Murach's Oracle Sql And Pl/sql

works with all versions through 11g

If you're developing applications that access Oracle databases, why not let SQL do more of the work for you?

With the new, free, Express Edition of Oracle Database and Oracle SQL Developer (also free), you can set up the database environment you need and train yourself right on your own computer.

This new book shows you how!

Get started fast with Oracle SQL Developer
In chapter 1, you'll quickly master the database concepts you have to know to handle Oracle databases effectively. Then, chapter 2 gets you started using Oracle SQL Developer. This graphical tool makes it far easier to work with an Oracle database than it is with command-line tools like SQL*Plus, so you can be more productive right from the start.

Master the SQL that you'll use every day
Section 2 starts you off writing SQL statements that retrieve and update the data in an Oracle database. But it doesn't stop with simple SQL statements. Instead, it also teaches you how to work with complex inner and outer joins, summary queries, subqueries, data types, and functions…all features that allow you to retrieve and update data more efficiently.

Design databases like a DBA
This isn't a DBA book. But you may be called upon to create test tables for your applications. And to write efficient queries, you need to understand how database design decisions affect security and performance.

So section 3 shows you how to design an Oracle database. Then, it shows you how to code SQL DDL (Data Definition Language) statements to implement the design, to create views, and to manage security.

Along the way, you'll gain insight into the issues DBAs deal with every day...a plus if you decide you want to move in that career direction.

Master PL/SQL
PL/SQL is Oracle's procedure language that allows you to code loops, if-else structures, and error-handling structures to build more complex scripts. That, in turn, allows you to manage transactions that maintain data integrity in a database. And it allows you to create stored procedures, functions, and triggers…named blocks of PL/SQL code that are stored in the database for ready access.

Handle special-purpose data
In today's increasingly global and digital world, you may need to handle time zones from around the world, and you may need to handle large amounts of text and binary data such as graphics, sound, and video. So section 5 shows you how to use Oracle's data types to make these tasks easier.

"The SQL book most developers don't even know they need"
That's how you're going to think of this book when you're done with it. You'll be delighted at how much time and work you'll save on each database application you write, using SQL skills that you didn't know you were missing before!

At that point, this book will become a terrific SQL reference for you to use on the job each day. Try and see for yourself.

About the Authors
Joel Murach has a background in software training and is a specialist in developing business applications, particularly web applications. In the past 5 years, he has written and edited books on Java, ASP.NET, and C# that have helped thousands of developers become proficient at creating the kind of applications that businesses rely on every day.