How to use the Oracle Database SQL Reference Manual

Chapter 2, How to use Oracle SQL Developer and other tools

This chapter from Murach's Oracle SQL and PL/SQL explains how to work with Oracle SQL Developer and other tools. In this section, learn how to use the Oracle Database SQL Reference manual, a collection of technical information on the SQL statements that work with the Oracle Database.

Table of contents:

How to work with an Oracle database home page
How to use SQL Plus in Oracle
How to use SQL Developer to work with an Oracle database
How to view and edit table column definitions
How to use SQL Developer to run SQL statements
How to use the Oracle Database SQL Reference manual

Figure 2-13 shows how to use another useful tool for working with the Oracle Database: the SQL Reference manual. This manual is available as a searchable PDF file that contains detailed technical information about the SQL statements that work with Oracle Database. You can use this PDF file to quickly look up a wide variety of information about the Oracle Database including information about its SQL statements and functions.

How to view the manual

If you have the PDF file for the SQL Reference manual installed on your computer as described in appendix A, you can open the manual by using the Windows Explorer to double-click on the PDF file. This will open the PDF file in the Adobe Reader. Of course, this assumes that you have the Adobe Reader installed on your system. If you don't, you can download it for free from Adobe's web site.

For more on this book This chapter is excerpted from the book, Murach's Oracle SQL and PL/SQL, authored by Joel Murach, published by Mike Murach & Associates, Inc., August, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-890774-50-9

How to look up information

Once you've opened the PDF file for the SQL Reference manual in the Adobe Reader, there are several ways that you can look up information. In short, you can use any standard techniques for working with a PDF file to work with this manual. If you need help, you can use the Adobe Reader's Help menu to learn more about using Adobe Reader.

One easy way to look up information is to scroll through the table of contents. To do that, click on the plus (+) and minus (-) signs in the left column to expand or collapse the topics. Then, when you find the topic you want, click on it to display the topic in the right pane. Once you do that, you can scroll up or down to view the entire topic. In this figure, for example, I expanded the topic named "SQL Statements: SAVEPOINT to UPDATE," and I clicked on the SELECT topic to display information about the SQL SELECT statement.

Another easy to way to look up information is to search for a specific word or phrase. To do that, type the word or phrase in the Find text box and press the Enter key. Then, you can click on the Find Next or Find Previous button to find the next or previous occurrence of the word or phrase. In this figure, for example, I entered "select statement" into the Find text box and pressed the Enter key.

How to use the Oracle Database SQL Reference manual

Figure 2-13 How to use the Oracle Database SQL Reference manual

Description

• The Oracle Database SQL Reference manual is available as a searchable PDF file that contains detailed technical information about the SQL statements that work with the Oracle Database.
• If you have the PDF file for the SQL Reference manual installed on your computer, you can start it by using the Windows Explorer to double-click on the file.
• To scroll through the table of contents, click on the plus (+) and minus (-) signs to expand or collapse the topics. When you find the topic you want, click on it to display the topic in the right pane. Then, you can scroll up or down to view the entire topic.
• To search for a particular word or phrase, type the word or phrase in the Find text box in the toolbar and press the Enter key. Then, you can click on the Find Next or Find Previous button to find the next or previous occurrence of the word or phrase.

Note

• The name of the Oracle Database SQL Reference manual varies slightly from one release to another.

Download the chapter "How to use Oracle SQL Developer and other tools" in PDF form.

Digg This!     StumbleUpon     Del.icio.us

RELATED CONTENT Oracle and SQL Oracle tutorial library: SearchOracle.com's learning guides Can I specify Oracle column order in my database table? Review: Oracle's 11g R2 database has some good and bad SELECT statement syntax and examples Oracle PL/SQL tutorial PL/SQL datatypes in Oracle Stored procedures in PL/SQL PL/SQL functions and triggers in Oracle Do I need a license for SQL Developer Data Modeler in Oracle? Using the SQL GROUP BY clause for counting combinations Oracle and SQL Research Oracle DBA tools Oracle delivers database fixes in Critical Patch Update How to get the most out of Toad for Oracle 10 Q&A: Toad for Oracle 10 focuses on developer, DBA productivity Review: Oracle's 11g R2 database has some good and bad Oracle OpenWorld 2009 Special Report Oracle releases new database, says 11g upgrade will cut costs EnterpriseDB offers Oracle database users a 'bailout program' Oracle raises prices on database management packs How to use SQL Developer to run SQL statements How to work with the Oracle database home page

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary autonomous transaction  (SearchOracle.com) CFML  (SearchOracle.com) dynamic SQL  (SearchOracle.com) foreign key  (SearchOracle.com) Java Database Connectivity  (SearchOracle.com) Open Database Connectivity  (SearchOracle.com) Oracle  (SearchOracle.com) stored procedure  (SearchOracle.com) The Open Group  (SearchOracle.com)

RELATED RESOURCES 2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary