Oracle8i for Dummies [Paperback]

Carol McCullough-Dieter (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 076450570X | ISBN-13: 978-0764505706 | Publication Date: June 30, 1999

"Cheat Sheet" included with Example SQL Commands

Discover How to Make the Most of Oracle8i's Powerful New Java Features

An essential tool for e-commerce, Oracle8i is the first relational database to integrate Java programs, Web sites, and Internet content. In Oracle8i^™ For Dummies^®, author Carol McCullough-Dieter takes the complexity out of the program's new features and saves you time with expert tips, sample SQL code, and real-world advice. Whether you're upgrading or just starting out, this guide provides a clear and practical road map that will put Oracle8i to work for you. Valuable Bonus CD Includes:

• Toad: Trial version of SQL editing tool for serious Oracle developers from Quest Software.
• HomeSite 4.0: Evaluation version of popular tool to create Web pages.
• ColdFusion Studio 4.0 for Windows: Evaluation version of award-winning cross-platform Web application server.

Shareware programs are fully functional, free trial versions of copyrighted programs. If you like particular programs, register with their authors for a nominal fee and receive licenses, enhanced versions, and technical support. Freeware programs are free, copyrighted games, applications, and utilities. You can copy them to as many PCs as you like—free—but they have no technical support. System Requirements: 486 or faster PC running Windows 95 or later or running Unix OS, or Windows NT 4.0 or later; 16MB RAM; CD-ROM drive double-speed (2X) or faster; Internet connection (14,400 bps or faster modem, or network-regular access charges apply).

Inside, find helpful advice on how to:

• Simplify tasks with the new Enterprise Manager toolset
• Grasp the new methodology of object SQL
• Deliver HTML documents over the Web with the Java Virtual Machine
• Turbocharge your database with helpful query shortcuts
• Decipher object types, nested tables, and arrays
• Uncover the secrets of well-designed databases

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Oracle8i for Dummies provides an easily absorbable explanation of what you need to know about Oracle8i to use it effectively. The book includes accurate, easy-to-follow tutorials on Structured Query Language (SQL), the Enterprise Manager, system tables, and the data-dictionary views that derive from them. The coverage of Object SQL, though brief, is particularly praiseworthy, and there's a similarly fine but short introduction to SQLJ, the Java-based language that's slated to replace PL/SQL.

As is the case with most Dummies books, you'll find that this one gets you off to a great start before leaving you hungry for more detailed coverage of advanced features. Once you get to that stage, look into Oracle8 Design Tips. You may also like SQL Fundamentals, particularly if you need to adapt your knowledge of Microsoft SQL for use in an Oracle environment. --David Wall

Topics covered: New features of Oracle8i; creating and administering Oracle databases; creating tables, tablespaces, objects, and relationships among objects; and user administration and security data.

About the Author

About the Author A self-made Oracle expert with more than 15 years of experience, Carol McCullough-Dieter has developed and taught courses on database design. The author of several books on Oracle, she has built database systems — both large and small — for state government and private corporations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (June 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076450570X
• ISBN-13: 978-0764505706
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,093,545 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get Primed, February 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Oracle8i for Dummies (Paperback)

Oracle beginners will definitely want to take a look at Oracle 8i for Dummies. This is one Oracle book that requires very little prior knowledge of relational databases. The author will get you going with a good theoretical discussion of topics such as database structures, data normalization and the use of primary and foreign keys. If you don't need a theory primer, then jump straight into the sample data examples that form the core of this book.

This book is true to its `Dummies' tradition. The examples, which are provided on the CD that accompanies the book, are very down-to-earth. The author demystifies even the most complicated features of Oracle 8i, such as object types and object tables. The SQL presented in the examples is easy to understand and is more than adequate for beginners. The book will also give you enough basic knowledge of database administration to keep you out of trouble. And yes, the source code on the CD installs and works well.

To benefit from this book, you need to have Oracle 8i, the Oracle Enterprise Manager, and Oracle WebDB already installed on your system. All of these products can be downloaded for free, on a trial basis, at technet.oracle.com. The book does not cover the installation of these products.

I got what I wanted from this book. I was a complete beginner to Oracle. I needed an inexpensive way to get exposed to Oracle's complicated features. For me, this book was the answer.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent starting point, February 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Oracle8i for Dummies (Paperback)

Oracle 8i for Dummies has two things going for it that other Oracle books don't. First, it sells for 1/2 the price of the others and second, it isn't 400+ pages thick. I was able to go through 8i, Enterprise Manager and WebDB within a day or two and get a good feel for the types of things that can be done. I haven't seen another book yet which would have helped me accomplish this.

I have to admit that those reviews complaining about lack of depth or completeness are somewhat valid. However, if you want this, go get one of the 400+ page monsters. If you want to get started fast, grab this book.

My strategy was to use this book as a starting point. I gained the experience to get around the most significant features with relative ease and I also learned which parts of Oracle 8i I really am interested in. I think that this book was perfect for this. Now I can get a more advanced book to cover the specific topics I need to dive into and expand my Oracle knowledge further.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Alternatives to "Oracle 8i for Dummies", June 13, 2000

By 

Steven Hartman (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Oracle8i for Dummies (Paperback)

As the guy who wrote that last pan, I thought I'd give you my recommendation for some absolute beginner books I HAVE found to be helpful.

They're both published by Oracle Press.

First, there's "Oracle NT Handbook," by Adkoli and Velpuri.

And there's "Oracle 8i for Windows NT Starter Kit" by Bobrowski.

For my dollar, these books are everything that "Oracle 8i for Dummies" should have been but wasn't.