1. Foundations

   1. Chapter 1 Architecture and Packaging

      1. Oracle Instances and Databases
      2. The Components of a Database
      3. The Components of an Instance
      4. Oracle Versions
      5. Oracle Packaging

   2. Chapter 2 Configuration

      1. Parameter Files and Types
      2. Initialization Parameters

   3. Chapter 3 Concurrency

      1. Concurrency Concepts
      2. Oracle and Concurrent User Access

   4. Chapter 4 Security

      1. Authentication
      2. Profiles
      3. Privileges
      4. Privileges and Users
      5. Roles
      6. Auditing
      7. Other Security Features

   5. Chapter 5 Networking

      1. Oracle Networking Fundamentals
      2. Configuration Files
      3. Networking Management Utilities

   6. Chapter 6 Data Dictionary

      1. Static Data Dictionary Views
      2. Dynamic Data Dictionary Views

2. Languages

   1. Chapter 7 SQL

      1. Common Keywords and Identifiers
      2. Common SQL Clauses
      3. Data Definition Statements
      4. Data Manipulation Statements

   2. Chapter 8 Functions

      1. Common Keywords and Clauses
      2. Aggregate and Analytic Functions
      3. Numeric Functions
      4. Character Functions
      5. Date and Time Functions
      6. Conversion Functions
      7. Object Functions
      8. XML Functions
      9. Miscellaneous Functions

   3. Chapter 9 PL/SQL

      1. PL/SQL Fundamentals
      2. Header Section
      3. Declaration Section
      4. Execution Section
      5. Exception Section
      6. Pragmas
      7. Program Units
      8. Packages
      9. Triggers
      10. Calling PL/SQL Functions in SQL
      11. Native Compilation of PL/SQL
      12. External Procedures
      13. Java and PL/SQL

   4. Chapter 10 PL/SQL Packages

      1. DBMS_ALERT
      2. DBMS_APPLICATION_INFO
      3. DBMS_APPLY_ADM
      4. DBMS_AQ
      5. DBMS_AQADM
      6. DBMS_AQELM
      7. DBMS_CAPTURE_ADM
      8. DBMS_DDL
      9. DBMS_DEBUG
      10. DBMS_DEFER
      11. DBMS_DEFER_QUERY
      12. DBMS_DEFER_SYS
      13. DBMS_DESCRIBE
      14. DBMS_DISTRIBUTED_TRUST_ADMIN
      15. DBMS_FGA
      16. DBMS_FLASHBACK
      17. DBMS_HS
      18. DBMS_HS_PASSTHROUGH
      19. DBMS_IOT
      20. DBMS_JOB
      21. DBMS_LDAP
      22. DBMS_LIBCACHE
      23. DBMS_LOB
      24. DBMS_LOCK
      25. DBMS_LOGMNR
      26. DBMS_LOGMNR_CDC_PUBLISH
      27. DBMS_LOGMNR_CDC_SUBSCRIBE
      28. DBMS_LOGMNR_D
      29. DBMS_LOGSTNDBY
      30. DBMS_METADATA
      31. DBMS_MGWADM
      32. DBMA_MGWMSG
      33. DBMS_MVIEW
      34. DBMS_OBFUSCATION_TOOLKIT
      35. DBMS_ODCI
      36. DBMS_OFFLINE_OG
      37. DBMS_OFFLINE_SNAPSHOT
      38. DBMS_OLAP
      39. DBMS_ORACLE_TRACE_AGENT
      40. DBMS_ORACLE_TRACE_USER
      41. DBMS_OUTLN
      42. DBMS_OUTLN_EDIT
      43. DBMS_OUTPUT
      44. DBMS_PCLXUTIL
      45. DBMS_PIPE
      46. DBMS_PROFILER
      47. DBMS_PROPAGATION_ADM
      48. DBMS_RANDOM
      49. DBMS_RECTIFIER_DIFF
      50. DBMS_REDEFINITION
      51. DBMS_REFRESH
      52. DBMS_REPAIR
      53. DBMS_REPCAT
      54. DBMS_REPCAT_ADMIN
      55. DBMS_REPCAT_AUTH
      56. DBMS_REPCAT_INSTANTIATE
      57. DBMS_REPCAT_RGT
      58. DBMS_REPUTIL
      59. DBMS_RESOURCE_MANAGER
      60. DBMS_RESOURCE_MANAGER_PRIVS
      61. DBMS_RESUMABLE
      62. DBMS_RLS
      63. DBMS_ROWID
      64. DBMS_RULE
      65. DBMS_RULE_ADMIN
      66. DBMS_SESSION
      67. DBMS_SHARED_POOL
      68. DBMS_SNAPSHOT
      69. DBMS_SPACE
      70. DBMS_SPACE_ADMIN
      71. DBMS_SQL
      72. DBMS_STATS
      73. DBMS_STORAGE_MAP
      74. DBMS_STREAM_ADM
      75. DBMS_STREAMS
      76. DBMS_SYSTEM
      77. DBMS_TRACE
      78. DBMS_TRANSACTION
      79. DBMS_TRANSFORM
      80. DBMS_TTS
      81. DBMS_TYPES
      82. DBMS_UTILITY
      83. DBMS_WM
      84. DBMS_XDB
      85. DBMS_XDBT
      86. DBMS_XDB_VERSION
      87. DBMS_XMLDOM
      88. DBMS_XMLGEN
      89. DBMS_XMLPARSER
      90. DBMS_XMLQUERY
      91. DBMS_XMLSAVE
      92. DBMS_XMLSCHEMA
      93. DBMS_XPLAN
      94. DBMS_XSLPROCESSOR
      95. DEBUG_EXTPROC
      96. OUTLN_PKG
      97. UTL_COLL
      98. UTL_ENCODE
      99. UTL_FILE
      100. UTL_HTTP
      101. UTL_INADDR
      102. UTL_RAW
      103. UTL_REF
      104. UTL_SMTP
      105. UTL_TCP
      106. UTL_URL

   5. Chapter 11 Java and Oracle

      1. Java Drivers
      2. Java in the Oracle Database
      3. Data Mapping
      4. SQLJ
      5. JDBC

3. Tools and Utilities

   1. Chapter 12 SQL*Plus

      1. Running SQL*Plus
      2. Formatting Text Reports
      3. SQL*Plus Format Elements
      4. Commands

   2. Chapter 13 Export and Import

      1. Export/Import Fundamentals
      2. Common Parameters
      3. Export-Only Parameters
      4. Import-Only Parameters

   3. Chapter 14 SQL*Loader

      1. Running SQL*Loader
      2. Command-Line Parameters
      3. Control File

   4. Chapter 15 Backup and Recovery

      1. Backup and Recovery Fundamentals
      2. User-Managed Backup and Recovery
      3. Recovery Manager (RMAN)

   5. Chapter 16 Enterprise Manager

      1. Architecture
      2. Running Enterprise Manager
      3. Enterprise Manager Interface
      4. Enterprise Manager Administration
      5. Expansion Packs
      6. OEMUTIL

   6. Chapter 17 Performance

      1. SQL Optimization
      2. EXPLAIN PLAN
      3. TKPROF
      4. AUTOTRACE
      5. Statistics Collection

4. Appendixes

   1. Appendix A Datatypes

      1. Scalar Datatypes
      2. Collection Datatypes
      3. Reference Datatypes

   2. Appendix B Expressions, Operators, and Conditions

      1. Expressions
      2. Operators
      3. Conditions

   3. Appendix C Numeric Formats

   4. Appendix D Date Formats

   5. Appendix E Additional Resources

      1. Web Sites
      2. Books

1. Colophon

Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects. The animal on the cover of Oracle in a Nutshell is a myrmeleon, an insect found in abundance throughout the world. Adults have a long, slender abdomen that can grow to nearly two inches in length, and the longer of their two pairs of wings can span two and a half inches. These wings contain elaborate patterns of cross-veined nerves that resemble those of small dragonflies, but myrmeleon belong to an entirely different family. Unlike dragonflies, myrmeleon are nocturnal and have a pair of clubbed antennae. They undergo a complete metamorphosis with egg, larval, pupal, and winged adult stages. In its larval stage, the myrmeleon is commonly referred to as a "doodlebug" or "antlion." These strange-looking wingless creatures have oversized heads with long spiny jaws, short legs, and bristled bodies. They are primarily known for constructing sand pits in riverbeds or the soft areas surrounding tree roots. When ants and other small insects wander into these pits, the antlion digs deeper into the hole, causing miniature landslides that bury the intruder in sand. The myrmeleon larva then sucks bodily fluid from the trapped insect, tosses its carcass from the pit, and patiently prepares for another unlucky victim.

When first hatched, antlions specialize in capturing very small insects, but they usually graduate to larger pits in order to catch more substantial prey. The larval growing process can take over two years, during which the antlion consumes hundreds of insects. Eventually, the myrmeleon larva instinctively moves deeper into the sand to build a cocoon. Silky white threads expelled from its abdomen form a sphere around the antlion that is held in place by the surrounding sand. After a month in this pupal stage, a tiny-winged myrmeleon emerges from the cocoon and climbs to the surface. It waits a short time for its wings to dry and night to fall before flying off in search of a mate. During this full-grown stage, they may nibble on small flies or nectar, but are just as likely to eat nothing. Myrmeleon rarely survive more than a few weeks, and their primary objective as adults is to breed. Like other nocturnal insects, myrmeleon often find their mates lingering at a lit window or flitting around a campfire. The female returns to sandy areas to lay her eggs and, in an ironic twist, is often eaten by antlions if she should happen to stumble into one of their pits. Philip Dangler was the production editor, and Norma Emory was the copyeditor for Oracle in a Nutshell. Emily Quill and Jane Ellin provided quality control. Tom Dinse and Johnna VanHoose Dinse wrote the index.

Ellie Volckhausen designed the cover of this book, based on a series design by Edie Freedman. The cover image is a 19th-century engraving from the Dover Pictorial Archive. Emma Colby produced the cover layout with QuarkXPress 4.1 using Adobe's ITC Garamond font.

David Futato designed the interior layout. This book was converted to FrameMaker 5.5.6 with a format conversion tool created by Erik Ray, Jason McIntosh, Neil Walls, and Mike Sierra that uses Perl and XML technologies. The text font is Linotype Birka; the heading font is Adobe Myriad Condensed; and the code font is Lucas-Font's TheSans Mono Condensed. The illustrations that appear in the book were produced by Robert Romano and Jessamyn Read using Macromedia FreeHand 9 and Adobe Photoshop 6. The tip and warning icons were drawn by Christopher Bing. This colophon was written by Philip Dangler.