The first edition of Oracle PL/SQL Programming quickly became an indispensable reference for both novice and experienced PL/SQL developers. Packed with examples and recommendations, it helped everyone using PL/SQL (from the Oracle Forms developer to the database administrator) make the most of this powerful language.

Oracle8 presents PL/SQL programmers with new challenges by increasing both the possibilities and complexities of the language. This new edition updates the original book for Oracle8, adding chapters describing the new PL/SQL object features (object types, collections, object views, and external procedures). The second edition also contains a much-requested chapter on tuning PL/SQL, as well as expanded discussions of debugging and tracing PL/SQL execution.

The book comes with a companion diskette containing the Companion Utilities Guide for Oracle PL/SQL Programming, an online tool developed by RevealNet, Inc. The online guide contains more than 100 file of source code and documentation prepared by the authors.

Even if you've already read the first edition of Oracle PL/SQL Programming, you'll find an enormous amount of new and revised information in this second edition and on its companion diskette. If you're new to PL/SQL, you'll soon find yourself on the road to mastery.

NOTE: To make room for the new material, some summaries and code from the first edition have been moved to the companion disk.

Oracle PL/SQL Programming is divided into seven parts:

Foreword Preface

Part I: Programming in PL/SQL

• 1. Introduction to PL/SQL
• 2. PL/SQL Language Fundamentals
• 3. Effective Coding Style

Part II: PL/SQL Language Elements

4. Variables and Program Data

5. Conditional and Sequential Control

6. Database Interaction and Cursors

7. Loops

8. Exception Handlers

9. Records in PL/SQL

10.PL/SQL Tables

Part III: Built-in Functions and Packages

• 11. Character Functions
• 12. Date Functions
• 13. Numeric, LOB, and Miscellaneous Functions
• 14. Conversion Functions

Part IV: Modular Code

• 15. Procedures and Functions
• 16. Packages
• 17. Calling Stored PL/SQL Functions from SQL

Part V: PL/SQL Oracle8 Features

• 18. Object Types
• 19. Nested Tables and VARRAYs
• 20. Object Views
• 21. External Procedures

Part VI: Making PL/SQL Programs Work

• 22. Code Design Tips
• 23. Managing Code in the Database
• 24. Debugging PL/SQL
• 25. Tracing PL/SQL
• 26. Tuning PL/SQL

Part VII: Appendixes

• A. What's on the Companion Disk?
• B. Calling Stored Procedures from PL/SQL Version 1.1
• C. Built-in Packages