Course Overview

This class introduces you to Oracle database programming using the PL/SQL programming language. You will learn the syntax, structure and features of the language. This class will also lay the foundation for the entire Sideris Oracle PL/SQL programming series, allowing you to progress from introductory topics to advanced application design and programming and finally onto writing complex high-performance applications.
PL/SQL may be considered as one of the basic skill sets required for any Oracle professional, nearly as important as the SQL language itself.

Audience

The target audience for this textbook is all Oracle professionals. Among the specific groups for whom this textbook will be helpful are:

• Application designers and database developers
• Database administrators
• Web server administrators

Prerequisites

Either of the Sideris textbooks Oracle Database 12c: SQL – Fundamentals (Levels I & II) or Oracle Database 12c: SQL Complete Library (Levels I, II & III) are recommended prerequisites for this textbook.

Key Topics

Selection & Setup Of The Database Interface
• Considering Available Tools
• Selecting The Appropriate Tool
• Oracle NET Database Connections
• Oracle PAAS Database Connections
• Setup SQL Developer
• Setup SQL*PLUS
• Setup JDeveloper

About BIND & SUBSTITUTION Variables
• Using SQL Developer
• Using SQL*PLUS

Choosing A Database Programming Language
• What Is Database Programming?
• PL/SQL Performance Advantages
• Integration With Other Languages

PL/SQL Language Fundamentals
• PL/SQL Program Structure
• Language Syntax Rules
• Embedding SQL
• Writing Readable Code
• Generating Database Output
• SQL*PLUS Input Of A Program Block

DECLARE Section
• About The DECLARE Section
• DECLARE Primitive Types
• Declaration Options
• NOT NULL
• CONSTANT
• Data Dictionary Integration
• %TYPE
• Declare Simple User-Defined Types
• TYPE … TABLE
• TYPE … RECORD
• Extended User-Defined Types

BEGIN Section
• About The BEGIN Section
• Manipulating Program Data
• Logic Control & Branching
• GOTO
• LOOP
• IF-THEN-ELSE
• CASE

Exception Section
• About The EXCEPTION Section
• Isolating The Specific EXCEPTION
• PRAGMA EXCEPTION_INIT
• SQLCODE & SQLERRM Example
• SQL%ROWCOUNT & SELECT…INTO

Beyond The Basics: Explicit Cursors
• About Explicit Cursors
• Extended Cursor Techniques
• FOR UPDATE OF Clause
• WHERE CURRENT OF Clause
• Using FOR…LOOP Cursors

Beyond The Basics: Nested Blocks

Beyond The Basics: DECLARED Subprograms
• Using DECLARED Subprograms
• DECLARED Procedure
• DECLARED Function

Objectives

This class begins with an explanation of the intent and usage of the PL/SQL programming language for database applications. Important reasons why one should incorporate PL/SQL modules within the application architecture right from the initial design and planning phase are presented. Next one learns how to begin building executable PL/SQL program units. One learns about each of the major segments of a working program and how these interact with each other during program execution, including the important error or exception handling capabilities of the language. The final section goes beyond the basics and begins to explore advanced topics that will be useful later in the Sideris Oracle PL/SQL developer textbook series. One learns techniques and features that allow modular and reusable programs to be developed, increasing productivity and maintainability of database applications.