1 Getting Acquainted

1.1 What Is an Oracle Precompiler?

An Oracle Precompiler is a programming tool that enables embed SQL statements in a high-level host program. As Figure 1-1shows, the precompiler accepts the host program as input, translates the embedded SQL statements into standard Oracle runtime library calls, and generates a source program that you can compile, link, and execute in the usual way.

Figure 1-1 Embedded SQL Program Development

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1.2 Why Use an Oracle Precompiler?

The Oracle Precompilers let you pack the power and flexibility of SQL into your application programs. You can use SQL in popular high-level languages such as COBOL and FORTRAN. A convenient, easy to use interface lets your application access Oracle directly.

Unlike many application development tools, the Oracle Precompilers let you create highly customized applications. For example, you can create user interfaces that incorporate the latest windowing and mouse technology. You can also create applications that run in the background without the need for user interaction.

Furthermore, with the Oracle Precompilers you can fine-tune your applications. They allow close monitoring of resource usage, SQL statement execution, and various runtime indicators. With this information, you can adjust program parameters for maximum performance.

1.3 Why Use SQL?

If you want to access and manipulate Oracle data, you need SQL. Whether you use SQL interactively or embedded in an application program depends on the job at hand. If the job requires the procedural processing power of COBOL or FORTRAN, or must be done on a regular basis, use embedded SQL.

SQL has become the database language of choice because it is flexible, powerful, and easy to learn. Being non-procedural, it lets you specify what you want done without specifying how to do it. A few English-like statements make it easy to manipulate Oracle data one row or many rows at a time.

You can execute any SQL (not SQL*Plus) statement from an application program. For example, you can

• CREATE, ALTER, and DROP database tables dynamically

• SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE rows of data

• COMMIT or ROLLBACK transactions

Before embedding SQL statements in an application program, you can test them interactively using SQL*Plus or Server Manager. Usually, only minor changes are required to switch from interactive to embedded SQL.

1.4 Why Use PL/SQL?

An extension to SQL, PL/SQL is a transaction processing language that supports procedural constructs, variable declarations, and robust error handling. Within the same PL/SQL block, you can use SQL and all the PL/SQL extensions.

The main advantage of embedded PL/SQL is better performance. Unlike SQL, PL/SQL enables group SQL statements logically and send them to Oracle in a block rather than one by one. This reduces network traffic and processing overhead.

For more information about PL/SQL including how to embed it in an application program, see Chapter 6, "Running the Oracle Precompilers".

1.5 What Do the Oracle Precompilers Offer?

As Figure 1-2 shows, the Oracle Precompilers offer many features and benefits that help you to develop effective, reliable applications.

Figure 1-2 Features and Benefits

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For example, the Oracle Precompilers allow you to

• program your application in any of six high-level languages

• confirm to the ANSI/ISO embedded SQL standard

• take advantage of dynamic SQL, an advanced programming technique that lets your program accept or build any valid SQL statement at run time

• design and develop highly customized applications

• convert automatically between Oracle internal datatypes and high-level language datatypes

• improve performance by embedding PL/SQL transaction processing blocks in your application program

• specify useful precompiler options and change their values during precompilation

• use datatype equivalencing to control the way Oracle interprets input data and formats output data

• precompile several program modules separately, then link them into one executable program

• check the syntax and semantics of embedded SQL data manipulation statements and PL/SQL blocks

• access Oracle databases on multiple nodes concurrently using SQL*Net

• use arrays as input and output program variables

• precompile sections of code conditionally so that your host program can run in different environments

• interface with tools such as Oracle Forms and Oracle Reports through user exits written in a high-level language

• handle errors and warnings with the ANSI-approved status variables SQLSTATE and SQLCODE, and the SQL Communications Area (SQLCA) and WHENEVER statement

• use an enhanced set of diagnostics provided by the Oracle Communications Area (ORACA)

To sum it up, the Oracle Precompilers are full-featured tools that support a professional approach to embedded SQL programming.

1.6 Do the Oracle Precompilers Meet Industry Standards?

SQL has become the standard language for relational database management systems. This section describes how the Oracle Precompilers conform to the latest SQL standards established by the following organizations:

• American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

• International Standards Organization (ISO)

• U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Those organizations have adopted SQL as defined in the following publications:

• ANSI Document ANSI X3.135-1992, Database Language SQL

• International Standard ISO/IEC 9075:1992, Database Language SQL

• ANSI Document ANSI X3.168-1992, Database Language Embedded SQL

• NIST Federal Information Processing Standard FIPS PUB 127-2, Database Language SQL