Oracle SQL : the Essential Reference

SQL (Structured Query Language) is the heart of a relational database management system. Despite SQL's long history and relative simplicity, few developers and database administrators are truly masters of the language. The syntax can be confusing, especially because each vendor enhances SQL in various ways, and each new system release brings with it new SQL statement options. Oracle SQL: The Essential Reference will keep everyone who needs to access an Oracle database using SQL–developers, DBAs, designers, and managers–ahead of the learning curve on standard SQL and Oracle's extensions to it. This single, concise reference volume will hold its own against a stack of Oracle manuals and even yield insights and examples not available in those manuals. There are chapters on basic SQL elements, Data Definition Language (DDL) and Data Manipulation Language (DML), common language elements, SQL functions, PL/SQL, SQL*Plus, and Oracle SQL optimization and tuning. The book covers Oracle 8i, release 8.1.6. David C. Kreines is the manager of database services for Rhodia, Inc., and the coauthor of Oracle Database Administration: The Essential Reference (O'Reilly & Associates, 1999) and Oracle Scripts (O'Reilly & Associates, 1998). Dave has worked with Oracle as a developer and database administrator since 1985, on a wide variety of platforms from PCs to mainframes. He is an Oracle Certified Professional, certified as a DBA, and has been a frequent contributor to Oracle conferences, user groups, and publications, both in the United States and in Europe. Dave served two terms as president of the International Oracle Users Group–Americas, and spent ten years on the board of directors.