Oracle PL/SQL Language Pocket Reference, Second Edition

The new edition of this must-have pocket guide boils down the most vital information from Oracle PL/SQL Programming, the bestseller that many consider `the Bible` for PL/SQL development. Indispensable for new and seasoned Oracle database developers alike, this pocket guide summarizes features available in Oracle's powerful new product-- Oracle9i --and provides essential information on PL/SQL block structure, fundamental language elements, control statements, and use of procedures, functions, packages, triggers, Oracle objects, external procedures, and methods of calling Java classes from PL/SQL. O'Reilly's Pocket References have become a favorite among developers and database administrators everywhere. By providing a wealth of important details in a concise, well-organized format, these handy books deliver just what you need to complete the task at hand. When you've reached a sticking point in your work and need to get to a solution quickly, the new edition of Oracle PL/SQL Language Pocket Reference is the book you'll want to have.

User review
Good But Tough To Condense
The 'Oracle PL/SQL Language Pocket Reference' is a good pocket reference for Oracle 11g but I feel that this subject matter is tough to condense in size. I feel that this isn't a niche book that really accomplishes much. I'll still give it 4 stars because it's handy but I think you would be more apt to pick up one of the bigger Oracle PL/SQL books by O'Reilly instead.

****

User review
New sections on Oracle's built-in functions rounds out the update.
Steven Feuerstein, Bill Pribyl and Chip Dawes' ORACLE PL/SQL LANGUAGE POCKET REFERENCE provides the fourth edition of a popular pocket guide which will serve as a quick reference in take-along tote format. PL/SQL's information covers records, functions, language elements and more, in a new edition that includes Oracle Database 11g elements from function results to compound triggers. New sections on Oracle's built-in functions rounds out the update.

User review
Excellent reference for PL/SQL programming
Oracle PL/SQL Language Pocket Reference
Steven Feuerstein
O'Reilly - 4th Edition
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/9780596514044/index.html

This book covers the most common topics in PL/SQL in a compact format. The format is `pocket reference` which is considerably smaller than a standard book. The information is still complete. It appears the publisher accomplished this by eliminating blank pages between chapters, avoiding the use of large type for chapter headings, and beginning the next chapter a few lines after the previous. This format is convenient for people who need to use the reference often.

The items covered are numerous and relevant making the book a good value. The reference does not cover the SQL language itself outside the context of PL/SQL programming. It also does not go into extreme detail on how Oracle is working behind the scenes. It focuses on how to perform the task at hand then moves onto the next topic. This is good for those just looking for an answer but would not provide the detail to someone studying the inner workings of Oracle itself.

Some of the items covered that I found most useful were:

Cursors
Exception handling
Transaction management
Syntax of various loops and the case statement
Bulk operations
Packages
Procedures
Syntax of triggers
Differences between 9i and 10g
Functions

Overall this is an inexpensive, quality reference for those who program PL/SQL.

User review
Great pocket reference, 2nd edition WITH INDEX now
This small booklet `ORACLE PL/SQL Language Pocket Reference` in this new 2nd edition is exactly what you need as PL/SQL (PL/SQL is the ORACLE procedural language extension of SQL) programmer (and is even more important for casual PL/SQL programmer).

`ORACLE PL/SQL Language Pocket Reference` assumes that you are running at least ORACLE 8i and it covers ORACLE 9i as well (ORACLE 9i features are marked as such).

The content and coverage of the book is very good from my perspective. Even the more exotic features that I just can't remember, like e.g. the AUTHID stuff for PL/SQL procedures, are covered in this book. Even if you do not remember the exact keyword to look something up in the index, the book is still small enough to brose over every page in a couple of minutes to find your solution. All of the ORACLE 9i features (that I know of) are explained like e.g. `bulk binds` (cool PL/SQL performance feature).

The language and the new index are very good.

Even though this is a relatively small book, there are examples for almost every topic covered (although not big ones).

This is NOT the right book to learn PL/SQL and it will not teach you any SQL. If you want to learn PL/SQL, I recommend the other books (by the same authors) from O'Reilly that are all VERY good.

User review
anO'REILLY flop
Where's the index?? A REFERENCE is something you pick up to find a particular needed peice of information. Without an index you have to scan everywhere trying to find what you are looking for. What a waste of time! Dont' even waste the 10 bucks for this piece of junk,,.