Oracle PL/SQL Programming Guide to Oracle8i Features [With Disk]

by Steven Feuerstein

Oracle8i, the long-awaited "Internet database" from Oracle Corporation, has hit the streets running--and you may find yourself struggling to keep up with Oracle's fast-moving technology. Oracle boasts... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1565926757
• ISBN13: 9781565926752
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 1.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.0" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Technically excellent! AND a well rounded person

I particularly needed the chapters on NDS and Bulk Collections - also good is the TUSC book Advanced PL/SQL Tips and Techniques. How unusual to find a programmer with a political conscience, not just another self-centered, workaholic, money-hungry, vacation in the Bahamas type ;> I found it refreshing.

More than good supplement to PL/SQL series from O'Reilly!

In the preface of this book Steven announced that he is developing the third edition of his well-known book "Oracle PL/SQL Programming" that will cover Oracle8i. I hope he'll postpone this release until Oracle9i hits the market so he can cover this major release too. In the meantime I think this book is perfect supplement to PL/SQL series from O'Reilly. Even if you don't follow Steven series on PL/SQL (which I doubt if you're Oracle developer on planet Earth ;-) you'll find this book more than adequate resource for quick reference on all major Oracle8i PL/SQL features. I particularly liked chapters on invoker rights, native dynamic SQL, fine-grained access control and new trigger features. If you're not familiar with these terms then you'll be glad that you read this book! The only (minor!) deficiency that I found in this book was what Steven is calling "breath of fresh air" approach to examples that will help us engage with the technical material. Perhaps I could better relate to the examples about USA health care, gun lobby or fairness of wage structures if I ever lived in the states. Steven, if you're reading this please go back to old boring emp/dept examples or pick somehow less distract full examples.

A Quick upgrade to Oracle 8i for the PL/SQL developer

This book effectively explains and illustrates the new features of Oracle 8i. Any serious user of this book should just stick to learning the concepts and avoid seeing the examples for what they are. The author has chosen a medium to get the message across. The message is not the medium,get it right ! As long as you appreciate the application of these features stay contented.

Good technical content, politics are out of line

Mr. Feuerstein has consistently been the guru in the PL/SQL world, and nearly every developer I know carries dog-eared copies of his books. However, he has definitely overstepped the bounds of technical writing with his latest book, Guide to Oracle 8i Features. The technical content of this book is extremely complete and useful. The political commentary is uncalled for and offensive.At first, his use of "real world" scenarios as code examples was annoying -- and eventually it became offensive. I respect Mr. Feuerstein's personal beliefs and his right to have them; however, they are wholly inappropriate in a technical book. Using pick_nato_targets (with input parameters such as "maternity_ward_ok" and "civilian_casualties") is grossly offensive, even if someone happens to share his beliefs.The examples are distracting, and do not add anything to the text in any way. Everyone to whom I have shown this book was appalled at the examples. The technical editor in our office was horrified, and most of the other developers who have seen this book will not purchase it. None of us wish to be preached at, or be the target of condescending and offensive examples.Please let me stress that I respect Mr. Feuerstein's opinions -- but if he wants to write political opinions, he should be using a different forum, not a PL/SQL technical reference. The political content of this book is completely unprofessional, inappropriate, and embarrassing. I expect this kind of proselytizing in the editorial page of the local paper, not in a technical reference book. However, the technical content of the book is very good (as are all the Oracle texts from O'Reilly). I will probably continue to use it as a reference.

Very helpful - was practical help in E-Commerce Security

The political stuff doesn't bother at all. It's just the variable names of the packages and procedures. But what is more important. New technologies like row level security (DBMS_RLS) , the Fine Grained Acces Control - the new dynamic SQL - possibilites like creating an Oracle schema/user dynamically (eg. one who logs himself in over a browser/webserver, which calls the relevant package that implements the technique) - logging mechanisms thru autonomous transactions. I could use all of that stuff for an Oracle 8i-JavaServlet-JavaServerPages - Project, which would otherwise have let me look in 10 different books ! Great ; but that's almost normal from Stevens books ! You sometimes almost can just copy and paste and adjust a bit. Saved me a lot of time.