Oracle Built−in Packages- P167 doc

PL /SQL interface to select and modify objects (instances of an object type) in an object table without having to specify or know about the underlying database table. (DBMS_ROWID −− Steven; UTL_RAW −− Chip; UTL_REF −− Steven) Chapter 10, Miscellaneous Packages, contains coverage of a number of packages: DBMS_UTILITY (the actual "miscellaneous" package), DBMS_DDL (contains programs to recompile stored code, analyze objects in your schema, and modify how object identifiers may be referenced in Oracle8), DBMS_RANDOM (a random number generator), and DBMS_DESCRIBE (use it to get information about the parameters of a stored program). (Steven) Part 3, Server Management Packages Chapter 11, Managing Session Information, introduces you to DBMS_SESSION and DBMS_SYSTEM, two packages that help you analyze and manage information about your current session. (John) Chapter 12, Managing Server Resources, presents DBMS_SPACE and DBMS_SHARED_POOL, which contain handy tools for database administrators to help them manage database−related resources on the server. (John) Chapter 13, Job Scheduling in the Database, shows you how to use DBMS_ JOB to schedule the execution of stored procedures without the use of operating system−specific schedulers, such as UNIX's cron. (John) Part 4, Distributed Database Packages Chapter 14, Snapshots, explores the packages, DBMS_SNAPSHOT, DBMS_REFRESH, and DBMS_OFFLINE_SNAPSHOT, and some programs in DBMS_REPCAT, showing how to maintain snapshots, snapshot groups, and snapshot logs. (Charles) Chapter 15, Advanced Replication, explains how to use DBMS_REPCAT, DBMS_REPUTIL, DBMS_OFFLINE_OG, DBMS_REPCAT_ADMIN, DBMS_REPCAT_AUTH, and DBMS_RECTIFIER_DIFF to create and administer your replicated databases. (Charles) Chapter 16, Conflict Resolution, shows you how to configure Oracle to automatically detect, correct, and report many forseeable conflicts by using procedures in DBMS_REPCAT to create and maintain custom resolution methods. (Charles) Chapter 17, Deferred Transactions and Remote Procedure Calls, introduces the DBMS_DEFER package and shows you how to queue deferred remote procedure calls (RPCs) and use DBMS_DEFER_QUERY and DBMS_DEFER_SYS to perform administrative and diagnostic activities. (Charles) Appendix A, What's on the Companion Disk?, explains how to install and use the software on the companion diskette. (A group effort) Dedication Conventions Used in This Book Copyright (c) 2000 O'Reilly & Associates. All rights reserved. [Appendix A] What's on the Companion Disk? Structure of This Book 821 Preface Conventions Used in This Book The following conventions are used in this book: Italic Used for file and directory names and URLs. Constant width Used for code examples. Constant width bold In some code examples, highlights the statements being discussed. Constant width italic In some code examples, indicates an element (e.g., a filename) that you supply. UPPERCASE In code examples, indicates PL /SQL keywords. lowercase In code examples, indicates user−defined items such as variables, parameters, etc. Punctuation In code examples, enter exactly as shown. Indentation In code examples, helps to show structure (but is not required).  In code examples, a double hyphen begins a single−line comment, which extends to the end of a line. /* and */ In code examples, these characters delimit a multiline comment, which can extend from one line to another. . In code examples and related discussions, a dot qualifies a reference by separating an object name from a component name. For example, dot notation is used to select fields in a record and to specify declarations within a package. < > In syntax descriptions, angle brackets enclose the name of a syntactic element. [ ] In syntax descriptions, square brackets enclose optional items. { } 822 In syntax descriptions, curly brackets enclose a set of items; you must choose only one of them. | In syntax descriptions, a vertical bar separates the items enclosed in curly brackets, as in {VARCHAR2 | DATE | NUMBER }. Structure of This Book Versions of Oracle Copyright (c) 2000 O'Reilly & Associates. All rights reserved. [Appendix A] What's on the Companion Disk? 823 Preface Versions of Oracle The built−in packages of Oracle PL /SQL discussed in this book are installed in the Oracle database. Each version of the Oracle database comes with its corresponding version of PL /SQL and its set of built−in packages. Most of the built−in packages became available with Oracle Release 7.1. A number of new packages were provided with Oracle8. The text describes which packages are available only with specific versions of Oracle. Conventions Used in This Book About the Disk Copyright (c) 2000 O'Reilly & Associates. All rights reserved. 824 Preface About the Disk The content of the companion Windows disk that accompanies this book has been included on this CD, in the /bipack/disk/ directory. It contains the Companion Utilities Guide for Oracle Built−in Packages, an online tool developed by RevealNet, Inc., that gives you point−and−click access to more than 175 files of source code and documentation that we developed. Many of the code examples are also printed in the book. We've included these to give you a jump−start on writing your own PL /SQL code and to keep you from having to type many pages of PL /SQL statements from printed text. Appendix A, describes how to install the Windows−based interface. You can run the software in any Microsoft Windows environment. If you are working in a non−Windows environment, you can obtain a compressed file containing the utilities on the desk from the RevealNet PL /SQL Pipeline Archives at http://www.revealnet.com/plsql−pipeline. Versions of Oracle About PL/Vision Copyright (c) 2000 O'Reilly & Associates. All rights reserved. 825 . the Oracle database. Each version of the Oracle database comes with its corresponding version of PL /SQL and its set of built−in packages. Most of the built−in packages became available with Oracle. Versions of Oracle Copyright (c) 2000 O'Reilly & Associates. All rights reserved. [Appendix A] What's on the Companion Disk? 823 Preface Versions of Oracle The built−in packages of Oracle. Utilities Guide for Oracle Built−in Packages, an online tool developed by RevealNet, Inc., that gives you point−and−click access to more than 175 files of source code and documentation that we