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
• SQL Developer 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 Sub-queries
• 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 Non-predefined 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 the block structure for PL/SQL stored procedures
• Invoke a stored procedure/function from different tools
• Call a stored procedure with host variables from SQL*Plus, Forms, Java, C, etc
• Invoke a stored procedure from an anonymous block or another stored procedure
• List the CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE syntax
• Identify the development steps for creating a stored procedure
• Use the SHOW ERRORS command
• View source code in the USER_SOURCE dictionary view

Creating Stored Functions

• Describe stored functions
• List the CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION syntax
• Identify the steps to create a stored function
• Execute a stored function
• Identify the advantages of using stored functions in SQL statements
• Identify the restrictions of calling functions from SQL statements
• Remove a function

Creating Packages

• List the advantages of packages
• Describe packages
• Show the components of a package Diagram the visibility of constructs within a package
• Develop a package
• Create the package specification
• Declare public constructs
• Create the package body

Using More Package Concepts

• List the benefits of overloading
• Show overloading example
• Use forward declarations in packages
• Cr