[...]... supported platforms PL/ SQL Versions Initial PL/ SQL versions were not sequenced with the version of the database For example, PL/ SQL 1.0 shipped with the Oracle 6 Database PL/ SQL 2.x shipped with the Oracle 7.x Databases Beginning with Oracle 8, PL/ SQL versions correspond to the database release numbers, like PL/ SQL 11.1 in the Oracle 11g Release 1 Database Chapter 1: Oracle PL/ SQL Overview 5 As well... simple rules hold true for every component in the language 6 Oracle Database 11g PL/ SQL Programming Architecture The PL/ SQL language is a robust tool with many options PL/ SQL lets you write code once and deploy it in the database nearest the data PL/ SQL can simplify application development, optimize execution, and improve resource utilization in the database The language is a case-insensitive programming. .. model) PL/ SQL takes full advantage of the subtyping SQL variable types The PL/ SQL run-time engine exists as a resource inside the SQL*Plus environment The SQL*Plus environment is both interactive and callable Every time you connect to the Oracle 11g Database, Chapter 1: Oracle PL/ SQL Overview 7 the database creates a new session In that session, you can run SQL or PL/ SQL statements from the SQL*Plus... high-level view of the PL/ SQL language The next section will provide a brief overview of PL/ SQL block structures FIGURE 1-1 Database processing architecture 8 Oracle Database 11g PL/ SQL Programming Basic Block Structures PL/ SQL is a blocked programming language Program units can be named or unnamed blocks Unnamed blocks are known as anonymous blocks and are labeled so throughout the book The PL/ SQL coding style... those skilled in PL/ SQL, just as the evolution between Java releases is great for skilled Java programmers PL/ SQL programming presents challenges to those new to the language because it serves so many masters in the Oracle database As you develop skills in the language, you will learn how to use PL/ SQL to solve ever more complex problems Is PL/ SQL Programming a Black Art? Early on PL/ SQL 1.0 was little... with the database in Oracle 11g ■ Chapter 16: Web Application Development teaches you how to write web-enabled PL/ SQL procedures and PL/ SQL Server Pages (PSPs) This chapter covers how to configure and deploy these PL/ SQL only web solutions using the standalone Oracle HTTP Server and Oracle XML Database Part IV: Appendixes Part IV contains a series of primers to help jump-start those new to Oracle or... in the Oracle 11g database ■ Appendix F: Wrapping PL/ SQL Code Primer explains how you can wrap PL/ SQL stored programs to protect their logic from prying eyes ■ Appendix G: PL/ SQL Hierarchical Profiler Primer explains how the hierarchical profiler works and provides a demonstration of how to use it ■ Appendix H: PL/ Scope explains how it works and provides a quick concept analysis ■ Appendix I: PL/ SQL... Release 2 features and Oracle Database 11g new features It provides a quick start guide to the language and coverage of language semantics, types, control structures, and error management ■ Chapter 1: PL/ SQL Overview explains the basis of PL/ SQL It also covers Oracle 10g Release 2 features and Oracle 11g new features ■ Chapter 2: PL/ SQL Basics provides a quick tour of writing PL/ SQL It is designed as... exceptions, and manage error stacks xxi xxii Oracle Database 11g PL/ SQL Programming Part II: PL/ SQL Programming Part II introduces you to functions, procedures, packages, and triggers It also covers Oracle LOBs These are tools to build robust database applications ■ Chapter 6: Functions and Procedures explains how to create functions and procedures It provides examples for pass-by-value and pass-by-reference... Core for Oracle, and how to write PHP web pages against the Oracle 11g database ■ Appendix D: Oracle Database Java Primer covers the fundamentals of the Java programming language, and discusses the Oracle JDBC connection for Oracle 11g It also demonstrates how to build standalone Java applications that work with the database, including LOBs ■ Appendix E: Regular Expression Primer explains the implementation .