Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Oracle Database provides full support for ANSI standard SQL and, like
most database vendors, adds extra features making SQL more robust and
versatile as a database access language. For example, Oracle Database con-
tains a rich set of functions. These functions can be used to alter column
data within queries. For instance, the UPPER function can convert all of
the letters in a word to capitals, and ADD_MONTH can add a month to a
date, among a comprehensive multitude of other function options.
Let's digress a little and examine software that is useful to have for read-
ing this topic.
1.4
Software Useful for Reading this Topic
Oracle Database 10
g
or Oracle Database 10 Grid is the latest relational
database management system (RDBMS) from Oracle Corporation. Oracle
Database began in the 1970s and has grown to be the dominating force in
the database market.
Oracle Database 10
g
is delivered with an extensive a set of standard util-
ities, tools, and wizards, some of which help you get going quickly. The
Oracle Database 10
g
database engine is set up to run the same way on all
platforms. For example, Oracle Database 10
g
running on UNIX has all of
the same features as Oracle Database 10
g
running on Windows 2000 or
Windows 2003. Oracle Database 10
g
is available on Solaris, Windows NT/
2000/XP Pro, Linux, and AIX, to name a few.
Although Oracle Database 10
g
looks the same to you regardless of the
platform you use, on the inside each operating system's version of Oracle
Database 10
g
is different. Oracle takes advantage of each computer's unique
features for storage, reading, writing, and so on, in the programming of the
software.
To use this topic and run all of the examples, experimenting with SQL
commands, you need the following software:
Oracle Database 10
g
. When you install the software, you will have
some choices. First, be sure to select Oracle Database 10
g
. Next, you
can select any of the three editions of the database: (1) the Enterprise
Edition is for large, multiuser databases; (2) the Standard Edition is
for small workgroups; and (3) the Personal Edition is for a single user.
All three editions contain the same capabilities for the SQL work you
will do in this topic. They have different licensing costs. Install
whichever edition fits your requirements the best.
