SQL*Plus is available at every Oracle site--from the largest data warehouse to the smallest single-user system--and it's a critical tool for virtually every Oracle user. Despite its wide use, few developers and DBAs know how powerful a tool SQL*Plus can be. This pocket reference provides quick reference information that will help you use SQL*Plus, Oracle's interactive query tool. It summarizes all of the SQL*Plus syntax, including the syntax for the Oracle9i release. This book boils down the most vital information from Gennick's best-selling book, "Oracle SQL8Plus: The Definitive Guide", into an accessible summary and works as a vital companion to the larger book. It concisely describes interacting with SQL*Plus, selecting data, formatting reports with SQL*Plus, and tuning SQL queries. It also contains quick references to the SQL*Plus commands and format elements. The new 2nd edition of our Oracle SQL*Plus Pocket Reference includes many new features for Oracle9i (e.g., COALESCE function, searched CASE expressions, new table join syntax, partition operations, MERGE statement, and syntax changes in existing SQL*Plus statements such as ACCEPT, DESRIBE, HELP, and SET) It also adds sections on basic SQL (a much-requested feature): INSERT, DELETE, UPDATE, SELECT, and transaction management. The pocket reference size is especially appropriate for this particular subject, since Oracle SQL*Plus is used on every possible platform, it's particularly convenient to be able to carry a small book around from office computer to home computer to laptop.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 4 Ratings

A Real Time Saver - 2000-05-24
Reviewer Rating:
This pocket reference version has been a real time saver! I really appreciated the concise, clear explanations and examples. Since my co-workers are always walking off with it, I'm having to buy another copy for myself.

A great revision guide. - 2001-06-24
Reviewer Rating:
After 7 years solid experience within the ORACLE toolset I find that books like this not only teach us a few new things but are also great revision guides giving new thought to commands, formats,functions etc not used or thought of for some time.

In my opinion, even though a small book, it was well worth the money and one that all Oracle users of whatever standard will appreciate. I suggest any purchser write their name in it.

OK as far as it goes - 2002-12-06
Reviewer Rating:
For those SQL*Plus keywords it contains, it's good. Very easy to use and helpful. What I'd really like to see is a more comprehensive reference that covers general SQL statements in SQL*Plus, without all the references to the other "flavors" of SQL out there (those weren't in this book, by the way). Exactly the same level of references found in the book now, but much more comprehensive, so I only need the one source for quick 'n' dirty query help. There were many SQL keywords and functions not found either here, or in The Complete SQL (not so complete, after all), making it difficult to move forward without looking elsewhere, like online using the search engine Copernicus.

Extremely Useful... - 2006-09-21
Reviewer Rating:
...a good combination of size, price, and content. I have the 3rd edition, which includes an 8-page index. I use this as part of teaching a class in Oracle Developer and recommend it for my students. As the other reviewers recommend, write your name in it...the Oreilly pocket references are easy to misplace, and walk off sometimes. There are four blank pages at the end for your own notes. Content is adequate for its purpose -- for extensive details, the Oracle online documentation is available, if slower to access.

Drawbacks? I'd like a larger index, although the current one is useful. A little bit more room throughout the book for notes might be handy, although it would enlarge the book a bit. I think the content is about right, although there will always be things one can't find, and other topics which are never used in this type of book.

And, as with all the Oreilly pocket references I've seen, there is no colophon, so one must go to the original large book to discover that the insect on the front cover is a moving leaf, Phyllium giganteum, a Malaysian creature which grows to about four inches in length...roughly the width of the book!

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