Steven Feuerstein
If you're doing database application development in the Oracle environment, you're going to have to know PL/SQL, the company's extended query and update language. If you want your programs to exploit the special capabilities of Oracle software, you'll need to know the language well. That's where the third edition of
Oracle PL/SQL Programming comes into play. It's an absolutely comprehensive reference (as well as a rather extensive tutorial) on PL/SQL, ideally suited to answering your questions about how to perform some programming tasks and reminding you of the characteristics of functions, triggers, and other elements of the database programmer's toolkit. The new edition covers calls to Java methods from within PL/SQL programs, autonomous transactions, object type inheritance, and the new Timestamp and XMLType data types. There's also more information about server internals--the way PL/SQL programs are run--than before, better enabling readers to optimize their code for fast and safe execution.
Steven Feuerstein takes care to explain, with prose and example code, the characteristics of PL/SQL elements. In explaining number conversions, for example, he explores Oracle's different ways of formatting numbers, then details the behavior of the to_number function under different conditions (with and without a specified format model, and with National Language Support information attached). It's a helpful approach that will have readers using the index to locate places in which Feuerstein mentions language elements of interest. --David Wall
Topics covered: How to use Oracle PL/SQL in all its manifestations through Oracle9i. Fundamentals of program structure (loops, cases, exceptions, etc.) and execution get attention, as do data types, transaction management, triggers, and the object-oriented aspects of the language. There's also coverage of calls to external Java and C programs.
1 This book is awesom!
This book is great! Whatever I need about PL/SQL,
I found it in this book, with a detailed example,which fits
my needs exactly! It might not be suitable for beginners though,
you lose your patient reading before you learn the essential
of PL/SQL. Keep one on your desk for reference.
2 Database Developer
Im an experienced SQL Server developer.
I used this book to learn PL/SQL, while this book is
very detailed but it is HIGHLY disorganized.
It assumes you know everything. It talk about issues in
some chapter, while defines the concepts used in that issue in the future chapters!!!!
This makes this book a very "BAD" resourse for beginners.
For a 900+ pages book the number of examples are very limited!
Buy this book "only" IF you are already an expreinced Oracle
User and you need a review.
Otherwise this is not for you.
Regards.
3 Dog-eared and Coffee-Stained
I use this book more than any other in my stash. I've had it for several years. It is an excellent practical reference for writing pl/sql and Oracle programming. Just wish there was a version for 9i.
4 Great Learning Tool; Not Really a Reference
This is an excellent book to learn the language of PL/SQL; but not really a good reference material.
5 useless as a reference
As a moderate users of PL/SQL I purchased the book both as a reference manual and to chart the differences between Oracle 8 and 9.
I found the book useless in both regards. It is difficult to look for specific items as the book is organized as a teaching guide and not a users guide.
In addition, coverage of how to use and program stored procs and triggers is inadequate at best. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
6 Good PL/SQL book (Only PL/SQL)
I haven't worked on PL/SQL for while so looking for book which gives me well inside on PL/SQL. It starts with good introduction & move on to advance level. I am Java Developer & this book provides perfect details about PL/SQL for programmer only. Buy it if you want to know about PL/SQL ONLY.
7 Taught me a lot of things I did not know
I really thought I knew PL/SQL until I read this book.
It contains so much great, hidden information.
It is a great value at triple its price. If you do any serious Oracle PL/SQL coding, GET THIS BOOK!
8 Is your PL/SQL code manageable?
I just finished reading this book from cover to cover. Huuhh, with 900+ pages it certainly deserves to be called a PL/SQL bible.
It's almost eight years since I purchased first edition of the Steven's PL/SQL Programming. Back then, you didn't have much of the choice, you either swallow official Oracle PL/SQL documentation (that I always found dry and tedious to read) or more likely order PL/SQL Programming from O'Reilly. The book, that was (and still is!) in the class of it's own (O'Reilly probably sold more copies of Steven's PL/SQL Programming than all other publishers of similar PL/SQL titles together).
The organization of the book is even (slightly) better compared with the first and second edition. The writing style is as good as it was in previous two editions.
What I liked the most is the fact that book covers all PL/SQL features, from Oracle 7.3 to 9.2 throughout the chapters in a way that doesn't feel like authors just "patched" previous edition of the book with some new chapters. This was the main reason that I decided that it's worthwhile to take some time and read third edition from cover to cover. The second good news is that they didn't overload the book with code examples, instead you can download all source code (printed or just mentioned in the book) from O'Reilly site.
Strictly speaking this book is not the reference manual (fortunately; what's the point to mimic Oracle reference stuff anyway)! It's true that it covers all important aspects of PL/SQL and as such you'll want to have this book at hand when coding. Of course there will always be time when you'll need to check Oracle manuals for some true reference (syntax, built-in packages...).
If your objective is not only to master PL/SQL language but also to learn how to write manageable code, then look no further. Thank you Steven!
9 Great PL/SQL reference
The book is really a reference manual. You'll certainly learn a lot by reading the book from cover to cover, but you'll probably get more out of it by just having it handy by your computer. Each chapter contains clear explanations on the specific subject, a function reference (if applicable), and troubleshooting.
The book has been updated for Oracle 9i, which is nice, however, the book is still a great reference even if you're not using 9i. Certain sections of the previous edition were condensed or removed for this edition, however, those sections are available in their entirety on O'Reilly's web site. This extra information may be useful to readers running older versions of Oracle (like me). All the examples used in this book can also be downloaded from the web.
10 Great Book
This is a great book for those willing to master the development languange pl/sql. Although I also recommend the PDF's from oracle corporation. But undoubtedly, Steven's book is well written and takes into account of also the intermediate and beginners...
11 SUPERB INTRO, VERSATILE CONTENTS
The "Oracle PL/SQL Programming" boasts of a superb PL/SQL introduction. This all-encompassing volume has additional information, which is a welcomed improvement over the previous edition. There are new chapters on Oracle triggers, the internal architecture of PL/SQL in the Oracle database, and in the use of PL/SQL with java. The latests of both Oracle-8i and Oracle-9i were included.
This is one PL/SQL text that I will recommended for most users of the software, (whether a beginner or an expert). Its extensive coverage ensured that no stone was left unturned.
12 Not a reference, use in conjunction with oracle docs
A lot of reviewers are knocking this book because it's not a comprehensive reference. While it does contain some valuable reference information, it's real value is not as a reference, but as an actual guide to using the language's features to construct useful, working code.
At this, it's excellent. For example: Need to understand how to intelligently use exception blocks? Don't look in the Oracle docs; you'll get the correct syntax, but not much else. This is true for many of the topics the book touches on.
The author does spend a lot of time on programming fundamentals, (modularization, comments, good style, etc.) but considering how precise you need to be, and the specific challenges of debugging and deploying server side PL/SQL code, a little dose of rigor can be a good thing.
13 Amazing reference
O'Reilly brought together two writers to create the definitive PL/SQL reference. They succeeded masterfully. Not much else to say other than if you're looking for just one book on this subject, this is the one to get.
14 Be careful
Although the book is a solid introduction to PL/SQL, the author has some serious biases related to coding style and structure that you must be extremely leery with: implicit versus explicit cursors, functions should not have side effects, plus several others. Take it all with a grain of salt, and read the books written by Jonathan Lewis and Tom Kyte, which help to dispell some of the myths that Feuerstein advocates.
15 ODTUG Review
Most of us have had to learn PL/SQL at some point in our Oracle careers, and I am sure many of you have become quite expert. On the other hand, some of you may be new to this world of PL/SQL and are looking for a basic text that will educate you in the use of this language.
The "Bible" for PL/SQL programming has long been the earlier editions of this book, and Steven Feuerstein has been considered the guru of PL/SQL programming for as many years as I can remember. Steven has completely revised his best-known work into a new, third edition. I thought that it was time to take a look at this new edition and see what it has to offer both groups. Here is what I found.
Steven now provides complete coverage of PL/SQL from Oracle RDBMS version 7.3.4 through Oracle9i Release 2. He has incorporated all the information from his book PL/SQL Guide to Oracle8i New Features into this book. He has added a new chapter on database triggers and included especially useful information on DDL triggers and database event triggers. He has added new content on the PL/SQL runtime architecture, creating and running PL/SQL programs, and calling Java methods from within PL/SQL. He has integrated all the new Oracle9i features throughout the text, instead of placing them in a separate chapter.
In order to make the book fit into 1,000 pages, some of the example code was removed and can be found on O'Reilly's Web site at www.oreilly.com/catalog/oraclep3 as a zipped file. About 300 files are available. Approximately 200 pages that were pruned from the second edition that still have some utility are also available there.
The book is organized much the same way as previous editions, with a few changes. There are 23 chapters divided into six parts:
Part I: Programming in PL/SQL. These three chapters orient you to PL/SQL, its history, utility, and basic programming constructs.
Part II: PL/SQL Program Structure. Conditional, sequential, iterative control structures, and exceptions are covered in these three chapters.
Part III: PL/SQL Program Data. Six chapters cover how to manipulate data within PL/SQL procedures and functions. Strings, numbers, datatypes, including the new Oracle9i datatypes, and records and collections are also discussed.
Part IV: SQL in PL/SQL. There are three chapters that cover transactions, data retrieval, and the use of dynamic SQL.
Part V: PL/SQL Application Construction. The four chapters in this part discuss procedures and functions, packages, triggers, and managing PL/SQL applications.
Part VI: Advanced PL/SQL Topics. There are four final chapters that cover the runtime architecture, object-orientation in PL/SQL, PL/SQL and Java, and external procedure calls.
Steven states in his preface that the three objectives of this book are to
1. take full advantage of the features of PL/SQL,
2. use PL/SQL to solve your problems, and
3. write efficient, maintainable code.
Each chapter has been crafted to address these three objectives. His writing style is clear, succinct, and reads like he is sitting next to you chatting about the new things he's learned. The book is absolutely full of code examples. Most of the examples are posed as practical programming problems. He carefully walks you through the lines of example code, clearly explaining the logic used for each step of the program, and points out version-based differences. Steve is also not afraid to express an opinion and will tell you exactly why he chooses a particular method for solving a problem. Notes explaining tips and traps proliferate the book.
So, what do I think about this new edition? His book has the most comprehensive coverage of PL/SQL that I have ever seen. The code examples achieve a level of sophistication that is truly elegant. For a PL/SQL beginner, this book can be the source of all PL/SQL wisdom. Even if you have been programming with PL/SQL for a time, I think you will find the information on Oracle9i new features useful and will find many nuggets of information that can be used immediately to improve your code.
16 Just Gotta Have It
I was a bit wary buying yet another Steve Feuerstein Bible, with my bookshelf already groaning under the weight of all the other ones including the 2nd Edition of this book. But he's never disappointed me yet, and this book was no exception. With all the latest 9i features blended right in, rather than being in their own section, it has made development easier when looking for the definitive reference to a complete code module. I particularly like Chapter 15 on NDS statements and dynamic PL/SQL and the entire Advanced PL/SQL section covering Java, External Procedures and PL/SQL Object Orientation. It is much better balanced than the 2nd Edition, more concise, and just better all round. A fine piece of work. I just get that Oracle 9i PL/SQL job just done quicker. Anybody want to buy an old 2nd Edition? No good to me anymore.
17 Good book to learn PL/SQL
I have the second edition of this book. It is a very good book if you are learning PL/SQL. It can also be used as a reference book (mine is certainly full of page flags), but the book's text is narrative in nature. If you know any 3rd generation language (e.g. long live COBOL!) you will find this book very easy reading.
18 Learn PL/SQL is valued and rewarding experience
Listen Software Solutions:
I like this book. Most of my questions occurred when I ran into a coding barriers, usually caused by a lack of PL/SQL understanding. This book will save you hours and reduce PL/SQL confusion. Remember, its costly to pursue incorrect or inefficient coding practices. Sometimes it may seem like your on the right path, but its helpful to get validation of the assumption. This book validates widely excepted PL/SQL coding standards and practices.
This book brings real-time stories and humor into technical explanations and illustrations. The book is a comprehensive composition of most of the Oracle 8i components. The book is well written and easy to understand. Its a great reference. If your a verbal learner, you'll like the book. Its rich in content.
Once you read the book, the tips and tricks will be helpful.
19 Details PL/SQL Language Framework
The book is a comprehensive coverage of the language through most Oracle8 components. It does not have Oracle8i component coverage that is found in Oracle PL/SQL Programming: Guide to Oracle8i Features by the same author. It's a shame the two books haven't been merged into one as Oracle9i is in the marketplace.
It's improved from the first edition but still needs polishing on its coverage of Index-by (or AKA PL/SQL) Tables. It is an indispensible book. I've used it as a text for teaching college courses in PL/SQL with good student comments on textbook. There is no better book.
20 Leaves no stone unturned
If you are serious about PL/SQL, this is the book.
21 A savior for my project
This book is exactly what it says. It is only PL/SQL. There is not a lot on SQL, but it has saved me several times. I was working on a project to create html pages from within a database and this book taught me some tricks to make it doable. It is excellently written with good examples. The only drawback I see is that their examples were not detailed enough. (too much "...") However, it was enough for me to do what I needed to do. I would suggest it for anyone working with PL/SQL.
22 Surprisingly easy to read
This is one of the best written and easiest to read of any technical book I've ever read. We've often provided this book to students in the Oracle classes that we teach. Furthermore, when I was on an Oracle consulting project a couple of years ago, working alongside consultants from Oracle Corporation, I noticed that the Oracle Corp consultants weren't using the Oracle Corp documentation on PL/SQL for reference - they all had this book.
Steve Feuerstein presents a tremendous overview and in-depth analysis of the PL/SQL language with practical examples. He includes several design recommendations and practical real world examples and recommendations that make this a solid book for PL/SQL professionals who are serious about writing production code.
23 very good overview of PL/SQL programming
This book has become my reference of first resort when faced with a PL/SQL problem. The examples are well-written and easily understood
24 A Great Book! I recommend it highly.
I have been writing PL/SQL for a long time, and feel it's definitely one of the best. I use it as a reference and would be lost with out it.
25 One of the best
No, question, this is one of the most valuable Oracle books that I have read. However, watch out for doubtful code, i.e. : SELECT * FROM color_models c WHERE 'RED' IN (SELECT * FROM TABLE(c.colors)); Yes, it compiles, but if You run it on a table with tens thousands of rows, go on two-weeks holiday, when You come back the code will return. There are much better approaches.
26 Not the Best for a Casual PL/SQL Programmer
This book does have lots of information in it, but I seem to always have trouble finding what I'm looking for. It's also very verbose so it isn't well suited to being a quick, basic reference.
27 Too verbose, and not very helpful
I've hated this book. I am an experienced programmer, with little database experience. I like my technical books to be brief and to the point. I started reading the PL/SQL guide with a few simple questions: how can I write a stored procedure, what is a calling convention, where are they stored inside the DB. Skimming the book to find answers to these did not work, and the book was way too verbose (pages of common-sense stuff tangential to PL/SQL, such as "you should write as little code as possible", "Make comments easy to enter and maintain").
If you are looking to get going quickly, Urman's book is much better.
28 Oracle PL/SQL is a great introduction for novices
I was introducted to this book as a student at DeVry Institute of Technology located in Dallas, TX. While this book is not adequate for those with no knowledge of relational database methodology of SQL experience, it is a great reference and tutorial for those who have prior knowledge of basic SQL. The book provides many examples of coding, along with guides illustrating debugging techniques. For those interested in SQL or an introduction into relational databases, I suggest both the Modern Database Management book (ISBN: 0-8053-6054-9) and the LAN Times Guide to SQL book (ISBN: 0-07-882026-X).
29 Great book for learning PL/SQL
This is still the best PL/SQL book on the market. Very well written with great examples.
30 The TRUE bible for PL/SQL programming (not the one by Urman)
I recommend this book wholeheartedly for beginners as well as veterans of PL/SQL. Especially against the Oracle Press book by author Scott Urman. That book (though it covers the basics), it does not give you the tips and tricks or insight as does Steve's book.
The O'Reilly series book is well crafted, with excellent examples. The style of writing is humorous as well as straight forward. And it is a companion amongst other Oracle books by O'Reilly. O'Reilly Publishing seems to know Oracle better than Oracle Press knows itself.
Gio
31 Get the Urman book instead
Yes this is the BIG name BUT unfortunately there are errors aplenty (the cursor for loop for example) & the EXAMPLES are worthless. Snippets of nonsense not good for really running code. The organization is poor. Buy the book from OraclePress or the 21 days to PL/SQL if a starter instead. Ignore this one. I wish I did.
32 Nice Book; Some Organization Limitations
I got this book based on other reviews here. For the most part, I agree that this is a good book, and it has been helpful for me.
However, for someone who has never done Oracle and needing to do Triggers specifically, I find it difficult to find any information about how to do Triggers, special contstucts available for Triggers, etc.
Other technical topics are good, though, and as a novice it helps me greatly to see potential for Oracle application programming.
Index and TOC could be better organized; I usually can't find what I'm looking for in the index.
33 Great PL/SQL book for Beginners.
I have no prior knowledge of PL/SQL (and only a little experience with Transact-SQL). With this book in hand for 2 days, I am able to maintain and debug existing PL/SQL stored procedures. This book has easy to understand text, a good index and wonderful examples.
34 Feuerstein is The Man
If you have a very narrow bookshelf or shallow pockets this is THE book to buy if you want to know more about PL/SQL. No matter how much you know already, this book will teach you more. I read the first edition from cover to cover and bought the second edition as a reference. I've been writing PL/SQL programs for more than 6 years and I still find this to be a valuable resource. Buy it today!
35 Great for beginner to expert
I used this book to write my first Oracle package and have been referring to it ever since. I have some other books but this is the one that invariably has what I am looking for. The book contains a lot of discussion on the reasons for doing things in a particular way which is very helpful.
36 PL/SQL Programming by Steve Feuerstein
This is an excellent book on PL/SQL and especially for PL/SQL beginners! .
Every DBA and Oracle programmer should buy this book and READ READ and READ.
After this book I suggest two other books by Steve, 1. Programming with PL/SQL packages 2. Oracle Built-in packages
These 3 books are my Online Oracle tutor on PL/SQL and Oracle Packages!
You won't regret buying these books.
How about a book on Designer 6000 steve ? Keep up the good work steve.
37 Excellent reference for PL/SQL programming
If you need a single reference/learning book for PL/SQL, this would be it. If you are a beginner to PL/SQL, when you buy this book, please spend the time to read it and experiment. For a quicker start, maybe Scott Urman's (Oracle Press) PL/SQL book is better. I have both. But, if you're a serious PL/SQL programmer and looking for the finer points -- this book is an absolute must!
38 Very good PL/SQL book
I've been reading couple SQL books. This is the most complete and easy to follow.
39 This book is complicate and ugly
This book starts with "What is PL/SQL?". But through the following 900 pages, I could not find a simple example showing how to test run a simple PL/SQL code or procedure through Oracle sqlplus or other Oracle calling interface, such as OCI and Proc. Well, my rating above might be biased. I made a career change from physics to become a professional C/C++ programmer by reading K&R's C Programming Language to begin with. However, I do not feel reading this book alone can get me anywhere but waste all my time. If five stars for K&R's, one star is all for this book. It's a matter of Simple and Beautiful vs Complicate and Ugly.
40 MUST book for PL/SQL programmer
I have little experience of PL/SQL but I have been doing C, C++, Java, and etc.. This book has everything I need. I mean "everything." Thanks. Because of this excellent book, it saves a lot of time. An EXCELLENT reference. =)
41 More advice than PL/SQL Programming
When looking for a solution to practical real life programming problems,I find it hard to find a solution or an answer in this book. The focus is by far to much on style and how the author would do it rather than to offer relevant working examples relating to the real world, contradicting the title of the book. I got a lot of paper for my money, but that's about it.
42 Great book
As a programmer, I found this book to be an excellent reference for learning PL/SQL. Nearly every topic you could be interested in is thoroughly covered. Steve is a good writer, and the book is very well organized.
43 Too much speech! Too many inaccuracies
Why so much empty speech and "humour / esprit ˆ deux sous"? Mister Feuerstein is apparently not so sure about the meaning of a constant. The code examples can be confusing. I had the impression that selling that what is intended to be humor is more important than clarifying the pl/sql features. Mister Feuerstein knows probably a lot about pl/sql, but not necessarily about software engineering. In short: It was not necessary to waste so many trees for the meager content of the book.
Marco
Mathematician / Computer Scientist
44 Exactly what I needed.
I didn't give this one 5 stars because of the author's repetitive pontification on matters of style, which is basically preaching to the choir, and was a waste of dead trees. There were also some curious omissions, which were later rectified in his sequel (pun intended). However, this was exactly the book I needed to come up to speed on PL/SQL in a hurry. I use it heavily for reference now that I have learned enough PL/SQL to be really dangerous. The book is not quite as strong for that purpose, but it's better than the Oracle documentation on the subject.
45 Book for the PL/SQL connoisseur !
May be it is not the book for a person seeing PL/SQL for the first time. But this is one book close to my heart. Combined with Feuerstein's humor and distinctive style of writing and the O'Reilly stamp , this is one book which you would like to savour -- line by line -- Feuerstein has nuggets of info hidden away. Read if you have time to enjoy it ! Not really a book for fast reference. Also this book does not talk about database triggers .For a quick lookup, may be Scott Urman's (Oracle Press) PL/SQL book is better. I have both. But , if you're a serious PL/SQL programmer and looking for the finer points -- this book is an absolute must !
46 If you're doing PL/SQL, this is THE book to have.
I have to admit that I haven't read the whole book yet. In fact, I've only read the first four chapters. But I'm so impressed with the first four chapters that I figure I've already got my money's worth. I like to read a book cover to cover, every word. Many computer books are written in such a dry, choppy style that this is impossible. This book is a pleasure. I enjoy the humor, the real-life anecdotes and, of course, there's lots of technical stuff. What I like most about the book are the coding standards and "best practices" that appear throughout the book (well, at least the first four chapters). Most of the technical content of this book is contained in the Oracle on-line books--but without this extra insight and commentary the technical details just don't mean much. This book answers the "how do I use this?" and "why do I care?" questions. If you're doing PL/SQL, this is THE book to have.
47 Confusing and Disorganized
I found this book to be confusing and disorganized as a reference guide. Please just give us the syntax, samples and any helpful shortcuts and a useful index!
48 Too long for a quick start
As a beginner to PLSQL, I have to read through a lot of material to find the things that I want to know. This book seems to be for intermediate programmers. But then it would be nice if some material could be dropped to get to the point. Too much time consumed reading unnecessary material.
49 O'Reilly books...not for the technically challenged.
O'Reilly publishes good reference books. I always look for one of their books first when I am looking for a book in a given subject area. No one book in their Oracle series has it all, though. Each book covers it's subject area in depth...just make sure you get the right book! If you like the "Whatever For Dummies" kind of books, then O'Reilly books aren't for you. My only knock is that there are more books in the Oracle series than is really necessary...marketing at it's worst! Some of the seperate PL/SQL related books should have been combined into one volume.
50 The definitive PL/SQL source
Feuerstein's books on PL/SQL are THE definitive source for comprehensive information on PL/SQL and Oracle in general. Not only do these books cover a huge amount of material, but any topic that is covered is covered in excruciating detail. It looks to me like the authors took great notes while they suffered through yet another partially implemented Oracle feature, and then turned these notes into books that make it possible for the rest of us to minimize the pain assocatiated with PL/SQL development. These books are written by developers for developers, so you'll see how to figure out why something that should work isn't working. I recommend all three books and I recommend the author's approach to programming. By the way, the indexes are better than most. This is a big help when you have a specific question. Finally, these books are appropriate for all PL/SQL programmers (new and experienced) because the books work well as both a tuturial and as a reference manual. In order to achieve both of these goals, there is a huge amount of material to wade through. But I know the answer is in there someplace, so the volume is worth it to me.
51 Solid book, but not alot of depth
I have found this book to be a good reference, especially as a quick reference. It is clear and concise. The examples and text however lack detail, as such when using something for the first time I prefer to use other texts that go into greater detail.
52 Not for good developer, also not for beginner
The book really deserves a 4 star for all the material it presents. I want to highlight my disappointment that a large part of it are just things in Oracle manuals, basics of structured methodology and a little bit of Object technology. I bought it because experienced PL/SQL developers rated it high and I expected it to be an advanced book. So I am suprised that the author assumes the readers are not familiar with these basics. It would have been a good book had the author get rid of its 85% basics and expand more into the other 15%.
53 This is a very informative book.
This is a very well written book, a must for any ORACLE PL/SQL Programmer. Along with the ORACLE Built-In Packages book, they both provide undocumented features and helpful examples.
54 Fantastic
A book which covered everything I needed and more
55 Not a book for beginners
A few weeks ago, I decided to learn PL/SQL. I browsed the Amazon site to look for a good book for beginners. I picked this book based on the good review by the other readers. At the time, I did not know those reviewers, most likely had some experience with PL/SQL before they bought this book. After reading this book half way, I definetly rate this book highly if I have experience in PL/SQL. This book would be a good one for beginners if the author rearranges the order to the chapters. Right from the start, the author uses function, package and procedure to illustrate some of his points. Unfortunately, he does not introduce these 3 topics until later in the book. Poor me!! I did not have a easy time. I do not blame the author because he never claims that this book is intended for beginners.
56 Not a reference book
This book is useless as reference it doesnt fully describe basic functions like to_number. author waste pages on style which is useless to experienced programmers. waste of money
57 The book for any PL/SQL programmer.
This book by Steven and Bill is not only usefull for programmers who start of with PL/SQL. I think I was experienced in PL/SQL programming but learned some nice features. The book covers not only PL/SQL 2.3, but PL/SQL 8 and the differences between several versions of PL/SQL. The guidelines in this book are very good in general, although I do not always agree with the authors. Most important in these guidelines are the arguments. A 'buy' one for every Oracle PL/SQL programmer.
58 There simply isn't a better book on this topic
No matter how long you already work with PL/SQL, (and with the Web it gets a new importance) I bet you will get to know the "even better" - techniques. And for topics one hasn't implemented yet I consider the "teaching approach" excellent; which for me means: equally good for a beginner as for the experienced. I'm in since 10 years and - in combination with the same authors book "Programming in Packages" - I got much more than I expected. Thats why I blindly ordered the authors new book "Oracle Built-in Packages" coming around May 98. I'm looking forward to new ways "of doing it".
59 Excellent sourcebook for PL/SQL programming
If you need a single reference/learning book for PL/SQL, this would be it. From a beginner's standpoint, the book is terrific. Assuming familiarity with programming logic, the book works very well in exposing the power and strengths of PL/SQL. The examples are clear and helpful, and the narrative is helpful in unraveling the complexities of PL/SQL programming constructs. I'm learning everything I need to do my job just by reading this book and applying it to my own programs. The only thing I'd like to see improved is better layout of the text on the pages, more graphics, and better quality paper. When I highlight any text, it tends to bleed through to the opposite side of the page. BTW, I've got the first edition, not the revised second edition.
60 Critical reference to understanding and using PL/SQL
Excellent book, comprehensive coverage of the material and well written -- not a five minute read. Skipping around as opposed to a cover-to-cover approach can be done but continuity is lost as well as some dependent ideas. His coverage of PL/SQL Tables (arrays) is cumbersome; and devoid of any treatment of parallel array structures which are required coding technique in Oracle's rdbms before PL/SQL 2.3. The on-site bible of every technical Oracle Consultant, it misses only one thing from Oracle's Osborne series equivalent and that is treatment of Oracle's OCI.
61 Exceptionally well written
The best technical book I have ever read. It is packed with useful information and written in a narrative style that makes it both highly informative and very readable. The author is a gifted writer.
62 Not recommended for beginners
1.this book doesn't even list triggers in the table of contents, which means that triggers were not included in that book at all!! 2.i dont know why, but the examples in the book were so different in every page and every chapter. it was really hard to know what the examples were all about. 3.table contents and actual contents do not match sometimes. the author mixes oracle8 features with oracle 7 features while explaining about oracle7 features, which only gave me confusions. 4.the only thing that attracted me was the tips that helped me pretty much.. In conclusion, if you are a beginner to pl/sql, please do not buy this book.
63 Infinite riches in a small room
This book is a carefully documented manual for learning PL/SQL that is written by the one and only Steven Feuerstein. His unique style of writing coupled with his intricate knowledge of the subject makes it a pleasure to read and learn.
Programmers will actually learn the most effective way to write the best PL/SQL code by following Stevens practical advice from real life experiences with PL/SQL and the examples that are so clearly explained. Don't miss the humor too.
The book covers virtually everthing one needs to learn PL/SQL including Packages, procedures, functions and Oracle's built-ins. It also tells you where and when the differences arise between the various revisions and their numbers. A great benefit along with the book is a diskette with code and a few utilities. Most of the code is generic and can be simply cut and pasted into the application with little or not trouble. If you don't have this bible of Oracle on your desk, then you don't want to learn PL/SQL.
And remember Steven is the world's leading authority on PL/SQL. Drop in at his site to know more about him http://www.revealnet.com
64 Worth the $36 good PL SQL reference/intro
I am new to PL/SQL but have read other programming books.
The index & TOC work. It is easy to find the syntax of a particular feature and every feature is illustrated with many examples. The layout is clean.
A disc with sample PL/SQL is included. We've adopted some of the packages in the advanced book for use in our own organization.
The author apparently has a quite a lot of experience with PL/SQL. This is useful in describing likely cryptic error messages, PL/SQL limits or quirks. For example PL/SQL uses 'ELSIF' not 'ELSEIF'
There are jokes, but they are not too numerous or dumb.
A lot of space is devoted to source code format and good programming practice. I'd say this was wasted, if my organization's code base wasn't rife with magic numbers. In any event if the style & practice material is irksome it is easily skipped.
btw if you're thinking of buying this book, you might consider working for Habitat for Humanity's IS group. We'll give you a copy.
The $$ pay is low, but we're on a mission from god. (I use term both literally and as it was in the movie The Blues Brothers)
Send mailto information_systems@habitat.org
or visit www.habitat.or
65 Best available introduction & reference for PL/SQL.
The best book written so far for the beginning to intermediate PL/SQL programmer. Includes EXCELLENT examples as well as valuable utilities, and guidelines for how to write good code that takes maximum advantage of PL/SQL's encapsulation and polymorphism features. Feuerstein writes in an easy, clean style that doesn't get in the way of the information. A must-buy book for anyone doing serious work with PL/SQL
66 Oracle PL/SQL Bible
This is the best book ever written on PL/SQL. It can be used by a beginner as well as an experienced Oracle Programmer to fully explore the power of PL/SQL. I reccommend every Oralce User to read and refer it during the development effort. It is truely the BIBLE of PL/SQL
