novices, but not intermediate and advanced database administrators. Oh yeah, and what about platforms other than NT?