Preface

Devoted exclusively to the Pro*PL/I Precompiler, this manual supplements the language-independent Programmer's Guide to the Oracle Precompilers. An understanding of the material in the Programmer's Guide is assumed.

This companion book shows you how to write PL/I programs that use the powerful database language SQL to access and manipulate Oracle data. It provides easy-to-follow examples, instructions, and programming tips, as well as several full-length programs to better your understanding and demonstrate the usefulness of embedded SQL.

Who Should Read This Manual?

Developers who are writing new PL/I applications or converting existing PL/I applications to run in the Oracle environment will benefit from reading this manual. Though written especially for programmers, it will also be of value to systems analysts, project managers, and others interested in embedded SQL applications.

To use this manual effectively, you need a working knowledge of the following:

• applications programming in PL/I
• the SQL database language
• Oracle database concepts and terminology
• the concepts, terminology, methods, requirements, and options detailed in the Programmer's Guide to the Oracle Precompilers

How This Manual Is Organized

This manual contains five chapters and one appendix. A brief summary of what you will find in each chapter and appendix follows:

Chapter 1: Writing a Pro*PL/I Program

This chapter provides the basic information you need to write a Pro*PL/I program. You learn programming guidelines, coding conventions, language-specific features and restrictions, how to equivalence datatypes, and how to connect to Oracle.

Chapter 2: Error Handling and Diagnostics

This chapter discusses error reporting and recovery. It shows you how to use the SQLCA and the WHENEVER statement to detect errors and status changes. It also shows you how to use the ORACA to diagnose problems.

Chapter 3: Running the Pro*PL/I Precompiler

This chapter details the requirements for running the Pro*PL/I Precompiler. You learn how to issue the precompiler command, how to specify useful precompiler options, and when to do separate and conditional precompilations.

Chapter 4: Sample Programs

This chapter provides several embedded SQL programs to guide you in writing your own. These well-commented programs illustrate the key concepts and features of Pro*PL/I programming.

Chapter 5: Implementing Dynamic SQL Method 4

This chapter shows you how to implement dynamic SQL Method 4, an advanced programming technique that lets you write highly flexible applications. Numerous examples, including a full-length sample program, are used to illustrate the method.

Appendix A: Differences from Previous Release

This appendix lists differences between Pro*PL/I precompiler release 1.5 and 1.6.

Appendix B: Operating System Dependencies

Some details of Pro*PL/I programming vary from system to system. So, occasionally, you are referred to other manuals. For convenience, this appendix collects all external references to system-specific information.

Conventions Used in This Manual

Important terms being defined for the first time are italicized. In discussions, uppercase is used for database objects and SQL keywords, and boldface uppercase is used for the names of PL/I functions and procedures. All PL/I code is in uppercase.

Notation

The following notational conventions are used in code examples:

Angle brackets enclose the name of a syntactic element.

Brackets indicate that the enclosed items are optional.

Braces indicate that one, and only one, of the enclosed items is required.

A vertical bar is used to separate options within brackets or braces.

An ellipsis indicates that the preceding argument or parameter can be repeated, or that statements or clauses irrelevant to the discussion were left out.

ANSI Compliance

The Version 1.6 Pro*PL/I Precompiler complies completely with the following standards:

• American National Standard Database Language SQL, with Integrity Enhancement Option (ANSI X3.135-1989)
• International Standards Organization Database Language SQL (ISO 9075-1989)
• American National Standard Database Language Embedded SQL (ANSI X3.168-1989)

Compliance with these standards has been tested and validated using the appropriate National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) test suites.

ANSI compliance is governed by the MODE option. For more information about ANSI compliance and the MODE option, see the Programmer's Guide to the Oracle Precompilers.

Related Publications

The following publications are recommended for use with this manual:

• Oracle7 Server Application Developer's Guide
• Oracle7 Server Messages and Codes Manual
• Oracle7 Server SQL Language Reference Manual
• Programmer's Guide to the Oracle Call Interfaces
• Programmer's Guide to the Oracle Precompilers
• PL/SQL Release 2.1 and Oracle Precompilers Release 1.6 Addendum
• SQL*Forms Designer's Reference
• SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference Manual
• Trusted Oracle7 Server Administrator's Guide
• Understanding SQL*Net User's Guide
• Oracle Network Manager Administrator's Guide

Occasionally, this manual refers you to other Oracle manuals for system-specific information. Typically, these manuals are called installation or user's guides, but their exact names vary by operating system and platform. For convenience, Appendix A collects all external references to system-specific information.