Michael W. Stowe, Constellation Engineering, Chicago, Illinois

Published November, 1995 by Prentice Hall PTR (ECS Professional)

Copyright 1996, 304 pp.
Paper Bound with Disk
ISBN 0-13-227968-1
$48.00

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    ORACLE

This book provides practical experience and examples for developing real-world applications using Oracle's Cooperative Development Environment 2.

This book complements Oracle's documentation by presenting what developers really needs to know to effectively produce a complete application, without deluging them with esoteric information. CDE elements are discussed and taught in the context of building fully-functional applications. Sidebars throughout cover issues of portability, performance and productivity. Pitfalls and traps are discussed, along with useful shortcuts. Developers of Oracle Database Applications, who may be experienced with SQL, but not necessarily familiar with GUIs or previous Oracle Tools.

1. Introduction.

Audience. Coverage. Platform. Typographical Conventions. Versions Covered and Version Numbering. Oracle Product Suites. Operational Definitions. How To Use This Book.

2. The Back-End: The Oracle Database and Its Role.

The Database Engine Concept. Communicating With the Database. SQL. Physical Organization: Files and Tablespaces. Logical Organization: Tables, Views and Synonyms. Indexes. Security. Users and Ownership. Transaction Processing. The SQL Optimizer(s). Execution Plans. PL/SQL. Constraints. Database Triggers. Stored Procedures.

3. Oracle Forms.

The Form Designer. Objects and Object Types. Forms. Triggers. Alerts. Attached Libraries. Blocks. Items. Relations. Canvas-Views. Editors. LOVs. Record Groups. Object Groups. Parameters. Program Units. Property Classes. Visual Attributes. Windows. Using Variables. Creating and Using Menus. Menu Roles and Security. Creating and Using Libraries. Running a Form. Query Mode.

4. Oracle Reports.

Data Model. System Parameters. User Parameters. Queries. Groups. Database Columns. Formula Columns. Summary Columns. Placeholder Columns. Data Links. Layout. Frames. Repeating Frames. Fields. Boilerplate. Anchors. Buttons. OLE2 Objects. Oracle Graphics Objects. The Parameter Form. PL/SQL in Oracle Reports.

5. Oracle Graphics.

Display. Queries. Layout. Objects and Subobjects. Charts. Templates. Parameters. Sounds. Timers. Embedding Graphics. Embedding a Display in Oracle Forms. Embedding a Display in Oracle Reports. Embedding a Display Using OLE2.

6. Other Developer/2000 Tools.

Oracle Terminal. Oracle Book. Procedure Builder. PECS. SQL*Plus.

7. Data Modeling.

Principles of Normalization. Keys. Relationships. The First Normal Form: Eliminate Repeating Groups. The Second Normal Form: Eliminate Redundant Data. The Third Normal Form: Eliminate Columns not Dependent on the Key. The Fourth Normal Form: Isolate Independent Multiple Relationships. The Fifth Normal Form: Isolate Semantically Related Multiple Relationships. Principles of Denormalization. Performance. Convenience. Legacy Data Structures. Conclusion.

8. GUI Design Principles.

Know the End Users. Consistency. When To Use Widgets. Checkboxes. Radio Groups and Radio Buttons. List Items. LOVS. Buttons. The Mouse and the Keyboard. Fonts and Text. Color. Messages, Error or Otherwise. Alignment. When It Doesn't Fit. Menus. Navigation.

9. Coding with SQL and PL/SQL.

SQL. Readability Conventions. Using Indexes. Explicit and Implicit Conversion. Explain Plan. Query Paths and Performance. Optimizer Hints. The 'Exists' Operator. Benchmarking. Writing Well-Performing SQL. Owners and Synonyms. Naming Conventions. PL/SQL. Readability Conventions. Exception Handling. Size. Variables. In Developer/2000. Nested Function Calls. Indirection.

10. Tips and Troubleshooting.

Using Filenames. Preloading Application Code. Using SHARE. The TEMP Environment Variable. Stabilizing the Windows Environment.

11. Oracle Forms Walk Through.
12. Oracle Reports Walk Through.
13. Oracle Graphics Walk Through.

Drill Down.

14. Oracle Forms Techniques.

Navigation and Validation. Balloon Help. Calling the Windows Help System. Emulating Folder Tabs.

15. Projects in Oracle.

Characteristics of a Successful, Modern Methodology. A System Development Life Cycle. Planning and Analysis. Design. Development. Testing. People. Help and Information.

16. Developer/2000 Competitors.

ODBC. Microsoft Access. PowerObjects (Oracle Corporation). PowerBuilder (Sybase, Inc.). Visual Basic. Oracle Objects for OLE.

Appendix A: Oracle Forms Object Properties.
Appendix B: Oracle Forms Built-Ins.
Appendix C: Oracle Reports Built-Ins.
Appendix D: Oracle Graphics Built-Ins.
Appendix E: Common Developer/2000 Built-Ins.
Appendix F: Oracle Forms System Variables.
Glossary.
Index.