Oracle 11g Database The Complete Reference Book Review

Master The Powerful Features of the Latest Database Release

This is one massive Oracle book from Oracle Press. It weighs over 2kg alone, and is one of the first hardback Oracle books I have ever reviewed.

Complete Reference books from Oracle Press have been around a while now. I remember reading versions 8, 9i and 10g. This book is for Oracle 11g database, although as usual a lot of the examples will work on older versions of the Oracle database.

The Oracle 11g Complete Reference book begins by telling you how to install or upgrade to Oracle 11g. You then get a large section on using SQL to do just about everything from simple SQL statements to creating tables, triggers, views etc. There is then a big section on programming stored objects with PL/SQL, including procedures, functions and packages.

The book contains so much information it’s difficult to describe it all without re-listing the table of contents, but there are some important sections that have been included such as using Java in the database, using Objects, Tuning and how to use the Oracle Data Dictionary. There are also more complicated areas for DBA’s such as RAC, Tuning and using the Query Cache facility.

It’s worth noting that out of the 1,300+ pages, 500 pages are used by the alphabetical Oracle command reference. This section lists all the main Oracle commands together with examples and explanations of the command and what it does and how to use it.

If you want a book that covers most things that the Oracle database can do, then this book is for you, as all the information is in one handy place. Plus you won’t have to go out and buy extra Oracle books.

Oracle The Complete Reference is for all levels of expertise, as it starts with using basic Oracle SQL and ends with using Oracle XML and Real Application Clusters.

Overall, a great Oracle reference book, go and buy it.