preface
partl.  programming in pl/sql
1. introduction to pl/sql
what is pl/sql?
the origins of pl/sql
the early years of pl/sql
improved application portability
improved execution authority and transaction integrity
humble beginnings, steady improvement
so this is pl/sql
integration with sql
control and conditional logic
when things go wrong
about pl/sql versions
oracle database 12c new pl/sql features
resources for pl/sql developers
the o'reilly pl/sql series
pl/sql on the internet
some words of advice
don't be in such a hurry!
don't be afraid to ask for help
take a creative, even radical approach
2. creating and running pl/sql code
navigating the database
creating and editing source code
sql*plus
starting up sql*plus
running a sql statement
running a pl/sql program
running a script
what is the "current directory"?
other sql*plus tasks
error handling in sql*plus
why you will love and hate sql*plus
performing essential pl/sql tasks
creating a stored program
executing a stored program
showing stored programs
managing grants and synonyms for stored programs
dropping a stored program
hiding the source code of a stored program
editing environments for pl/sql
calling pl/sql from other languages
c: using oracle's precompiler (pro*c)
java: using jdbc
perl: using perl dbi and dbd::oracle
php: using oracle extensions
pl/sql server pages
and where else?
3. language fundamentals
pl/sql block structure
anonymous blocks
named blocks
nested blocks
scope
qualify all references to variables and columns in sql statements
visibility
the pl/sql character set
identifiers
reserved words
whitespace and keywords
literals
nulls
embedding single quotes inside a literal string
numeric literals
boolean literals
the semicolon delimiter
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