Course Overview
This course introduces students to PL/SQL and helps them understand
the benefits of this powerful programming language. In the class,
students learn to create PL/SQL blocks of application code that can
be shared by multiple forms, reports, and data management
applications.
What you will learn
Students learn to create anonymous PL/SQL blocks, stored procedures,
and functions. They learn about declaring variables and trapping
exceptions. Students will also learn to develop stored procedures,
functions, packages and database triggers. Students will learn to
manage PL/SQL program units manage dependencies, manipulate large
objects, and use some of the Oracle-supplied packages. Students use
iSQL*Plus to develop these program units. Demonstrations and
hands-on practice reinforce the fundamental concepts. This is one of
the three exams required to achieve the OCP Developer Certification,
and one of the three exams required to achieve the OCP Developer
Certification.
Audience:
PL/SQL Programmer, Database Designers, Forms Developer, Technical
Consultant
Prerequisites:
Oracle Database 10g: Introduction to SQL
Course Objectives:
Design PL/SQL anonymous blocks that execute efficiently
Write PL/SQL code to interface with the database
Describe the features and syntax of PL/SQL
Use PL/SQL programming constructs and conditionally control code
flow (loops, control structures, and explicit cursors)
Handle runtime errors
Create simple procedures and functions
Design PL/SQL packages to group and contain related constructs
Categorize and Use the Oracle supplied PL/SQL packages to generate
screen output, file output, web output, and mail output
Schedule PL/SQL jobs to run independently
Write dynamic SQL for more coding flexibility
Create triggers to solve business challenges
Manage dependencies between PL/SQL subprograms
Course Outline
Introduction to PL/SQL
What is PL/SQL
PL/SQL Environment
Benefits of PL/SQL
Overview of the Types of PL/SQL blocks
Create and Execute a Simple Anonymous Block
Generate Output from a PL/SQL Block
iSQL*Plus as PL/SQL Programming Environment
Declaring PL/SQL Identifiers
Identify the Different Types of Identifiers in a PL/SQL
subprogram
Use the Declarative Section to Define Identifiers
List the Uses for Variables
Store Data in Variables
Declare PL/SQL Variables
Writing Executable Statements
Describe Basic Block Syntax Guidelines
Use Literals in PL/SQL
Customize Identifier Assignments with SQL Functions
Use Nested Blocks as Statements
Reference an Identifier Value in a Nested Block
Qualify an Identifier with a Label
Use Operators in PL/SQL
Use Proper PL/SQL Block Syntax and Guidelines
Interacting with the Oracle Server
Identify the SQL Statements You Can Use in PL/SQL
Include SELECT Statements in PL/SQL
Retrieve Data in PL/SQL with the SELECT Statement
Avoid Errors by Using Naming Conventions When Using Retrieval and
DML Statements
Manipulate Data in the Server Using PL/SQL
The SQL Cursor concept
Use SQL Cursor Attributes to Obtain Feedback on DML
Save and Discard Transactions
Writing Control Structures
Control PL/SQL Flow of Execution
Conditional processing Using IF Statements
Conditional Processing CASE Statements
Handle Nulls to Avoid Common Mistakes
Build Boolean Conditions with Logical Operators
Use Iterative Control with Looping Statements
Working with Composite Data Types
Learn the Composite Data Types of PL/SQL Records and Tables
Use PL/SQL Records to Hold Multiple Values of Different Types
Inserting and Updating with PL/SQL Records
Use INDEX BY Tables to Hold Multiple Values of the Same Data Type
Using Explicit Cursors
Cursor FOR Loops Using Subqueries
Increase the Flexibility of Cursors By Using Parameters
Use the FOR UPDATE Clause to Lock Rows
Use the WHERE CURRENT Clause to Reference the Current Row
Use Explicit Cursors to Process Rows
Explicit Cursor Attributes
Cursors and Records
Handling Exceptions
Handling Exceptions with PL/SQL
Predefined Exceptions
Trapping Nonpredefined Oracle Server Errors
Functions that Return Information on Encountered Exceptions
Trapping User-Defined Exceptions
Propagate Exceptions
Use The RAISE_APPLICATION_ERROR Procedure To Report Errors To
Applications
Creating Stored Procedures
Describe PL/SQL blocks and subprograms
Describe the uses of procedures
Create procedures
Differentiate between formal and actual parameters
List the features of different parameter modes
Create procedures with parameters and invoke a procedure
Handle exceptions in procedures
View source code in the data dictionary
Creating Stored Functions
Describe stored functions
List the CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION syntax
Identify the steps to create a stored function
Create a stored function in iSQL*Plus and execute a stored function
Identify the advantages of using stored functions in SQL statements
Identify the restrictions of calling functions from SQL statements
Describe how procedures and functions differ
Creating Packages
List the benefits or using PL/SQL packages
Differentiate between a package specification and a package body
Create packages
Include public and private constructs in a package
Call public and private constructs in a package
Remove packages
Using More Package Concepts
Overload procedure and function definitions
Use forward declarations
Create a one-time package initialization block
Follow the persistent state of constructs in packages
Use PL/SQL tables and records in packages
Wrap code to hide the source
Utilizing Oracle Supplied Packages in Application Development
List the various uses for the Oracle supplied packages
Reuse pre-packaged code to complete various tasks from developer to
DBA purposes
Use the DESCRIBE command to view the package specifications and
overloading
Describe how DBMS_OUTPUT works
Use UTL_FILE to direct output to operating system files
Use the HTP package to generate a simple web page
Describe the main features of UTL_MAIL
Call the DBMS_SCHEDULER package to schedule PL/SQL code to run
Dynamic SQL and Metadata
Describe using native dynamic SQL
List the execution flow of SQL
Write dynamic SQL using the EXECUTE IMMEDIATE syntax
Write dynamic SQL with the DBMS_SQL package
Generate DDL from metadata using the DBMS_METADATA package
Design Considerations for PL/SQL Code
Standardize constants with a constant package
Standardize exceptions with an exception package
Write PL/SQL code that uses local subprograms
Use the NOCOPY compiler hint to pass parameters by reference
Use the PARALLEL ENABLE hint for optimization
Use the AUTONOMOUS TRANSACTION pragma to run independent
transactions within a single transaction
Set the AUTHID directive to execute programs with the privileges of
the calling user instead of the creating user
Use bulk binding for multi-row operations
Managing Dependencies
Describe dependent and referenced objects
Track procedural dependencies with dictionary views
Predict the effect of changing a database object upon stored
procedures and functions
Manage local and remote procedural dependencies
Manipulating Large Objects
Describe a LOB object
Create and maintain LOB data types
Differentiate between internal and external LOBs
Use the DBMS_LOB PL/SQL package to control LOBs
Describe the use of temporary LOBs
Creating Triggers
Describe different types of triggers
Describe database triggers and their use
Create database triggers
Describe database trigger firing rules
Remove database triggers
Applications for Triggers
Create database and system event triggers
Create triggers on DDL statements
Use the CALL statement in triggers to invoke procedures
Explain the rules for reading and writing to tables with triggers
Describe business application scenarios for implementing with
triggers
Manage trigger code
Understanding and Influencing the PL/SQL Compiler
Describe native compilation and interpreted compilation
List the features of native compilation
Switch between native and interpreted compilation for compiled
PL/SQL code
Set the parameters to control aspects of PL/SQL compilation
Write a query to retrieve information from the dictionary views on
how the PL/SQL code is compiled
Explain the compiler warning mechanism
List the steps to use the compiler warnings
Use DBMS_WARNING to implement compiler warnings