Oracle8i: The Complete Reference (Book/CD-ROM Package) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), George Koch (Author) "For an Oracle8 application to be built and used rapidly and effectively, users and developers must share a common language and a deep and common..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

As documentation of a product that incorporates a highly reliable database server, a set of utilities, and a development environment, Oracle8i: The Complete Reference essentially sets out to do the impossible. The great thing is that it succeeds. For all but the most obscure and situation-specific Oracle8i questions that database administrators (DBAs) and developers might have, this book is almost certain to have the information they need. It explains all the essentials with a straightforward combination of prose, conceptual diagrams, and code listings, so even new Oracle DBAs will derive a lot of use from the authors' work. The key concepts--including relational database design, and queries that use SQL and PL/SQL--get lots of attention. Many details seem to come up at least twice, so readers get a couple of angles on a given subject.

This book isn't a rehash of earlier editions, any more than Oracle8i itself is a rehash of its predecessors. The authors pay special attention to the new aspects of the Oracle environment, particularly to those having to do with stored procedures and Oracle's deepening relationship with the Java programming language. Don't expect to learn Java from the ground up in these pages, but look forward to a comprehensive statement of how Java code (and SQLJ queries) can make your Oracle applications more capable and platform-independent. Every Oracle DBA (and probably every Oracle developer, too) should keep this volume on hand; it's a definitive reference. Although the book isn't designed specifically as a study aid, you certainly could use it as a guide while preparing for Oracle certification. --David Wall

Topics covered: Administration of Oracle databases, and development of applications based upon them. Administrators of Oracle7.x, 8.0.x, and 8i systems will appreciate the sections on performance tuning, optimization, backup, recovery, and general relational database design. Readers with more of a development bent will like the coverage of SQL, PL/SQL, stored procedures, and Oracle's Java features. Sample code appears on a companion CD-ROM, as well as in print.

Product Description

Announcing the 10th Anniversary Edition of the best-selling Oracle book of all time--Oracle8i: The Complete Reference! Written by Oracle experts and complete with a fully searchable book and reusable code on CD-ROM, this is the most definitive resource available on Oracle8i. It's a must-have for every Oracle professional.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1308 pages
• Publisher: Osborne/McGraw-Hill (May 23, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072123648
• ISBN-13: 978-0072123647
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #952,849 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best General Oracle Book, June 5, 2000

By	Dustin Marx (Denver, Colorado) - See all my reviews

This book has much of the same content as its predecessor, Oracle 8: The Complete Reference, but also adds a good chapter on Java (SQLJ, JDBC, stored procedures) and information on other new 8i features. For example, PL/SQL invoker's rights is covered.

I have reviewed several general Oracle books and think this is the best for someone who wants a comprehensive review of core Oracle concepts. No single book can cover everything related to Oracle. For information on precompilers, detailed information on Java tools, Developer, Designer, Discoverer, Applications, and other non-core Oracle products, you should reference a book that directly and solely deals with those products. However, for a thorough reference covering SQL, PL/SQL, database administration, and general database architecture and development, this book is wonderful.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The title says it all, October 25, 2000

By	Water Monkey "Marc B." (Santa Clarita, Ca.) - See all my reviews

You know you need to learn Oracle, but where do you focus; DBA, SQL, WebDB? This reference book will help you learn the inner workings of Oracle.

Being a "complete" reference some areas had to be cut down. But, if you are a DBA or SQL coder this reference will be invaluable to you.

This is a must for any Oracle library and I plan to make it my first stop for reference questions. If you haven't had the oppotunity to attend any classes taught bu Oracle, you definately need this book, in order to get explanations of the differences in procedures in Oracle as compared to other RDBSs

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "The Mostly Complete Reference", June 22, 2001

By	M. Loftus - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

All serious 8i DBA's should have this book on his/her desk, but just don't expect to find everything in it. It is like a soup-bowl: wide, but rather shallow. It contains lots of good syntax and a brief description and explanation of Oracle topics and I refer to it often. But I still have to refer to the more narrowly-focused Oracle books to obtain in-depth detail. This is not a substitute for the other Oracle Press books, just a great addition.