New Oracle8i Advanced PL/SQL Programming Book

PL/SQL is a popular procedural language for creating high performance applications that are Web-enabled and integrated with a relational database, such as Oracle. An extension of industry standard SQL (Structured Query Language), PL/SQL is a valuable tool for manipulating data both internally within an Oracle database and externally for applications. Plus, PL/SQL has enterprise level scalability and follows a robust security model.

Given the language's use and importance in the Oracle community, Oracle Press is pleased to announce a new book designed to be both a user's guide and reference to PL/SQL: Oracle8i Advanced PL/SQL Programming, by Scott Urman (Osborne/McGraw-Hill, ISBN: 0-07-212146-7, $49.99, 777 pages). Scott Urman is a Senior Member of the Technical Staff in the Diagnostics and Defect Resolution team in Oracle's Server Technologies Division, and has written two previous Oracle Press books on PL/SQL which have sold more than 115,000 copies combined: Oracle PL/SQL Programming (1996) and Oracle8 PL/SQL Programming (1997).

Unlike its two predecessors, Oracle8i Advanced PL/SQL Programming focuses on the advanced usage of PL/SQL and includes coverage on all the new features of Oracle8i. The first part of the book briefly introduces PL/SQL and the environments in which it runs, and describes some of the major features of the language. Later, the book delves into seven different techniques for debugging applications, enhancing and adding new material to the debugging sections of previous editions. Overall, Oracle8i Advanced PL/SQL Programming covers packages, triggers, dynamic SQL, external routines, objects, and collections. A discussion of the most commonly used supplied packages is also included.

Plus, Oracle8i Advanced PL/SQL Programming comes with a content-packed CDROM that contains online versions of all of the examples in the book, electronic-only versions of some chapters, and trial versions of five different development tools from four different vendors. These tools include: TOAD and SQL Navigator from Quest Software; SQL Programmer IXfrom Sylvain Faust International; Rapid SQL from Embarcadero Technologies;and XPEDITER/SQL from Compuware Corp This CD-ROM offers programmers a rare centralized location for comparing a variety of tools at once anddetermining which work best for their needs.

"This book/CD-ROM package is a huge value to PL/SQL programmers using Oracle," says Oracle Press Editor, Jeremy Judson. "In addition to being a costeffective, time-efficient learning device, it is also well-written by a PL/SQL veteran pro and contains all the information programmers need to build powerful Web applications."

Oracle8i Advanced PL/SQL Programming instructs programmers on how to:

• Work effectively in Oracle8i's PL/SQL development and execution environments and debug PL/SQL applications using DBMS--DEBUG and DBMS--TRACE, as well as third-party tools;
• Take advantage of Oracle8i's increased package body size;
• Schedule PL/SQL jobs to run automatically at specified times with DBMS--JOB the UTL--FILE package to allow PL/SQL to read from and write to operating system files;
• Use native dynamic SQL to create and execute SQL and PL/SQL statements at runtime;
• Enable intersession communication with database pipes and database alerts external routines with embedded SQL (Pro--C/C++) and the Oracle Call Interfaces (OCI);
• Use object types and methods effectively, including Oracle8i enhancements to them;
• Manipulate large objects (LOBs) with the DBMS--LOB package and more!

To purchase a copy of Oracle8i Advanced PL/SQL Programming, please call 1-800-262-4729.

About The Author

Scott Urman is a Senior Member of the Technical Staff in the Diagnostics and Defect Resolution (DDR) team in Oracle's Server Technologies Division.He currently focuses on JDBC, and has worked with both PL/SQL and OCI.Prior to joining DDR, he was a Senior Analyst in the Languages division of Oracle Support Services, focusing on all of Oracle's language tools. He is also the best-selling author of Oracle8 PL/SQL Programming and Oracle PL/SQL Programming (both from Oracle Press).

About Oracle Corporation (www.oracle.com)

Oracle Corporation provides the software that powers the Internet. For more information about Oracle, please call 1-650-506-7000.

About Oracle Press

Since May 1994, Osborne/McGraw-Hill's Oracle Press has worked closely with Oracle's product, education, and training teams as well as the user community to complement Oracle's documentation and provide data management professionals with the most comprehensive, current, and reliableinformation on Oracle available. Today Oracle Press has over 60 titles in the hands of million readers. From its initial focus on Oracle's core database products to our expanded coverage of emerging applications and Web development tools, Oracle Press should be a core part of any Oracle professional's development.

About The Osborne Media Group (www.osborne.com)

The Osborne Media Group, headquartered in Berkeley, California, is a leading publisher of computer books that include user and reference guides; bestselling series on computer certification; high level but practical titles on networking, communication, and programming; and the hottest titles on new eb development tools. With its established strategic publishing relationships with Oracle, Corel, Global Knowledge, J.D. Edwards, and Intuit, The Osborne Media Group is targeting consumer support, emerging technologies, and innovative applications for developing future computer books. Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a global information services provider serving the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, Business Week and the McGraw-Hill educational imprint. The corporation employs 16,500 people located in more than 400 offices in 32 countries. Sales in 1999 were $4.0 billion.

Contact Denise Graab, Osborne Media Group 510-549-6628.