Definitive Guide

Jonathan Gennick is an O'Reilly & Associates editor specializing in database and programming titles. Prior to joining O'Reilly, Jonathan amassed some 17 years of programming and database management experience. During the latter part of his career he specialized in relational database programming, and more recently in database management. Jonathan got his start with relational database systems in 1990, first working with Ingres, and later with Digital's Rdb software. During that period he developed a fondness for SQL, and for the challenge of applying SQL creatively in ways that leveraged it's set-oriented capabilities. In 1994 Jonathan made the leap to Oracle, and is now often found writing about it. Recent projects include Oracle SQL*Loader (O'Reilly & Associates, 2001); Oracle SQL*Plus Pocket Reference (O'Reilly & Associates, 2000); Oracle SQL*Plus: The Definitive Guide (O'Reilly & Associates, 1999); More recently, Jonathan has made forays into other database products, coauthoring Transact-SQL Cookbook (O'Reilly & Associates, 2002) and editing Practical PostgreSQL (O'Reilly & Associates, 2002). Jonathan is certified as an Oracle DBA and is a member of MENSA and the Oracle Technology Network. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Information and Computer Science, with a Business Administration minor, from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Jonathan currently resides in Munising, Michigan with his wife Donna and their two children: Jenny and Jeff.

• Preface 1. Introduction to SQL*Plus What Is SQL*Plus? History of SQL*Plus Why Master SQL*Plus? Creating and Loading the Sample Tables 2. Command-Line SQL*Plus Starting Command-Line SQL*Plus; Starting Windows SQL*Plus Some Basic SQL*Plus Commands Running SQL Queries Working With PL/SQL The SQL Buffer Line Editing Executing the Statement in the Buffer Saving and Retrieving the Buffer The EDIT Command Executing a Script; The Working Directory 3. Browser-Based SQL*Plus Starting iSQL*Plus Executing SQL*Plus Commands Running SQL Queries; Working with PL/SQL Executing Scripts iSQL*Plus Command History 4. A Lightning SQL Tutorial Data Manipulation Statements Transactions The Concept of Null Table Joins; Sorting Query Results Grouping and Summarizing Subqueries; Unions To Learn More 5. Generating Reports with SQL*Plus; Following a Methodology Saving Your Work Designing a Simple Report Master/Detail Reports 6. Creating HTML Reports; Getting the Data into an HTML Table Generating the Entire Page; Another Approach to Headers Master/Detail Reports in HTML; 7. Advanced Reports Totals and Subtotals Getting the Current Date into a Header Report Headers and Footers Formatting Object Columns Summary Reports Taking Advantage of Unions; 8. Writing SQL*Plus Scripts Why Write Scripts? Using Substitution Variables Prompting for Values Cleaning Up the Display Executing a Script Controlling Variable Substitution; Commenting Your Scripts Resetting Your SQL*Plus Environment; Scripting Issues with iSQL*Plus 9. Extracting and Loading Data; Types of Output Files Limitations of SQL*Plus Extracting the Data An Excel-Specific HTML Hack Reloading the Data 10. Exploring Your Database The DESCRIBE Command Oracle's Data Dictionary Views Tables Table Constraints Indexes; Triggers Synonyms Table Security Scripting the Data Dictionary; Using SQL to Write SQL The Master Key 11. Advanced Scripting; Bind Variables Branching in SQL*Plus Looping in SQL*Plus; Validating and Parsing User Input Error Handling Returning Values to Unix 12. Tuning and Timing Using SQL*Plus Timers; Using EXPLAIN PLANstatements Using AUTOTRACE Improving on EXPLAIN PLAN Results Where to Find More Tuning Information; 13. The Product User Profile What Is the Product User Profile?; Using the Product User Profile 14. Customizing Your SQL*Plus Environment SQL*Plus Settings You Can Control The Site and User Profiles Environment Variables That Affect SQL*Plus Windows GUI SQL*Plus iSQL*Plus User Preferences A. SQL*Plus Command Reference B. SQL*Plus Format Elements Index