My votes
sPh, September 01, 2004 - 3:06 pm UTC
Hmmm - you didn't give yourself a usefulness rating!
My thoughts:
1) A single volume is fine. Most
technical books are that way.
I ended up buying two copies
(work and home) and was the
better for it. Keeps all the
relevant material together.
2) (c). If there is a set, that
would be great, but presumably
you would break up the volumes
by topic and I would then like
the option of which topics to
buy.
3) i) Update the included packages
section
ii) SQL differences and new
features (like the analytics
section)
iii) Practical take on the
changes to 10g (to be clear,
real "Tom stuff" - not the
marketing fluff or the
changed doc reprinted).
Can't wait!
sPh
September 01, 2004 - 8:00 pm UTC
3) definitely, this will be a pretty major overhaul -- i don't do simple "global change and replaces" :)
What about an online edition
Joris, September 01, 2004 - 3:11 pm UTC
I just hate paper books. If I want something on paper, I'll print it.
Why not make the book available for download (not free) in PDF format.
That would enable me to search, copy/past and do all other kinds modern stuff with it.
September 01, 2004 - 8:00 pm UTC
any pointers to real world, reliable mechanisms for doing this (and preventing the mass redistribution?)
Steve, September 01, 2004 - 3:14 pm UTC
Yeah right..then it becomes like file-sharing..are you planning to send tom out of business??
Dave, September 01, 2004 - 3:17 pm UTC
I like one book: easy reference helps with the flow of the book.
Id be interested in what content you are going to put it as you said 1 on 1 was version inspecific, or will it be the same book updated with new features or better way of doing things (i.e. more stuff on analytics )
Plus it makes me look intelligient having big books on my shelf :-)
September 01, 2004 - 8:03 pm UTC
well, it was 80-90% of Expert One on One Oracle was version "not so specific". I plan on removing obsolete/not so necessary stuff (my utl_http2 implementation for example, dbms_job for example, ....) and adding lots -- I've learned alot in 4 years myself :)
Mang, September 01, 2004 - 3:21 pm UTC
For my does't matter, as long as keep the same style since I alredy read the whole book. I'd like compare first and second edition and look at where is new stuff.
Ron
A reader, September 01, 2004 - 3:25 pm UTC
Tom
I love the way to give solutions to most of the problem using SQL.
Can you dedicate an entire book to SQL alone ??
(covering all versions of oracle..analytics...all the new and advanced stuff).
thanks
Time to Upgrade!
Bill, September 01, 2004 - 3:27 pm UTC
1) Mutli-volume approach is ok, but I also prefer the single volume. I mean, let's face it this isn't the Encyclopedia Britannica, it's a tech ref.
I like being able to cart it around as I need to - multivolumes just means there is a chance that I will need Vol II and only have Vol I or III with me.
2) Definitely
c) have a choice to buy all 3 for $N as a set or any of the 3 individually for some number N/3+M where M > 0....
If a particular volume is not of interest to me based on my responsibilities (doubt it would happen, but you never know) I'd like the option of not paying for it and not getting it.
3) That which needs changing :p
Seriously, I would be willing to bet that some of your utility programs and scripts have evolved quite a bit over the last 4 years. Also, your approach to certain issues (i.e. tuning, space mgmnt, etc) have certainly changed. So it is definitely time for another Tom thome.
Ein Tom, Ein Goal, Ein Book!
Mac, September 01, 2004 - 4:00 pm UTC
Since I would be buying everything you publish, 1 volume would be more convenient than several.
"Volumes of the OracleWorld, Unite!"
Mark, September 01, 2004 - 4:03 pm UTC
1) I don't know about the "Too Heavy to Carry" problem, But I would go with Multi volumn. Each Volumn covering different areas. It would make a great Triligy.
2) I would go for C. I would buy all three but but I could see some people only wanting one or two.
3) Include a CD of sample scripts, code snippits and such.
I look forward to it.
Thanks
September 01, 2004 - 8:17 pm UTC
3) wasn't the online download sufficient? there was a zip file on the wrox and now apress site with everything.... much more efficient than a cd with 500k of zipped material?
I prefer one book
Eric Grancher, September 01, 2004 - 4:17 pm UTC
As useful as it is, we do not have to carry it everywhere:-) I believe that the one book format is perfect.
If there would be one thing to change that would be to have a clearer separation between "I need some administrator priviledge to do this" from "I only need priviledge to create objects / do queries".
thank you _a lot_, your books (and forum) are great resources,
eric
September 01, 2004 - 8:20 pm UTC
that was something I was planning -- more of the "here are the MINIMUN privs you need to do this and this is the version/edition/option requirement"
eg: each example would virtually start with "create user", "grant create session, ..... to user" and have a little box that says "this feature is available as a feature of the Enterprise Edition only, until 9iR2 when it became a feature of Standard as well" -- that would be analytics for example..
Two volumes would be great
A reader, September 01, 2004 - 4:27 pm UTC
Tom,
I can't wait to see your new Expert 101 either way
(One volume or multiple). I have your first book and I love it. I'm sure everyone who work with Oracle Database in any fashion can learn something from it.
I'd love to see your new book broken down by
Job roles (at least 2), One with Exclusive SQL, PL/SQL
for programmers/SE's/etc and the other with Design, Configuration, best practices for Backup/Recovery etc
for DBAs/Architects/SA's
Thanks..
Mark, September 01, 2004 - 4:27 pm UTC
1. I would prefer one volume, unless so much new content is added that the book gets absolutely huge (spans 2000+ pages or so).
2. a) buy all three volumes as set
3. It just needs a thorough updating to cover up to 10g. I like to think of the book as the definitive Oracle reference, but sometimes I need to refer to this site or Oracle docs to make sure I'm getting the most up-to-date info.
Sam
A reader, September 01, 2004 - 4:27 pm UTC
Tom
Adding a CD with the book would be a great plus. It would be good if you can include sql scripts that you mentioned in the book
Excellent
J, September 01, 2004 - 4:32 pm UTC
Larger font, thicker paper.
a,b,c any way you like
September 01, 2004 - 8:23 pm UTC
to get larger font, thicker paper -- we would have to most definitely go with multi-volume approach and the page count would go way up....
Kumar, September 01, 2004 - 4:32 pm UTC
Multi-volume sounds interesting, but if you break it into developer stuff and DBA stuff, a lot of developers might just buy the developers reference, and miss out on important info from the other book. Almost everyone at work here has your book on their book shelf (makes them look cool I guess). But since they are all developers, they might just skip a DBA specific book.
September 01, 2004 - 8:24 pm UTC
I agree, that is my major problem -- DBA's buy DBA books, Developers buy Developer books -- I saw this as a "crossing of the chasm", whereby virtually every chapter had something for both (and might help each to appreciate more the other...)
My 2.5 cents...
Kashif, September 01, 2004 - 4:35 pm UTC
I doubt the people who have a problem carrying one book would be satisfied with a mutli-volumne edition, then the story would be "but there're too many books to carry!". Now, if you were to separate it out according to broad areas, like one book for SQL ONLY, and another for architecture and another for Oracle-supplied packages, then that might be worth the separation.
Though what I would really like, and someone did touch on it above, is some sort of way to get an electronic copy, even if it were included in the actual book. That would be perfect for the traveler who travels with just the laptop. People share books so they can share CDs, provided there's some sort of security on the CD to prevent it from being copied, I'm not an expert in that area so I've no idea.
Looking forward to the new edition!
Kashif
Randy, September 01, 2004 - 4:39 pm UTC
1) 1 big book
2) n/a
3) I like the code snippet on a CD idea and the breakdown by job role idea as well. I also would like some sort of capacitiy planning/architecture section and maybe a little on DW.
Another Book Please
Steve Gillis, September 01, 2004 - 4:43 pm UTC
I have recently been utilizing what i think is one of the most stand out features of Oracle, Analytic SQL. I think Tom could do a great service to the oracle community by creating a book speficically dealing with Analytic SQL, and perhaps for added bonus several chapters on the new Model clause found in 10G.
Arun Gupta, September 01, 2004 - 4:51 pm UTC
01. Single volume. The book is heavy but if split into 3 volumes, I will have to carry all three!! Wish the book could be made available for purchase as download, but then there will be a problem with sharing.
02. c).
03. New features, refinements to existing functionality and deprecated features. It will be great if both 9i and 10g can be covered.
Eagerly waiting.
great idea!
Ofir Manor, September 01, 2004 - 4:52 pm UTC
1. maybe splitting into two can make sense and make the book easier to yield. You could split it into "core" features vs. other features (tools like exp/imp/ sqlloaer and features like intermedia, extproc/ java proc, FGAC, n-tier authontication, and the supplied packages).
Come to think of it, this is a great idea, if it means we could get more cool stuff (you can't increase page count anymore - the book will be to heavy, I guess).
2. I'll buy it all either way as would probably most of your readers.
3. of course, refreshing the stuff with whatever you think is apropriate. I would like to see a lot more analytic function usage, in various parts of the book, and more about the usage of the new supplied packages.
If I may add a bold suggestion, I think you should assume everyone who buy this book has 8.1.7 and up. This is the oldest supported version, so usually there is no need to refer to pre-historic versions like 8.0. Also, I think less emphathis should be given for basic features that no one should have used for new projects in the last couple of years(like user managed rollback, tablespaces, pga etc). It should be explained, but usually pushed back to an appendix.
just my two cents
September 01, 2004 - 8:32 pm UTC
for 3, i was actually toying with:
the printed version would be 9i, 10g only.
anything 8i would be available via an electronic copy of the existing Expert book.
that is, you buy the new, you get the old in electronic copy. if you want just the old, you buy that one. I would make references from the new out to the old (saying, this is how it works in 10g but in 8i -- see "reference")...
In that fashion, the architecture chapters and many others would be very much streamlined without much legacy clutter but the old information would still be very much available to people that get the book.
not sure if we can even do this, but something i was thinking.
No CD please
Andy, September 01, 2004 - 4:53 pm UTC
Not sure why anyone would want a CD with the book, much easier to download things that can be kept up to date.
CDs also add to the price considerably especially in the UK as books then have VAT added (17.5%)
Updated version of the book would be great, maybe even covering such things as HTMLDB?
September 01, 2004 - 8:32 pm UTC
htmldb -- that'd be a GUI :)
Feed back
Marcio, September 01, 2004 - 5:11 pm UTC
1) 2 or 3 volumes -- But I know you it will be 2 or 3 heavy books anyway. :)
2) a.
3) well... the other people already said that, but I'd like to see a volume with practice references -- not small, but an entire application design by you. it could be advices by performance, design, IOT, cluster, packages, etc. etc...
little paperbacks please
Barbara Boehmer, September 01, 2004 - 5:11 pm UTC
I would much prefer the multi-volume approach. I would still buy the whole set and, once done with the initial read-through, either would sit in my bookcase, next to my computer, as a reference, just as well. However, when initially reading through it for the first time, it is much more convenient to carry a small book with me and take advantage of short time periods, here and there, to read a few more pages. It would be nice to have little paperbacks that could fit inside a purse or pocket. Is it feasible to have both options, little paperbacks or one big book, so that everyone can be happy?
A reader, September 01, 2004 - 5:17 pm UTC
Tom,
WHAT EVER YOU WRITE I AM GOING TO BUY IT..NOT MATTER HOW MANY VOLUME IT HAS..BUT RIGHT SOMETHING ON 9i and 10g...Please
PDF version would be nice
Gabriel, September 01, 2004 - 5:33 pm UTC
Hello Tom,
1) It is true that the book is rather heavy(too heavy to carry around), I only keep it in my cabinet at work. It is also true that I miss it during my daily 1.5 hours of commuting on the train. Having a PDF/CD version would eliminate this problem.
2) I would buy the 3 volumes as a set, but still not carry them arround because I would expect to need stuff that isn't in the volume that I have with me, therefore don't carry them at all.
3) I would add chapters on advanced queing (integration with MQseries), HTMLDB and XML stuff.
September 01, 2004 - 8:41 pm UTC
3) AQ is something I was definitely thinking of (it was in the first outline, I dropped it due to page count/time in 2001)...
MQ is just something I am not 'expert in' -- so the odds of that are very much near zero.
One Book please
A reader, September 01, 2004 - 5:34 pm UTC
I think Its fine to have a single Book. As chapters are so much "Interelated".
We have to look into the contents of the Book.
A person thirsty for water will not complain about Glass being too heavy/small/long/short. He will just gulp it the moment its given to him.
Same thing for Knowledge seekers.Lets not be fussy about the weight.
If we are really in love size/wt doesnot matter.
Alberto Dell'Era, September 01, 2004 - 5:34 pm UTC
1) Breaking it up would ease the reading on my amach or bed, especially since you're going to hit 2,000 pages, so i vote for it.
2) I'm going to buy all three volumes, so it's fine one way or another.
What about the option of buying *two* copies of the whole set of books at discounted price ? One for home, one for the office. The whole book has been, in these years, a reference in some kind or another, so i can't imagine partitioning it in "reference" and "other" - but i can imagine commuting without 1.720 kg [real weight just measured] on my shoulders.
3) style : nothing, that's absolutely perfect (btw i prefer the "Expert" style to the "Effective" one).
new topics:
a) AQ, AQ, AQ
b) a "wait event reference": for relevant events, explain what they mean (with examples of course). Collecting the events we waited on it's the trivial part - understanding why we waited on 'control file parallel write' it's the challenge, and there is no book out there that covers this well.
c) same thing as before for statistics, same reason.
d) a "plan" reference - same thing you did on pages 447-484 of "effective", but turned inside out - name a chapter "INDEX (UNIQUE SCAN)" and explain what it means.
It's going to be a classic such as the Loney book: updated at each release - always a bestseller.
Alberto
September 01, 2004 - 8:42 pm UTC
3) (btw i prefer the "Expert" style to the "Effective" one).
can you elaborate on that?
A reader, September 01, 2004 - 5:36 pm UTC
Hi Tom
I bought you book but still i didn't end,
I think this are the reason
- This is not an ebook, so you can't search when you have a problem an are searching something, in your own computer, (maybe could be a good idea to an ebook)
- There are no script to copy from
- It is too big, a small font size could help
Your book is excellent but several times I went first to documentation or to google, because there I can copy paste examples, this is not something I say "I don't want to read this book", this is something automatic, first search on internet, if you can't find there, maybe is in Tom's book.
I don't know maybe other people that didn't end to read all your book could say why. But I skip chapter that I'll not apply not, for example I check dbms_profile, but frequently until you don't do an excercise by yourself you don't learn.
A practices addendum could be interesting too.
multi-volume
Mir, September 01, 2004 - 5:42 pm UTC
1. multi volume
2. a.
3. OS tuning and clustering,...
September 01, 2004 - 8:50 pm UTC
3) os tuning - that is something I won't be getting into -- as I don't really do that (and IMHO -- that is the last 3-5% of tuning at best, given that I've got a system with competent people that have set it up correctly in the first place, eg: not a total mess to start with...)
just to set expectations.
I don't care
Vlado Barun, September 01, 2004 - 5:50 pm UTC
1. I don't care how big the book is. I'm more concerned about having a resource where I can find answers to my questions.
2. I would buy all three sets except if a set only covers topics that I don't forsee to use in the near future (i.e. a set that covers only intermedia and workflow). However, if a set covers intermedia and RAC and another set workflow and Backup and Recovery, I would buy both sets.
3. Change? Nothing, just add more stuff, ie DBA type stuff
Alberto Dell'Era, September 01, 2004 - 5:54 pm UTC
> Your book is excellent but several times I went first to documentation
> or to google,(snip) this is something automatic, first search on internet (snip)
Well said - i do the same thing, only searching asktom, then docs, then google.
A google-esque site with the searchable edition of the book would be great; perhaps showing only 100 lines around the keywords (or the results as an image, like Amazon) to discourage pirates.
Sweet, a new edition!
Vincent Mallet, September 01, 2004 - 6:02 pm UTC
1) I prefer the one-volume approach, it makes it for easier searching and a better reference.
If you decide to partition the book make sure there is a global index, if not both global and local.
As mentioned above an electronic version would be great for searching purposes.
2) I would expect c) but would get all three volumes at once.
3) A more comprehensive index would be great. Many times I find myself searching Expert and then Effective in the hope to find some details about something I remember having read.. but end up on asktom because the index didn't help me.
Looking forward to the 2nd edition :)
Too heavy?
Will, September 01, 2004 - 6:08 pm UTC
Don't any of you carry bags/backpacks? I have no problem carrying the book around.. I don't normally carry more than 1 to 2 books at a time though.. I definitely prefer 1 volume.
I think the index is a *very important* feature for a book. I found the index in the original to be good - but I didn't think the index in Effective Oracle by Design was very good. Finding just the keyword you are looking for is very improtant...
Whatever happens I am sure I will hock my old version and pickup the new one.. or donate the old one to a 'good cause' (needy developer/dba).
Topics I am interested most in:
Analytics
Optimizer/Gathering Stats
Performance Analysis (TKPROF/PLSQL_PROFILER etc.)
Good
Mike Kane, September 01, 2004 - 6:46 pm UTC
Nice!
Good Idea
Mark, September 01, 2004 - 7:26 pm UTC
Tom,
I think a multi-volume approach is a very good idea. I think that having for example the following volumes would be very useful:
a) Core concepts
b) Tuning
c) Other Stuff (Analytics, XML, replication, etc) - possibly 2 volumes in itself!
2. Definately c) (or A) which is a subset)
3. Nothing - just update for newer functionality.
Matt, September 01, 2004 - 7:43 pm UTC
* I'd prefer one book
In terms of content:
How about some real "inside Tom's head" type examples like. Here is how I went about investigating and resolving this performance issue using a 10046 level 12 trace. A walk through of your steps and thoughts that you consider and discard as you move through solving a problem.
Likewise with some of the designing SQL solutions that you come up with.
I'm also interested to find out more about some of the behaviour of the optimiser. I think that it would be nice to see a high level introduction to the 10053 trace as well. Just the basic, in terms of the optimiser defaults and how it all works.
Cheers,
Nice to have an update
Winston, September 01, 2004 - 7:58 pm UTC
1) good idea. But one volume is just fine.
2) if you really go with volume... c) is my answer
3) add a real-life project case study, such as how you
design for performance (using IOT, Oracle Text, Cluster...);
implement asktom using HTML DB;
address visitors' new requirements;
use new features to reimplement a function;
Great Idea!
Rafique Awan, September 01, 2004 - 8:00 pm UTC
I think that it is good idea to have multiple volumes and we can call it TOM SERIES or whatever you like..
1) Oracle Architecture in depth.
2) SQL Tunning and server tunning
3) New Features of latest version etc...
Tom, believe me, your both books are best books in market and everybody is waiting for next edition of these books.
Thanks
Nancy, September 01, 2004 - 8:14 pm UTC
1) I like having one volume. (It is not too heavy; tell them they need exercise!)
2) a. I would buy all if they were sold separately.
3) More!
Expert One on One Second Edition
Siew Kam Onn, September 01, 2004 - 8:41 pm UTC
1. Prefer 1 volume. If 1 volume was too heavy to carry, 2 would be too cumbersome. After all, why carry only 50% of Tom.
2. c
3. new stuff since 9ir1, your new insights
Expert 1:1, 2nd edition - sweeeeet
Dan Loomis, September 01, 2004 - 9:05 pm UTC
1. One volume, unless you're talking about writing something bigger than Tolstoy's "War and Peace".
2. I'd buy all 3 at once. No question about it.
3. I'm constantly looking for information on how optimize slow running SQL. You've aleady written some good stuff regarding this, but I still don't feel I have a great mastery of reading execution plans and what to do with them. More detail on this would be great.
Since I'm almost exclusively using SQL*Plus for my day to day interaction, I'm constantly looking for ways to read the data dictionary in useful ways. I'd like to get a library of useful scripts...stuff like reading tablespace usage, listing table indexes, showing currently running SQL, locks that cause blocked processes, etc. You have a lot of this already on your website, but one stop shop for scripts that I can throw in my SQLPATH directory and run at a moment's notice would be great!
September 02, 2004 - 7:28 am UTC
1) hey, only 127 pages away from that as it is :)
2nd edition with new stuff
Nagaraju, September 01, 2004 - 11:21 pm UTC
I think, it is better if the second edition covers
either with
A.only new features(of 9i and 10g) and anything
missed in the first edition.
OR
B. one volume with new stuff(of A) and another volume with old edition(may be with some changes)
this will solve below problems:
1.we need not carry a big book
2.need not carry too many books
3.we don't have to read the stuff available in 1st edition
4.more people may buy, because second edition contains only new stuff.
Going against the trend
Gary, September 02, 2004 - 12:16 am UTC
Personally, I'd prefer multi-volumes
1) Looking at the books in the shop, the AUS$100+ price tag (AUS$ = 70c US) is a big stumpling block in my regular budget. I'm more likely to buy 3 books at $40 each over three or four months (even if the end cost is 10-20% more).
And if one volume is 'borrowed' it is easier/cheaper to replace.
2) 250 pages is a 'do-able' size for reading [Full book scan]. Much bigger and it is a reference manual [Index + page access]. The drawback of a reference manual is you can only lookup what you know you don't know.
3) If it is multiple volumes, there's a better chance of the first volume arriving on the shelves earlier. What you want to avoid is releasing your 'Updated for 10g' book just as Oracle release 10gR2 (or whatever they might call it).
Downloads, CD, electronic copy.
I accept that illegal copying makes having a full-text version on CD isn't going to happen. Possibly some sort of electronic index though ? [Search for 'cumulative' and it tells you to look on pages 57,63....]
Personally, I prefer a CD to a download, though if it is only a couple of Mb, there's not a big difference.
If you can get your employer to agree, sticking the Oracle documentation set on a CD with the book would be a bonus. [I've got 'developer' editions of the db server CDs for 9i and 10g and for both the documentation is on a separate CD that wasn't in the box.]
You could then have your own HTML pages on the CD that link from your book sections/chapters to the appropriate documentation pages.
My opinion
Frank, September 02, 2004 - 1:18 am UTC
I think a multi volume edition would add to the 'carry around' problem.
I read the book at home, and only carry it around when people are interested to seeing it.
I think if you read the book, and understand it, the website is all you need at work. That's also why I would hesitate to buy a 2nd edition; the basic idea of the book wouldn't change much I guess.
Just my 2 cts
Wow a new book!
Pratap, September 02, 2004 - 1:41 am UTC
1. Multi volumns is good because -
a) New topics can be added in seperate volumns. Those who already have your book can get only the newly added chapters.
b) Sections that we already have (Previous editions) can be bought depending on topis covered and extent of change in the Oracle versions
c) More topics and volumns can be added over a period of time. Say on supplied packages and tools like advanced queuing etc
2. (b)
3. Would like to see -
a) A chapter on MODEL clause explained in just the way analytics have been explained. Read very well explained :-)
b) Most of the supplied packages in a different volume
c) And yes if possible a section of SQL puzzles :-) to tickle our brains
Pratap
Suggestion
reader, September 02, 2004 - 1:42 am UTC
Many times i have found that people continue to use
obselete methods during the development .May be in you new book you can stress on using new features ( with egs showing how consice and efficient is to code using new feature compared to old ). OR you can put a chapter on the same
September 02, 2004 - 8:06 am UTC
you just described Effective Oracle by Design....
A volume just for SQL
Tom Jordan, September 02, 2004 - 1:56 am UTC
Tom, you could easily do a volume just on SQL:
Expert SQL One-On-One:
- Setting up SQL*Plus
- Autotrace, SQL_TRACE, Stats, etc.
- Indexing, Tuning
- Analytics and MODEL (10g)
- Bind variables
- Dynamic SQL
Then maybe a volume for programming stuff:
Expert Programmer One-On-One
- PL/SQL
- Java
- external C
- Bind variables (it's worth repeating)
- whatever else (I don't have the book in front of me)
Otherwise I have no problem with a single volume. I just have to carry it from my bookshelf to my desk, all of 2 meters :-)
-- Tom
Nopparat V., September 02, 2004 - 2:37 am UTC
1) Generally I prefer having one volume for convenience. Anyway the idea of having separate volume of SQL specifically is also cool. I think it should a big book even covering only SQL. So I like to have two volumes : one for SQL and one for other stuffs.
2) I choose choice a)
3) I'm sorry to say that I have only your 2nd book, not expert one on one. I have no idea about changes. I will buy your new edition even it have nothing new.
How about this Approach to electronic publishing
Johan Snyman, September 02, 2004 - 3:57 am UTC
I have both books you published and several others and the biggest problem with all these books is (im)mobility. It just isn't possible to take all of them everywhere and sometimes that would have been great !
I therefore suggest an electronic version in addition to a print edition, but understand the issues with copying, etc. Maybe you can share ideas with Bruce Eckel (</code>
http://www.bruceeckel.com/ <code> who is distributing electronic copies of his books for free. He is basically saying that enough people want a printed copy and end up buying it (since it is actually cheaper than printing it yourself) to make it viable.
Alessandro, September 02, 2004 - 5:06 am UTC
Hi all.
I'm probably one of the least expert on Oracle here, but I'll share my thoughts anyway.
Electronic edition would be good for searching, but I definitely prefer reading on paper and I don't obviously want to print a >1300 pages pdf on my laserjet.
I don't really care if it will be a single volume or not: I'm going to buy everything in any case.
I'd like to see more emphasis on Internet programming related issues (XML/XSL, concurrency, best practices for Web programming, etc.).
Finally, but I'm afraid this is not likely to happen, your valuable insights on some of the most popular (ok, that *I* need to use more frequently) Oracle features/tools: SSO, Portal, Workflow, Application Server, etc.
Look forward for your next publication.
PS: what happened to the spell check function?
September 02, 2004 - 8:58 am UTC
spell check is still there?
Just my opinion
Giovanni Cuccu, September 02, 2004 - 5:07 am UTC
Hi Tom,
1) A second edition is very appreciated (I'm sure that the second edition will carry a significant update on 9i and 10g)
2) I'd like to see more than one chapter on analytics and one chapter on AQ
3) One volume or two does not matter if Price of vol1 + Price of vol2=Price of a single volume edition
Is there a time schedule of the book ?
Thanks,
Giovanni
September 02, 2004 - 8:59 am UTC
no schedule yet, just figuring out what it is going to be. but i anticipate it taking about the same amount of time as it did to write the 1st edition -- which was 9 months in the making.
Best Practices
Tom, September 02, 2004 - 6:18 am UTC
Tom,
One thing that would be really useful would be a section which pulls together a lot of the best practices for setting up a database that you can find on this forum. For example
1. Security: locking default accounts, creating a mydba role, password protecting the listener, locking the mod_plsql administration pages etc.
2. File layout best practices: don't put redo on raid5, use separate disks for logs, multiplex logs, use ASM if on > 9i
3. Miscellaneous: LMT's for all tablespaces, etc.
Basically a section which leads people from a clean install to a relatively secure and well-designed oracle installation. Then go through backing up and recovering the system [possibly manually and with RMAN]. This would at least give people a "starting point" for their own system configurations.
As for the questions
1. No real preferences for single or multi-volume
2. If it were in volumes I'd like to be able to buy separately or in a "box set".
3. Security is the one thing I think was missing. The number of databases out there [including ones connected to the internet] with default passwords for various users is scary, and nowhere can I find a simple checklist for all the things you need to do to make sure the database is secure from hacking and d.o.s attacks.
Whatever you write....I'll be buying it.
September 02, 2004 - 9:05 am UTC
i liked this idea.
Andrea Stroppolo, September 02, 2004 - 6:37 am UTC
Hello!!!
In my opinion the main difference between a single volume (or a single boxed set of volumes) and volumes sold separately is that the first would be perceived as a whole unit, while distinct volumes sold separately would be considered 'different' books.
So I would see the first option (one volume, or a single 'unbreakeable' box) as the most appropriate in this case.
Regarding the format I prefer paperback editions (like the Wrox edition of Expert121, or Effective Oracle), while the
hardcover edition of Expert121 by Apress is a bit cumbersome (but makes you look intelligent :-)
Nice the idea regarding an offer in case of buying two copies (one for home... one for office...)
regards, Andrea
September 02, 2004 - 9:05 am UTC
Unbreakable :)
Not so sure about the solo SQL approach
Dave Hemming, September 02, 2004 - 7:18 am UTC
I'd like to see a more package/procedural bias myself. There are things that can't be done in SQL that can be in PL/SQL, and vice versa, as well as things that need to be done differently. And in most real-world applications, a packaged solution is a lot more likely to apply than a standalone SQL one.
September 02, 2004 - 9:35 am UTC
well, i agree there are a few things that cannot be done in sql that can be in plsql (i write a couple of lines of plsql code myself) but I'd rather teach people the *right* way.
that you tend to "write tons of procedural slow by slow code" doesn't mean i should teach you how to write more of it, rather the opposite seems to be true. I need to find better ways to break you of the bad habits :)
Igor, September 02, 2004 - 8:35 am UTC
I would prefere one volume if that won't force you to cut down pages.
Feedback based on my experience with Book
denni50, September 02, 2004 - 9:11 am UTC
My Expert One-on-One book is literally falling to pieces
from constant use and "abuse"...a testament to how much
I have learned from the book since my new career
venture with Oracle Systems 2 1/2 years ago.
I would like to see a multi volume edition where Analytics,
Dynamic SQL, SQLPlus and PL/SQL comprised one volume.
Another volume strictly on Tuning and Performance especially
given the new dbms packages supplied with 9iR2 that
would focus more on the CBO Optimizer, gathering System Stats..etc.
The remaining volume would encompass all the other Chapters.
This way when I need to reference "programming" stuff just
pull out the "SQLPlus,PLSQL" volume or Tuning needs pull
out the Tuning volume...and so forth instead of flickering
through a 1,000+ page book trying to find the chapter I
need..(although I know most of the chapters by heart already).
New release would be great
Hans Wijte, September 02, 2004 - 9:14 am UTC
1. Definitely One volume; that way I can keep the first edition at my office (we're still at 8.1.7) and study the second edition at home. I don't care how large the book would be
2. If broken up I'd buy all three; however 1 volume would be more convenient
3. Restrict the book to 9i and 10g; add a large section on analytics, AQ, and especially an approach to tuning would be
appreciated; a more comprehensive index also would be great
Do whatever it takes
Tom Best, September 02, 2004 - 9:15 am UTC
Tom:
I like the single volume if it it not too much bigger than the first edition. But, and you know how important it is that things are "bound" properly ;-), a large book must be bound very well, or it will fall apart. I have a 900 page performance tuning book that disintegrated after a few weeks.
If you put out multiple volumes, I'd buy all of them, and a the same time, so a package deal would be good.
Please make it as big as it NEEDS to be - resulting in as many volumes as necessary. I believe you are pioneering a new way of writing technical books, so don't cut out material for the sake of size.
Thanks.
Kalita, September 02, 2004 - 9:16 am UTC
1) I personally would like a multi volume book. It makes it easier when you make references to something on other chapters. If its in a different volume I can keep both the chapters open and read it together :-)
2) I would buy all the volumes at the same time. But wouldn't mind option c with $ changed to Rs :-)
Thanks
my thoughts
Ram, September 02, 2004 - 9:22 am UTC
I really appreciate the wonderful things that you are doing to the Oracle community. My thoughts
1) Adding more about analytics.Most of the complex logic(even getting rid of PL/SQL )can be easily implemented through analytical functions.It would be great if you can add more information/examples showing usage of analytics.
2)Explaining the impact of changing init.ora parameters to developers in an understandable way..i.e.how it affects the sql plans
3)I think dedicating an entire book 'How to write efficent SQL like Tom Kyte' would be a great idea :)
Tess
A reader, September 02, 2004 - 9:28 am UTC
Will buy Toms book no matter what 1 volume 2 volume ...Thanks for all the support
One more opinion
Jeff, September 02, 2004 - 10:28 am UTC
I have only read Effective and was about to by Expert for myself but now I may use company funds and add it to the library and then by the new volume(s) for myself whenever it/they come out.
1) I read Effective at home relaxing and I find smaller volumes are easier to read but would by the complete set either way.
3) Since I have not read Expert yet I can only suggest a topic that I would like to see you write on: Analytics - Lately when writing SQL I always feel that "I could probably do this better with analytics"
Otherwise please just keep up the good work!
Alessandro, September 02, 2004 - 10:36 am UTC
> spell check is still there?
Yes, the little ABC icon on the right side of the box I'm typing this in is still there.
I get a question mark for every single word I type: is my English so degrading over time? Or is it the way it is supposed to work (wasn't like that before, IIRC)?
September 02, 2004 - 10:53 am UTC
I don't get a ? mark -- perhaps it is something to do with the language setting in your browser -- what language?
More SQL please
sPh, September 02, 2004 - 11:32 am UTC
If I can be allowed a second comment:
More SQL please. Particularly examples of how PL/SQL solutions can be transformed into pure SQL.
Perhaps along the lines of "SQL for Smarties", but I am never quite sure exactly how good the solutions in that reference are, particularly in the Oracle environment.
sPh
Some suggestions...
Peter Tran, September 02, 2004 - 11:32 am UTC
As everyone here will atest, we're eagerly waiting for an update. I didn't discover your books until 2 years after it was printed and it's still a classic. You have no idea how many times I've read chap. 2 - Architecture and chap. 10 - Tuning.
1) What do you think of a multi-volume approach. One of the things I heard was "good book but it is so heavy to carry". What if it were broken up into 2 or 3 volumes?
[Ans] There's way too much information to condense into one volume. If you try to put it into one volume, it's either going to be super large and heavy or you'll have to leave out materials and examples. You've already mentioned that you had to leave some material out due to size in the 1st edition. Do you really want to do the same for the 2nd edition?
People, if we ask Tom to put it into one volume we're just shoot ourselves in the foot, because Tom's going to have to leave something out to make it manageable. Be it new material or really useful examples (using Tom's didactic style), if anything is left then we all lose.
2) Assuming it was broken up, would you expect to
c) have a choice to buy all 3 for $N as a set or any of the 3 individually for some number N/3+M where M > 0....
[Ans] Some publishers will not give you any choice, since their distribution cost goes up. I'm assuming that you have some pull if you stay at Oracle Press.
3) What would you change from the 1st edition?
[Ans] I really like the chapter break in the 1st edition. My suggestion would be (assuming a 3-volume set)
Vol 1: Chap 1 - Chap 7
* Additional material would be a chapter on an sample database initial setup. E.g. If you were hired to help a client setup their initial database configuration, what would you recommend? E.g. If you were given the following:
Machine is 16 CPUs with 3G/CPU.
Database is 1.0 TBytes.
Mostly OLTP with 500 concurrent users during the day - 8 hours.
OLTP batch processing at night - 8 hours.
4 hours of nightly OLAP type reporting.
4 hours of idle time (what would you setup to run during this idle time? analyze? maintenance?)
You have 50 physical spindles at 72G/15K rpm.
What raid would you use?
How many drives would you use for redo/undo/data/index? Raw? FS? OCFS?
What initial init.ora parameter would you set?
What would you backup? How often?
Vol 2: Tuning...tuning...tuning...
I can see some of the information in Effective Oracle By Design being carried over to this chapter on writing good SQLs. Here's your chance to dedicate the entire book to parsing and using bind variables. :D
Vol 3: Tools ands misc.
HTH,
-Peter
Alessandro, September 02, 2004 - 11:44 am UTC
> I don't get a ? mark -- perhaps it is something to do
> with the language setting in your browser -- what language?
Italian. I assume English is mandatory here: shouldn't the spell checker ignore browser settings?
September 02, 2004 - 1:06 pm UTC
it is a pretty "simplistic plsql routine", don't know why the ? marks. i'll have someone look at it.
Feedback
Rajendra Pande, September 02, 2004 - 1:44 pm UTC
Tom,
I would go with multiple volumes. I think this gives more flexibility in terms of a)expanding on topics, b)organization of volumes and c)carrying them around
Thanks
John Murphy, September 02, 2004 - 1:59 pm UTC
Hi Tom. I prefer to have one volume. I don't imagine you have any control over it, but I do like the idea of having a multiple copy discount.
In case you care, at my office the chapters we refer to most frequently are 10 and 12, as well as the supplied packages appendices.
And you didn't ask, but my vote for the most informative index entry of all time is "ANALYZE_DATABASE function, should not be used, not ever, 1179". Saves us the time to look it up!
I'd go for more volumes, but as for tuning...
Bob Maggio, September 02, 2004 - 3:20 pm UTC
Tom, you've been a great help over the years, but one thing I've learned is that you can't always get what you want. In regards to this:
"(and IMHO -- that is the last 3-5% of tuning at best, given that I've got a system with competent people that have set it up correctly in the first place, eg: not a total mess to start with...)"
Sometimes, the "total mess" is the core system for 10's of thousands of users. Not going away or being rearchitected anytime soon. Tuning solutions have really helped me. I'll be the first to advocate a good design, but alot of DBAs work with existing systems.
Otherwise, more books, more analytic examples, more index, and query solutions. Maybe someday a good schema design section? Thanks
September 02, 2004 - 4:25 pm UTC
right, but a book on Oracle cannot talk about OS tuning (and do it right).
beyond "make sure you buy really fast disks, and lots of them. gobs of ram. how much money do you have? buy as much hardware as you can initially cause they will never let you buy *more* later -- hide 75% of it in a closet and pretend it is not there -- since systems are developed to exceed the capacity available in the first place (if they don't know it is there in hiding, they won't develop for it and you'll be able to plop it in later :).
a book titled:
"Oracle on RH AS 3.0 32bit Intel" or
"Oracle on Windows 2003 sp42, 32bit AMD" or
"Oracle on Sun Sparc 2.8 with 2 500mhz cpus" or
"Oracle on HP/UX Itainium with 8 cpus and 16gig of ram" or
(you get the point i hope)
could maybe...
A reader, September 02, 2004 - 3:36 pm UTC
When do you expect to release this book? 2005,2006....
September 02, 2004 - 4:26 pm UTC
It's like a baby, I find they take about 9 months from the day i start :) starting soon. Say Q3 2005.
However, don't ever tell my wife I compared the pain of writing a book to actually carrying and then delivering a baby -- she doens't approve of that analogy :)
havent bought one yet
Ram Kuntamukkala, September 02, 2004 - 4:41 pm UTC
Tom..
I heard a lot about you...i was about to buy your first book that covers only 8i...now if you give that 8i book e-copy free with the new 9i-10g book..i will wait and buy 9i-10g.
Is that the approch you are going to take ?...please let me know
September 02, 2004 - 9:27 pm UTC
well, given that'll be a year before you could purchase the 2cd edition in all likelyhood -- I'll leave the decision to you.
I'm just the writing tool - the publisher (who is apress and who is reading this) makes the decision on distribution stuff.
Book
Jeff, September 02, 2004 - 5:39 pm UTC
I think one volume is fine. I like that it's not electronic. Once you read the book all the way through searching etc become trivial. Also, the last time I checked, there was an index in the back of the book...I heard people use those for finding things quickly. :)
If it was three volumes, however, I'd be most likely to buy all three.
An earlier reviewer mentioned a "best practices" sort of section for database setup etc. I think this is a fantastic idea.
I also would enjoy a large section on analytics. I've been getting better at them, but one of your talents is the ability to see the intermediate steps, as you say it stems from your thinking in sets. Most of the time I'm not really after the "answer" but more how to get there myself.
You could maybe bundle in a bit on the new regular expressions with 10g...
Whatever goes in, I'm
September 02, 2004 - 9:46 pm UTC
analytics rock, they roll -- that will be expanded, no doubt.
not to promote another book -- but, Jonathan Gennick has written a nice pocket thingy for reg-expressions, it is pretty good.
A reader, September 02, 2004 - 6:33 pm UTC
Tom did you thought in doing a serious training course video series, I think this could be really really interesting.
And it is "easy" to do.
with practices and exercies to learn
even a exam to help to autoevaluate the understanding of the course.
i like the way it is now
A reader, September 02, 2004 - 8:03 pm UTC
Thanks Tom for your books and this web site. It has made helped me a lot, in my professinal life not to mention made me wiser :).
I think your book has most of everything covered and the web site has a lot more resources. So I am for new editions of the two books. No less no more.
My comments
Menon :-), September 02, 2004 - 9:31 pm UTC
Topics I would like to see are:
1. Selected SQL problems and solutions
2. Your favorite SQL "tricks" ( e.g. you have some methods using analytics that I have seen you utilizing many times to reply.
3. More detailed version of reading explain plans – with some complex examples to illustrate the point.
4. Selected New features of 10g
5. A chapter on best security practices when using
Oracle
6. Advanced Queuing explained
7. Whatever else you wanted to go in 1st edition but
could not put due to space limitations
To me the important thing is to not leave out content
due to space restriction - given that if it is easy
to have multiple volumes, so be it.
btw, 9 months is a very "fast" gestation period to
write a book - given the kind of quality stuff you write!:)
I do agree with your wife on the soundness of the analogy!;)
AR, September 02, 2004 - 10:36 pm UTC
1) Multivolume?! How many pages are we talking? Ideally I would like to see something <=400 pages. I've seen a few technical authors out there who ramble and gloat endlessly, or dumb it down too much. Glad you don't engage in that. I love effective Oracle by design, but wish it were a little smaller. Sorry, at the moment I don't have any suggestions on what could've been left out. It has been 3 weeks since I bought the book..and I am only about half way there.
2) Invariably, my employer will foot the bill. 1 or 3 volumes - it doesn't matter to me :).
3) a) CD for all code that appears in the book b) The way you demonstrate stuff with 'simple' examples is way cool. Don't change that! c) Hope your new project doesn't distract you from taking questions here!
Cheers!
September 03, 2004 - 9:51 am UTC
1) well, the book we are talking about "Expert One on One Oracle" weighs in at almost 1,300 pages -- and then only because of the really small font.
3) it will necessarily "slow me down here" actually. That is a given -- something has to give.
Looking over my heavily-tabbed copy....
Kevin, September 02, 2004 - 11:28 pm UTC
I like the single volume, but at some point you can't bind 1200 pages and the editors will start to make unpleasant choices.
Things I'd like to see:
1. A section called 'Dealing with the Outside World'
-AQ (Perhaps the most underutilized tech in Oracle)
-blob to file (I like the ftp-to-myself example in particular)
-external tables
-heterogeneous gateways
-a selection of other asktom "How do I ..." on dealing with external stuff -- it seems like that's about half of the questions I see.
2. More examples of different types of table/query scenarios and the thought process behind thinking out an indexing strategy. The indexing chapter is a reasonable enhancement to the "Concepts" manual, but when I refer to 1-on-1, it's likely that I have a puzzling oddball scenario and am not quite sure where I should start testing - think of it like chapter one -- "I was recently working on a project that had this table (...) and needed this query to run in less than xx seconds. The issue was..."
3. More 'fun with packages' stuff in the appendix. I haven't used the dbms_obfuscation_toolkit yet, but I've stolen code or concepts from almost every onther part of that section.
4. A primer on auditing, both system and fine-grained auditing. What some people consider to be acceptable auditing practices is amazing.
As important, here's what you might be able to trim away to keep the page count reasonable:
1. Drop 8i. Version 1 is a great 8i reference; don't keep interrupting the train of thought with asides for 8i. If a section has noteworthy differences/distinctions for 8i, perhaps a paragraph at the end of the chapter would be okay.
2. Optimizer Plan Stability. [just never used it]
3. exp/imp [the relevant part is 'don't use it for reorg']
4. intermedia [i use it everyday, but it seems out of place -- maybe add it to the indexing section]
Hopefully, that will free up enough space to add a few more horror stories to chapter one. A fine start to a tech book -- hey, wake up and pay attention, or you may wind up here!
September 03, 2004 - 9:53 am UTC
Leesburg, VA -- hi there neighbor :)
we were thinking along the lines of 1,2,4 at the end...
Oh, gosh, how could I forget
Kevin, September 02, 2004 - 11:32 pm UTC
workspace manager and flashback query???
But when is it coming?
Radha Krishnan, September 03, 2004 - 4:07 am UTC
Tom,
When is the 2nd edition due? Anytime soon?
September 03, 2004 - 10:04 am UTC
More Datawarehousing scenarios
Dev Madeka, September 03, 2004 - 4:39 am UTC
Hi Tom,
The previous two books were a bit light on the warehousing side. Would like more examples on how to manage large warehouses on Oracle 9i & 10g. Also looking forward to stuff on the new analytics front and Model clause - It looks promising but still quite scary.
Also more PL/SQL best practices, maybe a section of some of the associated tools .. like Oracle Warehouse Builder, Jdeveloper etc.
Though 1200 pages is a small size for all that we would want from you. Definitely go for the single volume.
Regards
Dev
Feedback
Ric, September 03, 2004 - 4:50 am UTC
Tom,
in answer to your questions:
1/. i reckon the 1 volume is perfectly fine and i have no problems carrying my copy around as needed. however....
2/. ...if it were to be released in 3(or whatever) volumes then i would probably buy all of them (for any cross-referencing you (or i) make) whether this was as a set or all 3 separately for slightly less than N/3+M where M > 0, etc
3/. as for what i would like to change i hope you won't change your writing style (please) but if you could filter out all the things that 9i made redundant in 8i that would be great so that all the people who pinch my current copy don't try to do things in the 8i way.
the only other thing i can think of would be to get your proof-readers to work harder coz i've spotted some grammar/spelling errors, etc that are no big deal but bug me (perhaps more than they should).
it goes without saying that i hope you keep everything "real-world, tom style" and not just book theory, etc.
looking forward to buying my copy already.
September 03, 2004 - 11:41 am UTC
3) me, spelling/grammar errors -- never happen :)
Format doesn't matter
Vladimir Andreev, September 03, 2004 - 5:24 am UTC
The important thing is, there's a new great book on the horizon.
I think you don't need to offer rebates to sell your books.
If splitting it into volumes would cause the first volume to appear sooner -- go for it. I'd buy all of them as they come out.
BTW, how do you find technical reviewers for your books? I mean, who's bold enough to dare to review Tom Kyte (except Mrs. Kyte, obviously)?
:-)
September 03, 2004 - 11:44 am UTC
It is hard to find reviewers actually -- not because it comes from me though. I think we should to a large degree start judging books maybe not by their covers, but by their technical editing team to a large degree!
I had Jonathan Lewis, Steve Adams, Connor McDonald, Mogens Norgaard and the like in the past. Hoping to get some of the same.
Oracle's powerful Database Options
Jens, September 03, 2004 - 5:31 am UTC
Hi Tom,
as you can see here there is a need of good documentation of AQ. I need it too. But there are a lot of other good database options, you'll never find mentioned in all these database books. I think of Oracle Workflow or Streams, Workspace Manager or... The Oracle Documentation about these tools is very big and not good for educational purposes, you must read 100 pages before you see the first codeline (I prefer tutorials and lot of examples).
Bye,
Jens
A reader, September 03, 2004 - 9:47 am UTC
Tom,
Eagrly awaiting your new book..
I've personal question.I HOPE YOU WON'T mind...You are Oracle star(Hero) for people like me. People like me would like to know about you (the way people like to know about hollywood star) Tell us about you and your life (your biography).Are you married? Do you have children or not ? what is your hobby? where are you from ? etc.. etc....
I am sure other people would definately like to know about you...
hope you would answer this question.
Thanks
September 03, 2004 - 12:57 pm UTC
(you haven't read the acknowledgments in my book!!!)
Good News
Eduardo, September 03, 2004 - 9:52 am UTC
Dear Tom,
Due to overseas transportation costs, I prefer one volume books. If this is not possible, a set would be a better solution.
I would like to suggest thinner and lighter paper. If I can´t put a book in my briefcase, it´s not a good format.
Good Luck !!!
Eduardo.
all tom's sql tricks in one place
bob, September 03, 2004 - 10:11 am UTC
Tom,
It would be nice if you devoted an entire volume to sql constructs that most of us would never think up. This site contains several such approaches/tricks/concepts for sql. Having them all in one place would be great. If I had the time, I would compile myself a personal list of favorites just from your site, but since time is always short, if you compiled that into a volume, I would definitely buy it.
A sql developers workbook sort of. Give us the opportunity to try and solve the problem ourselves (the things users have presented to you over time), and than give us your approach, the things you think about when you see problems like this, and ultimately, the answer. Copying the answer from the solution guide or reading it from your texts/posts on this site, doesn't always help it sink in. I have to struggle with it on my own for awhile first and a workbook style book would challenge the inner-Tom wannabe in all of us to solve the puzzles you have over time, with the approaches you have taught us.
I am looking forward to buying whatever you write.
Your book
Ryan Gaffuri, September 03, 2004 - 11:00 am UTC
1. I prefer one large book. A multi-volume set would cost well over $100. If they are 3 distinct books fine, but if you are going to break up the current content into 3 books, then please keep it as one book.
2. I read alot of books, so I would buy all the books together. However, I would assume that DBAs would by the DBA book and developers would buy the developer book, which would be a mistake on their part.
3. I would like to see you add more about data modelling. I would also like to see your take on how to design database driven applications with object oriented front ends. How do you map object oriented front ends to data models? How do you leverage both Oracle and whatever front end tool you use?
The best part of your books are the examples of real life situations. How about some case studies of successful projects? Taking us through analysis, design, test, and deployment? I would really like to see how you worked with non-Oracle front end developers and successfully built database driven applications.
A case study of a failure would be nice to contrast the success.
I really like the way that you show that DBA and developer jobs overlap and its important for people to learn both. I would like to see that theme continued. We will not hire database developers on my project who are not also strong DBAs. Backup and recovery is not that important, but they must know architecture, etc... We have found that the vast majority of Oracle programmers have no clue about how the Oracle database or any database in general works.
Igor, September 03, 2004 - 11:31 am UTC
I would agree with :
<quote>
The best part of your books are the examples of real life situations. How about
some case studies of successful projects? Taking us through analysis, design,
test, and deployment? I would really like to see how you worked with non-Oracle
front end developers and successfully built database driven applications.
</quote>
Sure, not day-by-day situations. Decisions/compromises, yes...
Electronic Version of the book?
Sam, September 03, 2004 - 11:45 am UTC
If there is a elctronic version of the book on CD, one could buy the CD instead of hard copy. Just a thought.
Technical reviewers
Vladimir Andreev, September 03, 2004 - 12:27 pm UTC
Yeah, the OakTable...
<quote>
It is hard to find reviewers actually
</quote>
Umm - do you need volunteers, then? Count me in :-)
Second Edition of "Expert One on One Oracle"
Mark, September 03, 2004 - 12:55 pm UTC
1) It depends. If the book is going to have >3,000 pages then a milti-volume approach may be appropriate. If the book is around 2,000 pages then stick to one book.
2) C
3) Its already been mentioned, and I agree, that examples should be detailed with the necessary setup for each version.
Data modelling patterns
Sergei Agalakov, September 03, 2004 - 1:30 pm UTC
Hi Tom,
I would prefer one volume but I will buy all two or three if that will be your choice. I really like an idea to include "Expert one-on-one" on CD or make it "mandatory" downloadable and concentrate solely on a new staff. It is a right way to made a new book relatively concise and up to date by my opinion. Just put on the very beginning of the new book in a very big and bold font that before starting to read about AQ, MODEL clause and the like please, please read about bind variables first!
My personal preferences for a new book are mainly new or underused staff: MODEL clause, aggregate functions, AQ, Streams, domain indexes, user defined aggregates, simple web services on PLSQL without application server, usage of XML for relational schema like implementing client custom attributes in XML column etc. I am also very interested in what I would call data modeling patterns: how to design a proper schema for the specific reqirements, how to map objects from OO language to a pure relational data schema, how to create the non-trivial constraints ( like emulate ASSERTIONS declarative integrity )...
I would also like some examples about "what is a right question to ask" for SQL, something like "give me employee with the top 3 salaries for every department", fan and chasm design traps, denormalization issues etc.
Thank you very much for your outstanding job for Oracle community, I am so looking forward for your next book!
GReat!!!
Lou, September 03, 2004 - 2:31 pm UTC
Tom,
I will be buy any book you put out there. I will by
in any form. What I am interested in is your knowledge
sharing..not the form.
New Book
Doug, September 03, 2004 - 3:47 pm UTC
What are your thoughts on self-publishing a book, and might we see this from you in the future?
September 03, 2004 - 6:14 pm UTC
I like the infrastructure and deadlines you get from a contractual relationship :)
nothing like a deadline to motivate you.
Very Good Move...
A reader, September 03, 2004 - 6:27 pm UTC
Hi Tom,
That's great.
I personally feel that the book should be in multi-part. My one of the main reason for buying and reading/re-reading your writings is that they are very practical and clear. If I have mult-part, I can also use for specific feature, and then I can just carry that part rather than the whole book.
More technically, If I am only referring to a current partition in the table for specific time, than why I should carry the whole table?
Best Regards & Good Luck...
btw: There is a bug in 2(c), N should also be > 0 (...Just kidding -- Technically)
I recently met Steve Adams, and I appreciated your great help.
Thanks a lot!
Web Development
Jon, September 03, 2004 - 8:15 pm UTC
Tom,
I agree with previous comment that it would be great if you can include more web development topics. This is because most of us now only develop web-based applications.
For example, these topic includes:
1. Web vs. Client/Server development
2. lost update (optimistic locking)
3. connection pooling
4. Proxy authentication
5. XML/XSL, Web Services
6. Text & UltraSearch
7. Performance Tuning & Benchmark
8. PLSQL packages vs. EJB
9. Version Control Methods (how teams use version control on their packages, ddl, data, etc.)
10. AQ (integration with other systems)
When will the new book be available?
Peace,
Jon
September 04, 2004 - 10:55 am UTC
ctl-f for q3 to see "possibly when"
in the existing book I do cover 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8 is sort of a "theme" -- i will never compare the two -- should be obvious what I feel is easier/faster/cheaper/safer/more performant :)
Big Big Book Vs. Many Books
Jon, September 03, 2004 - 8:18 pm UTC
Tom,
I would vote for purchasing one big book than many small books because it is easier to locate for reference.
Peace,
Jon
Break it up
Devarshi, September 04, 2004 - 1:18 am UTC
The books are getting so costly only guys working in MNCs can buy them.It will be better to break it up.The tomkyte logic of 'what belongs together should be in one table' should go behind breaking up the book.
Scot Martin, September 04, 2004 - 1:30 am UTC
Please go multi volume, as mentioned earlier makes it much easier for the first time read while in bed or traveling. I'm loving reading Effective, but it is killing me.
Also please do not make each volume its own topic. You can't have good sql without understanding the architecture. Everything you do in Oracle is integrated.
Suggest having the volumes go incrementally. First install and security. Second backup and recover. Third memory and process architecture. Or whatever order you think people need to learn from scratch with.
Love the idea of getting the electronic first edition with purchase of the second edition. Code samples via internet is fine, if anyone wants a cd they can burn it themselves.
Thanks, and looking forward to it.
Multivolume
Ajeet, September 04, 2004 - 5:22 am UTC
I would vote for multivolume book --easy to travel with , easy to read as it will be lighter than one volume one.
also in multivolume book --you can have logically sepereated topics..such as volume -1 : SQL good tips and techniques -- pointers to appropriate documents.
Volumn-2:Oracle Architecture --with focus on 9iR2 and 10g
Volume-3: Performance Tunning ...
and so on...based on what you think is appropriate as you know and lived lot more than me with Oracle --so won't suggest about contents and how would you divide it.
But my vote is for multivolume --i mean who reads a whole book in one shot or within 2 days which is of 1500 pages..
but yes a good book like the ones you wrote --an average person can finish it's 300 pages --relevent to his/her requirements in a week time.
also you wrote kind of books which someone would like to read even at bed..or while travelling or in the early morning..so a light one makes it more pleasing to read.
personal opinion.
something like new feature guide for oracle 10g - each volume can be of that pages or close to it..
Thanks for asking our feedback.
Ajeet
Dying.
NOTNA, September 04, 2004 - 7:45 am UTC
Hi Tom,
I just can't wait to have your 2ndEd of Expert 1on1 ... cant wait to read it... when are you planning to release it?
Regards,
NOTNA
September 04, 2004 - 11:14 am UTC
ctl-f for q3 on this page
Second Edition of "Expert One on One Oracle
A reader, September 04, 2004 - 10:49 am UTC
It doesn't matter how you package it. I have been buying everything you write or recommend. If it has your name I buy it.
>>1) What do you think
And yes, multi volume would be a greate idea
>>2) Assuming it was broken up
I would buy all the volumes
>>3) What would you change from the 1st edition?
Include softcopy of examples either online or with the book.
one book please
Michael, September 04, 2004 - 11:10 am UTC
Don't understand the complaint about the book being too heavy? The book sits on the shelf for god sake.
I will buy the book.
There are way too many P2P network that your electronic version will most likely be distributed.
Don't short change yourself Tom.
online version of book
gdb, September 04, 2004 - 10:03 pm UTC
You said:
any pointers to real world, reliable mechanisms for doing this (and preventing
the mass redistribution?)
Almost everyone where I work has a purchased copy of TIJ. (Thinking in Java). Online distribution has worked for Eckel.
</code>
http://www.bruceeckel.com/Books/TIJ <code>
September 05, 2004 - 10:44 am UTC
I had a nice long response all ready to go for that, but i realized how "political and full of 'in my opinion'" it was, so I cut it lose....
I agree with some of the things said there, but I don't believe with all of it. I'm looking for a way to electronically distribute -- with the safeguards of the printed version. I'm not looking to "give it away" to anyone after it is done. I'd love to find a way to make it electronically available to anyone that bought it -- We already give away sample chapters so you can see if you like the gist of it, how it is written. We are planning on doing "on the web editing" of the material. But giving it away in it's finished form is not something I'm really interested in.
OK, You Asked for It
Bob Fleming, September 05, 2004 - 1:48 pm UTC
Re 1) the multi-volume idea. No, no, no, no, no. That way madness lies. If it's too heavy for someone, they probably shouldn't be reading it. Single volume please.
Never mind about CDs either. Not very "green", additional expense to distribute and it's only code snippets that go on there anyway, so let people download the stuff.
Re 3) What would I change from the 1st edition ? Well, my copy is at work right now and my memory is pretty poor, but what I do remember is that it is one of the very best technical references out there, so perhaps the answer to this question is "not a lot".
The only thing to add is that I will be very pleased to see an update to Expert...
When ?
Reader, September 05, 2004 - 9:32 pm UTC
All of us would appreciate if you could give us an approximate idea when we can expect this book.
Thanks
September 06, 2004 - 10:03 am UTC
ctl-f for q3 on this page..
wishlist
Karsten, September 06, 2004 - 4:29 am UTC
Hi,
re 1) single volume, for sure.
re 3) I'd like to see more about useful, but under-utilized features like streams, etc. - with realworld examples, i.e. not a description of the thing itself, but the business problem it solves.
and a little more of the common mistakes that people tend to make, together with advice how to do it better, and why the proposed solution is better that the common one.
Analytics and LINUX
Reader, September 06, 2004 - 6:11 am UTC
I would like to see more on analytics and from a DBA's prespective Administering Oracle 9i and 10g on Linux.
Looking forward to it...
Kim Berg Hansen, September 06, 2004 - 8:39 am UTC
Hi, Tom
A new book will undoubtedly be great.
My answers to your questions are :
1)
I like one volume but I don't like you having to cut something out in order to fit it in one volume. So to get as much Tom Kyte knowledge as possible multi-volume approach is fine with me.
2)
A boxed set "feels" more like it's one book that's been split up just for convenience - so that'll be my preference.
If seperate volumes then c).
3)
Can't add much that the other users allready have said in previous comments...
Do make it 9i/10g only and just mention 8i when it's really necessary.
Also I would like it much if there were examples that showed your problem-solving approach more - given a problem, what do you think of trying, what intermediate statements do you try out as you go, what do you discard and what do you end up with... (as you often here on AskTom show intermediate steps to your solutions, particularly on analytics).
Basically what I mean is to use a style that'll teach us how you think - as we could all benefit from trying to emulate your brain-patterns :-)
Thanks for all your help to all of us.
Tanmoy Datta Choudhury, September 06, 2004 - 11:22 am UTC
Hi tom i think your idea
"for 3, i as actually toying with:
the printed version would be 9i, 10g only.
anything 8i would be available via an electronic copy of the existing Expert
book." -- is the best. This way we will get all the updated stuffs and side by side CD will give us the details of the fundamentals.
One more request please do include a section regarding oracle myths ..i am facing hard times every day telling people that count(*) and count(1) are same ..trigger sequence is not possible to determine if its the same trigger ..etc ...
Just tell us when it will be over and for any help ...
Thanks
Tanmoy
posting the tentative table of contents here
A reader, September 06, 2004 - 1:50 pm UTC
would be a good idea. Of course, you have to
say no to some topics - it may lead to too much
discussion though...
Boxed set useful
Amol, September 07, 2004 - 12:24 am UTC
Boxed set would definitely benefit if one needs to reference a specifc section.
I would buy all three as a set .Content-wise i look forward to read something about 10g on the lines of Practical Oracle8i (J Lewis).
For the electronic edition you could have people registering their printed editions and then provide access like they do on the O'reilly site .It would also help if say one buys the first volume and wanted to get a preview of some sort of the second volume before actually buying it.
my 0.02$
Joachim "hannibal" w.r. Mayer, September 07, 2004 - 1:42 am UTC
Hi tom,
I would prefere one big book over 3 smaller ones... i have no problem with even 1500 pages.
some topics i would like to see in your book are:
1) more on sql (sql + analysis!!!)
2) of cource the new 9i,10g features
3) more details on object types
4) more on packing (how data gets stored and used in tables)
will wait for the book
Hannibal
what about me
P.Karthick, September 07, 2004 - 7:37 am UTC
ya books for DBA, developers.... what about school kids... cant they learn about database and what's the use of it..... is it hard to write a book for them tom...... oracle releases a lot of new version and new stuff.... is there any version in oracle which helps kids use oracle easily......
this question is just because some kid is going to replace you and me in the future. cant we do some thing for them...
September 07, 2004 - 9:27 am UTC
it is called "school"?
not sure what point you are getting at/making?
Chris, September 07, 2004 - 8:08 am UTC
I think the decision to create multiple volumes or not should be dictated by the material itself. If it naturally falls into two volumes then so be it. People usually grumble about multi-volume sets when each volume is clearly stuffed with semi-useful filler to flesh them out. Your books are always crammed full of useful info so I don't think that would be a problem.
As for suggested topics, I agree with the folks who are clamoring for chapters on AQ, RAC, and an expanded explanation of Analytics. While the overview of supplied packages in Expert was nice, I don't think you need to revisit it unless there is a useful feature you feel is grossly misunderstood or underutilized. The Oracle documentation is serves as an excellent reference for the day-to-day application this stuff.
XML and Oracle would be another area that is deserving of a chapter (or two!). Oracle provides a huge range of tools for creating and manipulating XML. The Oracle docs cover the various API's and utilities exhaustively but there is a dearth of information about how those tools are best applied and used.
As always, thanks for everything you contribute to the Oracle community.
Chris
Thanks for the First edition and looking forward to second edition
Madhu, September 07, 2004 - 9:59 am UTC
1. I prefer single volume.
2. c
3. I would like to see a section dedicated OLTP . I feel the first edition is mainly concentrated on DWH/OLAP .
Thanks,
Madhu
David Eads, September 07, 2004 - 11:58 am UTC
1) Prefer single volume. It is easier to keep up with one book than three.
2) c
3) The layout of the original was great. It just needs to be updated for 9i/10g
New book.
Scott Watson, September 07, 2004 - 3:04 pm UTC
Tom,
1) I would prefer a single volume book only if that meant you didn't have to cut any material. For example I would have welcomed your insight on AQ in Expert 1 on 1. So if size forces you to cut back I say go with an extra volume otherwise keep it in a single volume. I wouldn't want to see a book much bigger that the first one.
2) If you decide to go with more than one volume I would buy them all at once (answer A). I don't think you can ever learn too much and even if you cover something that might not fit into my job description today, who knows what I will be doing tomorrow.
3) I like the format of Expert one on one better than Effective Oracle by Design so I would prefer to see something similar to that.
Since people have made suggestion about what they would like to see included in the book, I would like to suggest the something a little different. In another thread on this site you mention that you would not touch J.Lewis when it came to bitmapped indexes nor S.Adams when it came to locks and latches, likewise you wouldn't expect them to challenge you in a sql writing contest. Would it be too much to ask for you to start a weekly or monthly sql writing competition? I believe many of us here would benefit greatly from this type of forum and I believe you are the best guy to moderate it. ( You will also get alot of material to write a sql book as so many people have asked for )
Thanks
Scott.
Alberto Dell'Era, September 07, 2004 - 3:47 pm UTC
>I'm looking for a way to electronically distribute -- with
>the safeguards of the printed version.
Maybe just being able to search would be enough.
What about making it indexed by Oracle Text, returning say 1/4th of the page around the searchwords on the web ?
If you make it text-only and/or return the results as images, any attacker will find it cheaper to buy than to write a program to steal it ..
Another option may be to let Amazon.com "search inside the book" (less control by you, but easier).
True "Boxed" Set
Robert, September 07, 2004 - 4:21 pm UTC
If you do decide to have a multi-volume set, it would be good to actually make it have a nice container in which all would be housed. That way, you grab just one item on your way out the door. May satisfy those that just want one book and those that want a manageable reader.
Nobody talks about costs
Jens, September 08, 2004 - 7:17 am UTC
Hi Tom,
one big thing I miss in all books:
Everytime I see a cool database feature, I don't know if we could use it or not because of Oracle's licence policy. Example: We could not use partitioning because it's too expensive, we would need it only for 2 or 3 tables (in my opinion it's a big mistake that partitioning is not included in the Enterprise Edition)
Bye,
Jens
September 08, 2004 - 10:06 am UTC
I'm planning on making sure that is clear..
Single volume
Jeff Hunter, September 08, 2004 - 9:48 am UTC
I prefer a single volume. Most people will just end up buying all three anyway. Besides, if it's three volumes, I'll have to worry about keeping track of three books instead of just one...
"Second Edition of Expert One-on-One Oracle"
Megan Mines-Hall, September 08, 2004 - 10:22 am UTC
I agree with the 1 volume voices. I am still constantly refer to your book and would love an updated copy. If 3 volume's were offered - I would probably just end up buying all 3 and have to review the index to find in which of the 3 books my topic item is in.
Of course, size matters...
Javier Morales - Oracle8iDBA OCP, September 08, 2004 - 11:59 am UTC
Hi Tom,
First or all, thanks for your work. THANK YOU so much.
Amazon told me that I will have both your books really soon.
I bought them on august 29th, and in few days I will have both in my hands (and eyes).
I believe size matters. And so a CD with example is a very big "sized" container... maybe for a set of "favourite questions on AskTom??. Personaly, I would bought a book containing "best questions" readable and indexed by topics, questions and answers on AskTom.
But you're asking for something different.
1.- OK. I think three volumes It's ok, but adding more contents or examples to fit (not exactly 3x but 2x). Maybe this can be 'substituted' by a CD. Your scripts and your work I believe they're as used as readed.
2.- YES. I would buy three volumes in a set, or separated. Everything except loosing part of your work because of being 'cutted' just to fit in one volume. I would recommend you to edit the three books in a set. Maybe a set-box would be also a nice packaging for your work. but... do you think you can divide your work in three separate parts, or just like "lord of rings" in a set 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3. In this case, I don't think anyone would buy only the part III without the first and the second.
3.- In a few days I will be ready to answer. By now I only would tell about including a CD with your runstats, examples, shrink_database script, etc.
Size matters (nevermind what people tell about). Your work is too rigorous to be simplified just to fit in N pages.
I would tell you to write, neverminding the number of pages. At the end, you will not be able to cut right contents and, for sure, your publishers will not go on with a book of 3000 pages... :)
Thank you for everything. For your work.
Javier
Thanks for all your help!
Robert, September 08, 2004 - 5:55 pm UTC
Tom,
1) Size/weight of book does not matter to me, as long as book physically holds together (binding holds, etc.)... I had no problems with size of current edition.... In fact I prefer a single volume... that way everything is in one place.
2) If you came out with multi-volumes, I would probably buy all volumes.... The more of your 'brain', experience, etc., you put in print the better. :)
3) I can't think of anything to change from first edition, except the updates for 92, 10g, etc. you spoke of. DON'T TRY TO SAVE PAPER BY CONDENSING YOUR EXPLANATIONS, ETC... The more verbose the better as far as I'm concerned.
Thanks and regards,
Robert.
printed version
A reader, September 09, 2004 - 2:29 am UTC
I personally like to read YOUR book printed on paper and in one volume as electronic copy would be used for cut paste scripts and DBA'S would not try to do things themselves.
One of the best Oracle books i have read
Javier, September 09, 2004 - 5:43 am UTC
I don't have Expert one on one, but i have yours Efective Oracle by design and i found it to be a well written and easy to read book (for a technical book, anyway). My answers are:
1) I rather prefer a single book than a multi-volume one. Anyway, guess i will get it no matter how it is 'packed'
2) I would prefer to have the option to buy it all toghether. As a part time DBA, part time developer i find valuable all the stuff you can get into the book.
3) As i dont have Expert one on one i cant say.
Just a recomendation: If any of your books ever get translated to another language, please make sure that translation is made by a technical person, not a profesional translator. I have found every technical book i have readen in spanish (my mother language)is that they are filled up with bugs and incorrect data. Of course on the english version (when i have had the oportunity to read it as well) where correct.
September 09, 2004 - 8:27 am UTC
I have no control whatsoever over the translations -- none.
Online version
George, September 09, 2004 - 7:33 am UTC
You write it and I will buy it, sight unseen!
Donald Kunecke, September 09, 2004 - 9:35 am UTC
Simple, you write it and I will buy it the day it is for sale. You are simply the best.
I like the idea of putting the old book as electroice copy
Manish Upadhyay, September 09, 2004 - 10:37 am UTC
I like your idea of buying the new, and getting the old edition in electronic copy.
NO CD Please.It is much easier to download the code from net.
How many pages you are predicting for the new edition. if it is not more than 1300 or so ( Just like previous version ) put it in 1 volume else 2 volumes ( Logical seperation of the topics not based on DBA or Developer specific seperation).
One more Idea although it may sound strange . you may not put code in the book at all just the reference only . so if you want to run some code , there will be a script in the online zip file (name as pageno. ) referring to this code.
People interested in the code will open zip file and see the code.
September 09, 2004 - 11:40 am UTC
I'll be keeping the code in the book. I cannot imagine enjoying the book experience if I had to have my computer in front of me to see the actual code at work.
Single Volume ( with examples/scripts for download)
Dilip Patel, September 09, 2004 - 1:03 pm UTC
Dear Tom,
You are the best ever author I have read on any tech book. The simple approach and explaining by example is simply great. For me New book is only important (be it a single or multi volume), Afterall each sentence written by tom on Oracle is very important. So we are waiting for book. When it's happening.
Idea of example/scripts for download is so far so good, you don't have to type it for real testing of examples.
Three cheers for Tom's new book and all his work ............
Dilip.
One consolidated book preferred
Dilip Patel, September 09, 2004 - 1:17 pm UTC
Tom,
Its good to hear that you are comming up with new edition of your book. I will buy your book anyways, whether it is one or boxed set. But it will be good if we have to refer/carry just one book instead of many.
Please include the "Myths" and "obsolete ideas" section, maybe you can even publish that in ASKTOM prominantly, as they are always under debate. One good thing I really liked in Expert one-on-one were the chapters on DBMS packages and the ways to use them. Include some more as you think we all should know to use more often.
Thanks,
Dilip
A reader, September 09, 2004 - 3:47 pm UTC
Tom why instead of writing book you solve the problem from root, why don't you design Oracle University courses, or private courses.
There are too much topics, and normally one don't read about them or practice, until one needs it or until one get a lot of free time.
What I would like you do is a very complete and deep courses one about every topic, every one a book by itself, but I would prefer in video, with practices and examen, this helps you to understand.
Instead of doing all about everything, the moment you decide to retire you oculd open an Oracle school, in internet. I promise you this have a bright future, specially if you share all the internals you know about Oracle.
In this moment I don't know about where to get advanced courses for all the world, in several topics. I think one of the requisites is to live in EEUU to access to that advanced courses, for eaxmple one to understand the dump files.
I'm starting to disagree with you in writing books, when you should be doing complete courses.
:)
How about a patch release of the book?
A P Clarke, September 10, 2004 - 6:38 am UTC
What would be really cool for those of us that already have the first edition would be a patch release which we could apply to our existing copy. It would insert new pages, overwrite any changed pages and remove any obsolete pages. I suspect this may not be possible with Dead Tree Technology as it currently stands, alas.
Oh well, guess I'd better start saving my pennies now.
Cheers, APC
Giving it away
A reader, September 10, 2004 - 7:20 am UTC
You wrote:
"I'm looking for a way to electronically distribute -- with the safeguards of the printed version. I'm not looking to "give it away" to anyone after it is done."
But, isn't that what you do every day? "Give it away"?
Suggestion for SQL discussion topic
sPh, September 10, 2004 - 10:33 am UTC
My 2 cents...
daniel, September 10, 2004 - 10:36 am UTC
1) 1 book is fine with me. Unless it becomes reeaaaaaaly big, then I would split it. But the format of the other 2 books was just fine.
2) c.
3) I would cover more of the RAC/Grid.
Tom,
have you ever thought about teaching a class. I'm sure you would have plenty of interested people.
Bill, September 10, 2004 - 4:11 pm UTC
I just purchased your book Expert One-on-One Oracle from Amazon. I am really looking forward to getting it.
Your Next Release...
Jose Cleto, September 10, 2004 - 8:30 pm UTC
Since You are planing complete review of Your book, I think multiple volumns will be the norm.
- As You just said some topics missed because space constraint.
- For those who likes one volumn package like a set.
- Don't split the content in volumns like "DBA-Stuff",
"Dev. Stuff". Make it a mark in every subject
DBA- Do this, Developers - Do that.
- Include more case of 3rd party tools
- Make we shine integrating ORACLE+ .NET+ SOMETHING_COOL
- Show us how APPServer really fly
- Do test case like "To develop a project that will automate this kind of ... Do this, that, etc. with ORACLE Std, But if You use Enterprise You could add this, and this features"
Don't be warry of spliting, say as many as You need to. Brake the rules, that's what we like about You. Be Your self, Do the MAX.
ap, September 11, 2004 - 9:00 am UTC
How to ask question, Do I have to be come a member?
Thanks
September 11, 2004 - 10:46 am UTC
infinite loop....
you just asked a question no? ;)
I take questions as I have time, like right now -- at this very instant (10:30 am on Sept 11th, 2004 east coast time in the US), I'm taking questions (from anyone)
Bring It on!!!!
Satish, September 11, 2004 - 1:54 pm UTC
Really dont care how many volumes it is in. Would only want this to come out soon.
More Analytics, tuning and lots of real world examples would be great.
Love your books, your forum and your presentations. Keep it going Tom.
Pl don't exceed this size
Sikandar Hayat, September 12, 2004 - 8:39 am UTC
Dear TOM I have you book Expert one-on-one Oracle and it is about 1300 pages. I would suggest that keep this size and don't exceed 1300 pages. This size is suitable.
Coding Standards Appendix
A reader, September 13, 2004 - 8:31 am UTC
1.) Single Volume
2.) c.
3.) I've moved from project to project over the last couple of years and each has had a different set of coding standards(if any).
Given the popularity of the Books and this site, and the best practices requested previously, an appendix "Coding Standards" section would probably prove most helpful to many companies.
Basically, I'm fed up trying to decode FUBAR/SNAFU code.
For an old codger
a poor old bloke ( at only 36 ), September 13, 2004 - 11:34 am UTC
You know - this column is great. The only problem is that I am too old to keep up. I come from ior times and 5.1a. The database just seems to be getting more and more complex. I think I am going to have to let them young uns do it from now on ;o(
But, I congratulate Tom on his knowledge. I thought I had kept going quite well, but I just cannot keep up these days. I want to know everything - I dont think people realise how much there is to know - they are mostly "surface boys". There was a time when I thought I knew everything, but as of about 9ir2 - thats all over now.
Well done Tom - I commend you on your "ongoingness" ( well at least it is not an abreviation ) - keep going.
September 13, 2004 - 1:59 pm UTC
Hey, I started with 5.1.5c myself, bought it for $99.00 out of Dr Dobbs Journal way back when. Came on nifty 360k floppies -- had everything you needed back then. Ran it on my IBM-XT.
(and i'm older then you are....)
For A Poor Old Bloke (At Only 36)
Bill, September 13, 2004 - 2:16 pm UTC
I am older than you by several years, and I am just starting on the Oracle road. I have been in I/T for over 20 years, and one thing I have learned is you always have more to learn. Just hoist the mainsail, and full speed ahead - the wise man (should that be person today?) is always more aware of what he DOESN'T know. It is always a joy to learn something new, and be challenged to excel at it. At least, that's how I look at things :)
September 13, 2004 - 3:38 pm UTC
I can honestly say that I learn something new about Oracle each and every day -- at least one thing (and mostly from doing this stuff :)
What did I learn today -- I learned that my trick of getting parameter values using dbms_utility.get_parameter_value doesn't work for ALL parameters, just MOST
ops$tkyte@ORA9IR2> @getparm workarea_size_policy
ops$tkyte@ORA9IR2> set verify off
ops$tkyte@ORA9IR2> declare
2 x number;
3 y long;
4 d number;
5 begin
6 if ( dbms_utility.get_parameter_value( '&1', x, y ) = 1 )
7 then
8 dbms_output.put_line( y );
9 else
10 dbms_output.put_line( x );
11 end if;
12 end;
13 /
AUTO
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
ops$tkyte@ORA9IR2>
ops$tkyte@ORA9IR2> @getparm pga_aggregate_target
ops$tkyte@ORA9IR2> set verify off
ops$tkyte@ORA9IR2> declare
2 x number;
3 y long;
4 d number;
5 begin
6 if ( dbms_utility.get_parameter_value( '&1', x, y ) = 1 )
7 then
8 dbms_output.put_line( y );
9 else
10 dbms_output.put_line( x );
11 end if;
12 end;
13 /
declare
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-20000: get_parameter_value: invalid or unsupported parameter
"pga_aggregate_target"
ORA-06512: at "SYS.DBMS_UTILITY", line 104
ORA-06512: at line 6
ops$tkyte@ORA9IR2>
ops$tkyte@ORA9IR2> show parameter pga_aggregate_target
NAME TYPE VALUE
------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------
pga_aggregate_target big integer 235929600
In fact, I found these are not supported:
ops$tkyte@ORA9IR2> create or replace function gp( p_string in varchar2 ) return varchar2
2 as
3 not_supported exception;
4 pragma exception_init(not_supported,-20000);
5 x number;
6 y long;
7 d number;
8 begin
9 d := dbms_utility.get_parameter_value( p_string, x, y );
10 return null;
11 exception
12 when not_supported then return sqlerrm;
13 end;
14 /
Function created.
ops$tkyte@ORA9IR2>
ops$tkyte@ORA9IR2> select name
2 from (
3 select name, substr( gp(name), 1, 80 ) msg
4 from v$parameter
5 where rownum >= 1
6 )
7 where msg is not null
8 /
NAME
------------------------------
shared_pool_size
sga_max_size
shared_pool_reserved_size
large_pool_size
java_pool_size
db_keep_cache_size
db_recycle_cache_size
db_2k_cache_size
db_4k_cache_size
db_8k_cache_size
db_16k_cache_size
db_32k_cache_size
db_cache_size
pga_aggregate_target
14 rows selected.
(please don't ask me why :)
Second Edition of "Expert One on One Oracle
NAGA KOMPELLA, September 13, 2004 - 2:44 pm UTC
I wish this would be a one volume with Hard Cover to safe guard it. If it is divided into 3 or 4 volumes , I am not sure whether I buy all 4, as I will pick and choose only the books that cover the topics that I use on a daily basis. If it is in one volume, I can glance through the topics that I do not use on a daily basis.
Thicker paper please
A reader, September 13, 2004 - 3:50 pm UTC
I second a previous request for thicker paper. My eyes were blurried many times from the text on the next page bleeding thru. I would personally like a hard-copy. These requests most likely lead to multiple-volumes. Maybe a price break if we buy them all at once would discourage cherry-picking of the volumes.
Or how about multiple options. A version with thin paper and paperback. A version with thicker paper and hard-cover - I would expect to pay a little more.
how old are you?
daniel, September 13, 2004 - 5:01 pm UTC
Tom,
how old are you? If you don't mind me asking.
September 13, 2004 - 8:51 pm UTC
if you read "Effective Oracle by Design" very closely -- you'll know :)
(chapter 1, don't use generic models...)
New Book
mohammed, September 13, 2004 - 7:22 pm UTC
Hi Tom,
I will give Mankee a ring and we will see if can fit editing the new book in our busy schedules ;-)
Mo
September 13, 2004 - 9:09 pm UTC
Mo -- are you with apress now? that'd be cool.
We love you!!
A reader, September 13, 2004 - 9:18 pm UTC
Amazing interest this thread generated in just 10 days. Even before Tom commited on this, people are so excited about it.. Is there any other technical author who can generate such enthusiasm on announcing a book? We are so eager to buy your book, coz we love you somuch!!!
Speaking of Expert One on One.....
Joe, September 14, 2004 - 12:12 am UTC
Tom,
Firstly, thanks for the countless times I've had a seemingly unanswerable Oracle question, only to find a perfectly succinct answer in your book or here in the pages of AskTom!! Sheer brilliance.
On a purely selfish note, I'd like to see your publisher add some sort of handy dandy widget to the book that prevents it from walking away from your desk - people like to borrow it, and my brilliant kensington lock idea "kinda" gets in the way!!
As for whether the first edition was too heavy - that's why they're making laptops smaller and smaller, so you can get the book in your briefcase!! I must admit though, I did take it out of my laptop bag and leave it in the back of my car, which was fine, until the engine crapped out and it spent 12 weeks at the dealer. Of course, 11 weeks into the repair, I needed the book!!!
select law from laws where owner = 'MURPHY'
/
Seriously, as other people have mentioned, I think you'll need to break the 2nd edition down into a couple of volumes just to fit everything in. As much as I would prefer a single volume for ease of reference, we all know that the value of the work is not in it's technical accuracy, nor the number of words, but simply in it's "lbs per $" ratio.
I think I'd also box them up and sell them as a whole, rather than the option to buy one or another. Only because if it were me, I'd be ruing the day I'd only bought volume 2 thinking I'd never need anything from volume 1. This normally happens around 3am at a customer site, (see the select statement earlier).
Also getting back to what someone else mentioned earlier, I think some sort of electronic index would be valuable, you could maybe add it to the asktom website. So, don't necessarily include it with the book (on CD), but include references to the book when someone does a search on asktom. Along the lines of, a search for: "autotrace 10053", would return a list of all the asktom articles containing those keywords and a bonus entry that has page references to appropriate sections in your book(s).
Cheers.
PS - When will the book be available? ;-)
About EJB and how they go with Oracle
Pratap, September 14, 2004 - 1:19 am UTC
Hi Tom,
EJB 2.0 is in vogue these days. With all the cool features like EJB QL etc. Believe me I am working with a team of 40 people developing a large application. They have only one database guy!! All other 39 are Java or testing guys.
Maybe you should shed some light on these new EJB features from a database developer/dba point of view. What things we should watch out for when working on such applications.
Regards,
Pratap
September 14, 2004 - 7:52 am UTC
you should be looking out for the words
o select
o insert
o update
o delete
o merge
in java code and looking to replace all of them with
o call
or
o begin ... end;
I vote for 2 volumes
Iain Sinclair, September 14, 2004 - 6:54 am UTC
If it was to be split, howabout targetting developers and admins seperately, with the possibility of a generous overlap.
When I read the first edition it seemd to me that some parts of the book were naturally of more interest to me than others. Basically I'm a developer, and I found the development side the most interesting.
Having said that, I would buy both volumes anyway.
My main time for reading this stuff is standing on the train, so I like light books :) I bought an excellent (and expensive) book by Deitel and Deitel that I've never managed to get through simply because it's too heavy :(
It's a great book, and I'm looking forward to it getting even better.
September 14, 2004 - 9:15 am UTC
i don't like the idea of targeting developers and dba's separately -- i think they are too separate as it is and need to be much much MUCH less so.
EJB QL
Pratap, September 14, 2004 - 8:35 am UTC
<you_said>
you should be looking out for the words
o select
o insert
o update
o delete
o merge
</you_said>
Actually I am talking about EJB Query language that I see is being used a lot now a days. If I understand correctly you don't have to write insert, update, delete .... anymore. The EJB generates and fires these queries for you.
I thought it would be nice to include your experience/views on these features as they are directly related to the database.
Pratap
September 14, 2004 - 9:27 am UTC
Ok, let me change what I said then
you should make sure the EJB container userid never has the privilege to select, insert, update, or delete any table. That userid should only have execute privilege on properly constructed, well tuned, performant, scalable stored procedures.
Multi-volumes
Nick, September 14, 2004 - 9:44 am UTC
1. Multi-volumes
2. C
3. Not much besides obviously adding "new" stuff. I would like to see the backward compatible info stay there, too. (And maybe som Larry Ellison stories...JK).
Please keep the book(s) at the same "expert" level- that is one book I for one have not (and most likely never will) outgrown yet!
Thanks Tom!
My vote
A reader, September 14, 2004 - 10:07 am UTC
Single book unless there too many pages to bind! ;-} I keep your current edition on my desk and never need to carry it around.
I like the idea of code examples that give the minimum privs to do the job.
Perhaps the examples should be mainly 9i + 10g (perhaps sidebars to point out 'not before release xx') but not to many examples that only work before 9 as the first edition 1-2-1 would still be good for that (unless they are programmed to self-destruct on the release of a new edition ;-) )
Subjects: all of the current themes + AQ, new DBMS_xxx packages, a bit more on analytic functions, perhaps a bit on Materialized Views in DWH - e.g grouping sets and group by roll-up. And how about a chapter on 'tricks' - - those gems that appear on this site where you (or one of you reviewers) put in a code example that tackles a real problem in an unexpected but highly performant way.
One volume
William, September 14, 2004 - 11:28 am UTC
Hi Tom,
I would prefer one volume. I have your other books, and use them both as a reference and for ideas and inspiration. One volume is better for that sort of browsing.
For those who want an e-book, I recommend the Oracle technical documentation, which travels on my laptop. There's enough in there to keep me reading for years.
Alberto Dell'Era, September 14, 2004 - 2:50 pm UTC
Is it going to be an "OakTable press" book ? Just curious.
September 14, 2004 - 3:06 pm UTC
don't know, depends on who i get to review it...
extracting oracle table's data into flatfiles....
Mohan, September 14, 2004 - 4:20 pm UTC
Hi Tom,
I want to extract oracle's table's data(records) into flat file.. what is the procedure for that...i wrote sql code for records retrival..but how it works with UTL_FILE and tell me the clear steps to do this....
Thanks
Mohan
Boston,MA
September 14, 2004 - 7:05 pm UTC
Too Heavy?
Mike Wilson, September 14, 2004 - 5:18 pm UTC
Don't worry about the size of the volume. Include a CD of the book text that can be carried around with you but have a single volume. I don't call "Expert one-on-one Oracle" the "Bible" just because it's a definative reference. It is but the size is nice too.
From a marketing perspective I find I gravitate more towards large unwieldy volumes anyway. If there are two books on the same topic my first (not my only but my first) inclination is to compare the books by # of pages. Ultimately it comes down the contents of the book, but I tend to pick the big one up first.
Expert One on One - 2nd Edition
Gary, September 14, 2004 - 6:10 pm UTC
Bring it on!
1- Due to the large size (hopefully, that means lots of good stuff) multi volumes would hold up better under my constant use. I'm hoping each one is 1000+ pages.
2- Sell them as a complete set. Everyone, I repeat, everyone would benefit from reading your material from either a DBA, Developer, Designer, Coder and yes even a Manager perspective.
3- A couple of personal requests:
a) Case studies on tuning, tuning and more tuning using available tools and utilities.
b) Analytics - the more examples the better. So powerful but I don't use them enough to get good.
c) Minimum permissions - I echo the already stated request.
d) Case studies on various DBA recovery issues - full recovery, PIT, missing data files, missing control files, RESETLOGS, etc,
The included CD of the examples would be nice but it's so easy to download a ZIP file and create my own it's not necessary and would reduce the cost.
Your books are the best resources I've found and even though I haven't read both of them cover to cover, yet, I use them almost daily for something.
The salivating is starting.
Gary
Multivolumn again --double voting
Ajeet, September 15, 2004 - 6:39 am UTC
1.Mulitvolume
2.C
3. anything which makes our day to day work life easire,simpler,smarter and pleasent...Life at work is so tough with this oracle , and there are so much to read and know in order to be alive with a bit of grace --so anything which might help in easy breathing and that enlight us more..make us look good and so on..infinite list..but you are the one who had asked for wish list.
thanks
Ajeet
Need Updated(revised) edition..
A reader, September 15, 2004 - 8:12 am UTC
Hi Tom,
Though it is hard to go with huge Book. I like that Big type.
I wonder and would like to know(just curious) " How long did that take to complete the volume?"
It's realy great work.
September 15, 2004 - 9:57 am UTC
9 months.
My vote!
Kevin, September 15, 2004 - 1:34 pm UTC
Tom.
I would like you to make one book. Very huge, and Red. The only thing printed on the ouside of it would be the word "ORACLE". You could then couple this with an optional wooden pedestal.
That would be about as cool as it could get in this industry. Yeah man. I want that in my cubicle.
comments
Stu Charlton, September 15, 2004 - 8:45 pm UTC
Don't break it up unless you have to because it's too big to realistically ship or build a sturdy enough spine. :-) I don't really have a problem with the size, but, a multi-volume approach won't really disuade me either -- some may whine about the price.
I think the best part of the first book is the first 4 chapters or so -- these are the chapters that I show to intermediate-level Oracle users (mainly J2EE) and it blows their mind. Keep the project anecdotes in, add more if you can. It really drives home the point that "Oracle is different, use it wisely".
Of course I recognize a lot of 10g will be in there, but especially I'd love to see a significant update on the Analytics chapter for the SQL MODEL clause.
Other ideas: expanded information on XML, like XPath querying, XML doc indexing, and maybe some stuff on TOPLink.
Multi-Volume
Kshama Jain, September 16, 2004 - 7:32 am UTC
I spend 3 hrs commuting, daily. I love to read Expert One On One in the bus. So, having 2 copies- one for home and the other for Office- was not a solution for me. I got the book binded into 3 volumes!
Don't forget HUMOR!
reader, September 16, 2004 - 10:14 am UTC
another thing Tom..please don't forget to interject some of your humor or humorous situations and anecdotes.
On rare occassions when I find my myself not in the best frame of mind and come here looking for help or answers I will burst out in a laugh when I read a comment from Tom to a reader's question...especially to a question like:
"Tom, my computer is slow can you help me fix it?"
A good hearty laugh gets me going for the rest of the day.
No matter how 'techy' we are as a community, we all need a good laugh every now and then...whether at ourselves or with each other.
;~)
Important is the info those volumes carry
A reader, September 16, 2004 - 12:02 pm UTC
Hi Tom,
it does not really matter if we want many volumes or not, important is the info in those volumes carry.
As Oracle is evolving at a pace no one can almost follow, I would be more interesting to see a reference book on industrial designs, facts, best practice and solutions.
we want your experience, people's experience...not too much theories. we want a book that you read without being bored even if we are learning stuff. we want a novel.
All the best,
Regis Biassala, Dublin, Ireland.
Ok, no CD
Javier Morales, September 17, 2004 - 6:47 am UTC
Hi Tom,
I got your two books yesterday and I did a "outlook" overview. None of your two books (and other one I bought by Sam Alapati) seems to need a CD. I will enjoy them reading, not testing (most cases).
About Experts one-on-one, size is ok (1300 pages). Don't break it into three (or two) except if you got 2600 (or 3900 pages!! :P ).
I wouldn't like a pocket book of 400 pages part or a set.
Size matters... ask ladies!! :))
so, when will you come to Spain for a seminar or conference or something like that? You would enjoy a lot our meals!!
Javier
Can't wait for the new book(s)
Mike, September 17, 2004 - 1:08 pm UTC
Tom:
Please consider multiple volumes in a set. Why?
1. Your content is spectacular and we are happy to consume it all regardless of how many pages you write. Bring it on -- it will be purchased and multi-volumes might prevent you from culling out content you think is just OK or average. Your average day/words are better then what can do on my best day.
2. Based on your last two "volumes" you have provided us approx. 2000 pages combined + tons of content at asktom. It's too much for one or two books and hard on the binding and arms to read. OK, so I'm a wimp.
3. I think a lighter book is much easier to read at home, on planes, at the beach, in the can. Seriously; folks will more rapidly consume your material if it's easy to transport between work, office, plane, subway, etc.
4. Of course, PDFs would be the ultimate solution. O'Rielly has done this with several book volumes but I don't know how illegal copies are stopped. Maybe the O'Reilly folks can advise on that. I still love the printed word for serious study and casual reading.
5. What would be awesomely powerful is a very, very detailed index that you provide as a PDF or on-line. If I could just search the index to get the page pointers I would be thrilled (yeah, Tom's b-tree index). Proliferation of the index on PDF would not hurt book sales and likely help them. This is yet another reason for multi-volumes as a detailed index could span 100 pages or more. Hmmmm, could you link your index and web content together so we could search on topics and get book page pointers and web topics at asktom?
6. You can expand a multi-volume set with more frequent update. Say, add a volume quickly on a new feature or aspect you did not cover.
7. Most serious DBAs and Developers know that purchasing books is the cost of doing business. We must buy the tools of our trade so I frankly don't care if I have to shell out $40 x 6 volumes for your books. Price for multi-volumes will not even be a speed bump for the professional DBA/Developer (but will be for students, etc.). Can you give student book discounts as Microsoft does with software? Not likely, eh?
Also: I love the smallish font and tiny margins in your first book put out by Wrox. I'm sure folks may disagree but after getting use to my 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution on my laptop LCD, your book font looks huge to my mid-forty eyes. Maybe you need to offer small and large print versions ;)
Thanks for soliciting our opinions,
-Mike
September 17, 2004 - 1:40 pm UTC
5) we are looking into how they might be able to give me an electronic copy I could load and index here, so you could search and get page numbers.
Laxman Kondal, September 17, 2004 - 2:33 pm UTC
It's a great book and I would love to have any book by Tom. Real question with real example.
Don't choose oracle press
A reader, September 18, 2004 - 7:51 am UTC
Hi Tom,
Your books are great..I've your both books.
Regarding the quality of books....
-Book from WROX press was the best then Oracle press..(Pages,fonts,binding etc...)
Please don't choose oracle press.. garbage
Thanks
am all excited ....
Yogesh, September 18, 2004 - 11:43 am UTC
First thanks a million for your wonderful support and help on almost all sorts of oracle issues I face during work.
I have your both books and am going to buy anything you write in future. 1 book /1 set doesnt matter. I prefer printed material though so no specific inclination to pdf/cd verson of your book.
Regarding some changes i expect..
1. may be bit more practical focus on the security features of oracle. During my earlier project, there were stringent security requirements from client. Thought I might end up using FGA,FGAC,Proxy authentication etc. but somehow the frontend tools took care of all and no special db access control etc was required any more. so may be lil more practical usage.
2. some more focus on datawarehouse. i know the first book contained chapters on mvs,partitioning etc and second one has more specific datawarehouse examples. still would love to understand CDC techniques,data file distribution of huge tables etc in your own verse.
3. replication,AQ,analytics,rman (ok now you no i want more dba stuff)!! etc.
Thanks again for all your work !! cant wait 9 months !!
September 18, 2004 - 12:40 pm UTC
1) you might be interested in "Effective Oracle Security by Design", by David Knox (Oracle Press, 2004). I was a technical editor on that book.
2) probably not, not my total area of expertise and is actually focused enough to be a separate "book topic".
3) funny -- replication, aq, analytics -- those are developer topics. fga, fgac, proxy authentication -- developer topics. rman -- that is about the only dba topic you mentioned (and Freeman has a really good book on that -- Oracle Press)
PL/SQL Webservices
Rich, September 19, 2004 - 6:35 am UTC
Tom:
Multi volume is fine
-- PL/SQL WebServices Rock !!
-- XMLDB
-- Techniques for tracing 3rd vendor application that use generic user ids. PSFT, Siebel, Oracle Apps.
-- The Mysteries of CBO - When there are no statistics on 1 table and fresh stats onanother what does the CBO do? Estimate? Hom much?
-- SQL Profiles -- A Nobel prize should be awarded to the person who developed them !!
Thanks
PS.. How do you stay technical with all of your traveling?
September 19, 2004 - 10:28 am UTC
i travel with a computer. and I usually travel to do something, well, technical :)
Great Book(s), Thanks Tom!
quellcoder, September 20, 2004 - 3:37 pm UTC
1 and 2) Keep it as ONE book, ONE volume (ONE purchase order to be paid by my company!!).
Also, one volume is better for cross-reference. Example, I was reading Chapter 6, and jumped over to Chapter 20 and Chapter 16 and back several times this past weekend, when I brought the Expert book home. The weight of BOTH books was not an issue for me.
3) 'change in the first edition':
-- more on pl-sql programming (ideas, examples, best practices)
You have an excellent approach to tech writing. Thank you for clear (and working) examples.
No need to include an 'outdated' CD, as the SQL SCRIPTS ARE AVAILABLE ON-LINE at apress.com, as it says in big, bold letters on the back of apress books "Source Code Online", and it takes just a few seconds to download the zip file.
Business Logic in PL/SQL vs. J2EE
Rumburak, September 22, 2004 - 4:08 am UTC
Hi Tom,
yesterday I had one of these ugly discussions about "database independence", "business logic in the midtier" etc... You know it:
</code>
http://asktom.oracle.com/pls/asktom/f?p=100:11:::::P11_QUESTION_ID:12083187196917 <code>
I confronted them with some arguments I found on your website, they didn't listen to the facts (I felt like Don Quichotte). They were proud, not to use SQL in their apps and to trust a JDO layer which creates SQL-calls. The database is only a data grave for tables and indexes (so I don't understand, why the company uses Oracle) - These guys would never understand how powerful SQL and PL/SQL with Oracle is.
I love your example about the transaction processing in different databases in "Effective Oracle by design" - We need more of this. We need a chapter full of arguments against putting the business logic out of the database, and about the database independence myth. Perhaps with Jonathan Lewis as a co-author!
This would be a big help for the Oracle-Fan-Community.
Bye,
Jens
Something more for next Version
programmer, September 22, 2004 - 8:50 am UTC
ONE particular change re the next version of 'expert', could you show the syntax/code for NESTED TABLES, WITHIN PLSQL.
Ch6 has plenty of code and paragraphs on Nested Tables, but all the code shows SQL-syntax, NOT plsql (like create table, and select, etc.) which would be fine (using dynamic sql) but it defeats the purpose/rule that you set out that you shouldn't have the Nested Table ON the Database, just inside plsql itself. And, since you can't "create" the example dept_and_emp table to be Inside PlSql, one would have a different set of syntax(es) and most likely structures for doing plsql-nested-tables.
Thanks
September 22, 2004 - 10:05 am UTC
fair enough.
Report Page Output Problem
A reader, September 22, 2004 - 9:05 pm UTC
Hi,
I have repeating frame (printing some thing related to header) and within this frame I have inner repeating frame (printing some thing related to detail). Now in both cases the record should not cut/break instead move to next page. (My header & detail record not in single line, however the combination of 5 lines is one header and the same is for the detail) This is why client wants me do not break/cut header or detail such as e.g. out of 5 lines header print 2 in page1 and reaming 3 lines in next page" DON'T LIKE THIS)
In my test I have 6 header records along with details; (Header & detail) here is the sample
Header1 ---No detail record
Header2 ---No detail record
Header3 -------Detail available (inner frame)
Header4 ---No detail record
Header5 ---No detail record
Header6 ---No detail record
If I change page protect property to 'Yes' of both frames, then
--Page 1---
Header1
---End-----
--Page 2---
Header2
---End-----
--Page 3---
Header3
-Detail1
-Detail2
-Detail3
---End-----
--Page 4---
Header4
Header5
Header6
---End-----
According to the above you can see there is no detail record for Header1, Header2, Header4, header5 and Header6. Question is why we are getting output of Header1 separate page header2 separate page then Header3 ok also Header 4,5 &6 ok. The requirement is Check if room/space available regardless header or Detail print in the same page and then move to the next page as below:
--------Page 1---
Header1
Header2
Header3
-Detail1
---End-----------
--------Page 2---
-Detail2
-Detail3
Header4
Header5
---End-----------
--------Page 3---
Header6
---End-----------
Please help and let me know how I can achieve this. Thanks in advance.
September 23, 2004 - 4:11 pm UTC
goto otn.oracle.com and participate in the discussion forums about reports/forms -- there you will find people who do this (i've never written a report in my entire life).
Will wait for 2nd Edition
Twice, September 23, 2004 - 4:29 am UTC
This is good news, I am an Oracle newbie and was just about to buy 1st edition when i discovered this. Since i buy books from own pocket the best thing for me would be to wait for 9 months. Please if possible like you've suggested include the online version of 1st ed with printed copy of 2nd edition.
Thank You.
September 24, 2004 - 8:03 am UTC
it'll be a year, you will make about 5 million mistakes between then and now. not that I get tons from the books (i don't, trust me) but now is when you need them -- not after you've learned tons of bad habits.
it's great to hear something new from you on the way.
Vijay, September 23, 2004 - 8:24 am UTC
Hi Tom,
Good day to you, I think it won't matter much whether it's one book or volumes, people who visit this site and have read your books will agree to it that what matters most is the contents you put up that helps so even if you give 10 volumes we'll go for it :), well if you can put up something specific to the performance techniques, analytical functions it will be a great help.
Regards
Vijay S
Peter, September 23, 2004 - 1:52 pm UTC
Hi Tom,
please keep it one book.
I wouldn't change too much as it is excellent the way it is. Just get rid of obsolete stuff, update it with new features (please with your real world examples) and please more analytics - they might even deserve a separate book.
Thanks for all your useful stuff
Peter
ONe Book Please
Bill, September 23, 2004 - 4:26 pm UTC
I vote for One book because when ever I have time to breath, I flip open your book at random and start reading. You find out the most interesting stuff that way.
Index for Book
Richard, September 24, 2004 - 8:34 am UTC
Hi,
For me, one of the most important aspects of any technical book is its index. How about an online index, as well as the one at the back of the book/s?
It'd be great if a cross-referenced index was available (Ã la the index for Oracle documentation).
Cheers!
Second Edition of "Expert One on One Oracle"
Anand Kothapeta, October 12, 2004 - 12:47 pm UTC
Tom, how about writing a book as an extension to 1st edition, just the new stuff. Doesn't make sense rewriting all the chapters all over or buying a second edition with >50% same information. You could point out what new features, what is to do and not to do. Thanks
October 12, 2004 - 2:11 pm UTC
thats the plan. this is the general outline so far.
Chapter 1: (general) Being Successful with Databases
Approaches To database development
My Approach
Database Independence?
The Impact of Standards
Features and Functions
Openness
The Black Box Approach
How to successfully develop Database Applications
They who own the data, own the world
Understanding the Architecture
Understanding Concurrency Control
Understanding how things work
Knowing what you have available
The DBA-Developer Relationship
Chapter 2: (architecture) Files Files Everywhere
Parameter Files
Data Files
Temporary Files
Control Files
Redo log files
Other Files
Dump files
Unload files
Flat Files
Recap
Chapter 3: (architecture) Memory Structures
How Oracle uses memory
Shared memory vs private memory
How memory is allocated/freed
Manual memory mgmt
Auto memory mgmt
Inside the PGA and UGA
Inside the SGA
Chapter 4: (architecture) Oracle Processes
Configurations
Single instance Oracle
Multi-instance Oracle (RAC)
Types of Processes
Background
Foreground
"slave" or agent processes
What happens when you log in
Shared server
Dedicated server
The processes
Chapter 5: (architecture) Locking and Latching
What are locks
Enqueues
Latches
Locking situations
Blocking
Deadlocking
Lock escalation
Pessimistic locking
Optimistic locking
Manual Locking
Types of locks
All about the tm, tx, mr, cf, xr, st, etc locks you might see in v$lock
DML locking
DDL locking
Detecting and Resolving Locking/blocking issues
Chapter 6: (architecture) Concurrency Control
Why concurrency control matters
Stateful vs Stateless
Multiversioning
Read consistency
Write consistency
Ansi Isolation Levels
The 4 ANSI Isolation levels explained - dirty read, read committed, repeatable read, and serializable and how Oracle fits into it
Oracle Isolation Levels
Read committed
Serializable
Read only
Chapter 7: (architecture) Redo and Undo
In general
Redo - what is it
Undo - what is it
What happens when
I commit or rollback
The system fails (how does Oracle recover)
Minimizing
Redo
Undo
Analyzing
UNDO
REDO
Sizing
UNDO
REDO
Cleaning out - block cleanouts
Snapshot too old
Chapter 8: (data) Data Structures
How Oracle stores data
What are Segments
Clusters
B*tree
Hash
Sorted Hash
Partitioning Data
Storage considerations
ASSM
Non-ASSM
Pctfree
Pctused
Storage Parameters
Init/Maxtrans
LMTS/DMTS
High Water Marks
To log or not to log
Chapter 9: (data) Datatypes
Choosing the right datatype
Character Sets and datatypes
Varchar2
Number
Longs
Dates
Raw
Rowid/Urowid
Binary Floats and Doubles
LOBS
CLOB
BLOB
BFILES
TIMESTAMP
Intervals
User Defined
XML
Chapter 10: (data) Indexes
B*tree indexes
In General
Function based indexes
Key compression
Maintaining B*trees
Bitmap indexes
In General
Maintaining Bitmaps
Domain Indexes
In General
Maintaining Domain Indexes
Text Indexes
Partitioning Indexes
Common Indexing Questions
Chapter 11: (data) Tables and Clusters
Types of Tables
Heap
External
Index Organized
Compressed
Temporary
Object
Nested
Clusters
B*Tree
Hash
Sorted Hash
Partitioning Tables
Chapter 12: (tools) data loading
Chapter 13: (tools) Tuning strategies and tools
Chapter 14: (feature) Analytics
Chapter 15: (feature) MV's
Chapter 16: (feature) FGAC
Chapter 17: (feature) FGA
Chapter 18: (feature) Ntier
Chapter 19: (feature) Invoker and definer rights
Chapter 20: (feature) AQ
Chapter 21: (admin) DBMS_STATS
Chapter 22: (design) Security
Chapter 23: (design) Using Objects (in plsql)
Save the Packages
Alberto Dell'Era, October 12, 2004 - 2:54 pm UTC
So you're going to drop one of my favourite "subbooks", the "Necessary Supplied Packages" one ? There are infos in there not to be found anywhere else - eg the *excellent* chapter on dbms_pipe and dbms_alert, or the humble but incredibly useful dbms_utility, and anything in between. You can't - simply you can't ;)
October 12, 2004 - 3:08 pm UTC
(i was thinking it was hard to do justice on them in 100 pages - they might be another book -- or time permitting at the end, in this one, just not committing to it right now. *tons* of new material in this one already)
Alberto Dell'Era, October 12, 2004 - 3:16 pm UTC
> *tons* of new material in this one already
I agree - looks like a brand new book to me.
I'm a bit greedy perhaps :)
October 12, 2004 - 3:53 pm UTC
It is definitely not a "2cnd edition by slashing out 8i on the cover and replacing with 'NOW COVERS 10g!'". that is for sure.
My plan is to remove all 8i and before specific stuff.
Cover 9i/10g
Supply the 8i stuff in electronic format (eg: you get edition 1 in bits and bytes when you buy edition 2)
GREAT, THIS WILL BE THE ORACLE BIBLE!!!
A reader, October 12, 2004 - 3:23 pm UTC
Great outline
Peter Tran, October 12, 2004 - 5:33 pm UTC
Hi Tom,
I really like the outline you plan above. Do you have a section where you benchmark different RAID configuration? E.g. everything is on a cooked file system (e.g. redo, undo, etc), vs raw devices?
Thanks,
-Peter
October 12, 2004 - 7:26 pm UTC
i don't really have any hardware specific benchmarks like that -- no.
And it would be really misleading.
Take an "ok performing system from UFS"
Move it to RAW (changing nothing else)
I would put the odds on it performing "not as good" after the change
as opposed to
Build same system on RAW from day one (and get it performing OK)
Move it to UFS (changing nothing else)
I would put the odds on it performing "not as good" after the change
:) anyone want to try and guess why I think that -- before I post why.....
Alberto Dell'Era, October 12, 2004 - 5:48 pm UTC
More than a bible - a complete course from Intermediate to Expert i would say. If i had to teach Oracle at a University - i would take Expert as my textbook, much like I would take Feynman's for Physics.
There's simply no other book out there that has the same wealth of technical information, and at the same time, that is so easy to read and absorb. Either they are very technical but difficult to follow, or easy to read but shallow. So, definitely a book to read for any serious student :) - "soon in an even better 2cnd edition" ...
Raw vs UFS
Peter Tran, October 12, 2004 - 8:15 pm UTC
October 12, 2004 - 8:59 pm UTC
there you go :)
Electronic please
Geoffrey Smith (BAARF member #31), October 13, 2004 - 3:49 am UTC
Hi Tom,
First a great big thanks for your work here in this list, your dedication and knowledge is awesome and I do understand how much time it takes to make something like this work as well as you have it working. Thank you also for the books.
Now to the nub, pdf files can be password protetcted and supplied in a format that does not allow copying or printing of text and or images.
The wonderful people at www.bluetruth.org supply the e-book versions of the paper books of David Deida in this way and they would be extermely difficult to 'crack' and always require a password. I'm sure that they would be willing to give you the information on how to set up adobe acrobat to produc these types of documents. In addition, I'm sure there is a way of placing 'tracking code' in a document so it usage could be monitired!
I am really looking forward to the next book in the Tom Kyte Library.
Naming rights?
A reader, October 13, 2004 - 4:56 am UTC
Tom,
If you go multi-volume, what about choosing a new title?:
Expert One-of-Two
Expert Two-of-Two
-- C
October 13, 2004 - 8:23 am UTC
lol ;)
Parallel Plans
Alberto Dell'Era, October 13, 2004 - 5:29 pm UTC
May I humbly suggest a couple of pages about Parallel Plans interpretation (eg what "Parallel Combined With Parent" means, how to read the slaves subqueries, .. ) ?
I have read the docs, I feel I have got the "most" of it, still I don't actually master the matter. And, i've noticed that even experienced DBAs can't usually understand them.
And - please keep the small font of the 1st edition, it makes easier to switch between the examples and the text.
Thanks - Alberto
October 13, 2004 - 6:13 pm UTC
well, in 10g, slave sql is gone :) so -- there you go, all finished on that one!
vote for one volume
A reader, October 13, 2004 - 8:42 pm UTC
Count mine as another vote for one single volume. A good "side effect" (some may not like it) is that it forces you to be even more concise - even as we all know so well that Tom is always to the point!
Another (minor) improvement I'd like to see is improved type setting. The current book is like coming straight out of a word processor. A nicer type setting would make it all the more pleasant to read.
New in 2nd version of Expert 1o1
Jignesh, October 14, 2004 - 5:41 am UTC
One thing I was always looking for is tuning. I have never found a practical approach with examples taking into consideration a "Single Query"
Like how to make full table scan, what would be advantage of that.. what if i add index to this.. how effectively the query will run.. how nested_loop works... what is Merge Join...When to use it... Who runs effectively and when
In short anything and everything about query tuning... Oracle documentation describes all.. but effective use of same with example is not available anywhere
October 14, 2004 - 10:22 am UTC
do you have Effective Oracle by Design -- the chapter on Effective SQL?
SQL tuning by the way is as much "i have experience and have made observations" as anything else. You need to UNDERSTAND what the access paths do, then apply that knowledge using your knowledge of the data (which is unique, no one knows YOUR data like you do).
The things that can be automated -- the "list of 100 things to do to tune a query" -- i'm sorry but the software (optimizer) does that. The rest -- using our "knowledge and experience" -- that is what we humans do. So, the only thing I can say to you is -- learn it all (the facts) and then use your intuition and intelligence to apply those facts to the real world.
There are literally probably thousands of tricks my head does to SQL anytime I see it -- but getting those down into a book? not really possible. for example, when I see:
select ... from .... where dt_column = ( select max(dt_column) .... from ... where correlated-join )
I immediately think:
a) make sure to use the cbo
b) rewrite as an analytic -- under a certain set of circumstances
c) rewrite as a join in others
d) use ROWNUM in some other cases
and so on -- I know about 10 tricks perhaps to apply to that one - each useful in different cases (getting all rows, getting some rows, getting first row for a specific key, etc etc etc).
You know, if you KNOW what a merge join is/does -- you would (as experience builds) *know* when to use it.
Nothing is black nor white. shades of grey. if it could be 100% automated it would be (we call that an optimizer)
Second Edition of "Expert One on One Oracle"
Alf, October 16, 2004 - 1:50 pm UTC
Hello Tom,
Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge through your books and this magical “Ask Tom” site which has helped me re-solve problems on my day-to-day DBA job, for some time now. I would like to mention that many times I don’t even have to post a question, because my same question (problem) has been already asked and answered, all I needed was just use the search engine with few key words on the main page and read the follow-ups.
About your books:
I just finished reading your “Effective Oracle by Design” excellent book! And off-course I also read some of the recommended documents within it (e.g. Oracle, Concepts Guide).
About “Expert One on One Oracle”
Now you’re thinking on re-leasing a second edition and definitely this is on my wish list, and I’ve reading some the follow-ups to the question: “Expert one-on-one performance by design” </code>
http://asktom.oracle.com/pls/asktom/f?p=100:11:::::P11_QUESTION_ID:8145042756282, <code>I noticed some of the follow-ups mentioned there is a draft already, would please provide a link to it so IÂ’ll have the pleasure to review it as well? Or is this referring to a different book?
Thanks a lot for your help and look forward seeing you at the hotsos Dallas March 2005 conference!
Best regards,
Alf
October 16, 2004 - 3:34 pm UTC
when we get underway writing -- there will be a site to read and review the drafts. when it becomes available -- i'll post the URL.
10g only
thierry, October 16, 2004 - 5:47 pm UTC
It will take months to rework the first edition, and that one will last for years. So why not assume the reader has a 10g database available? All features of 9 still exist anyway in 10g. I do not mean to describe only the new 10g features, but use 10 as the baseline.
Both Aproachs !
Robert, October 16, 2004 - 10:02 pm UTC
Hi Tom, I think both aproachs will be fine, one basic electronic version on the Internet and the multi-volume aproach. On internet, one can get "the basis" about a specific topic (ie. tunning) then if we need more of it (most cases), we can buy just "that" volume on that particular topic.
If we like to carry it with us, we'll do it, if we don't, we won't.
...
Also, the features, posibilites and other things in Oracle are changing so fast on these days ,that a completely dynamic site on Internet would be an interesting thing to think about ..we can print what we need to (a new read-what-you-need service ?) ;)
Robert
Your Next Book ???
Hank Freeman, October 19, 2004 - 1:24 pm UTC
I believe that you should have a knowledge database instead of a book. Therefore, you can have a history of the the changes that you make to any particular subject...
People like myself can subscribe,
If some one wants to print a section, chapter or volumne then they can by having the K-DB generate a PDF on the aforementioned, or you can make a deal with Xerox and see what this ON-DEMAND publishing is all about.
My last suggestion is if you must write a second book then write the book on really thin paper. The Bible is done that way and no one really complains about it... Just put it in a hard back cover !!! You can include a small 200 Mbyte CD, That has all the topics and sample on it... It could even have the entire content, so that a buyer can go to a Xerox on-Demand site and print themselves a copy on thicker paper.
The reality is most will not re-print your book, They will reference it for sample code...
In closing, I like the entire knowledge database solution the best. You "Tom" have total control of the content and you never loose it. If you go that way make sure that you can output it in a book format for those who are will to pay dearly for it.
end.
3 volumes... Fur sure
Vaughn, October 28, 2004 - 6:19 pm UTC
Tom,
I think you could easily switch to three volumes with all of the information that would be added. And, I think it is only fair to sell them individually. I would buy all three immediately!
I think that the way you have the SQL scripts available online is perfect and wouldn't add a CD.
As far as what to add:
1. How about a detailed section on RMAN. Including "best practices" (i.e.: testing your backup by doing practice recoveries and how to do them). There is not much out there (besides the Oracle documentation) that covers RMAN in detail... And, it is nearly impossible to find info on how you should practice recoveries (other than just saying, "practice recoveries.")
2. I always thought it would be neat for one of these books to include a chapter on interviewing for an Oracle DBA job. You could break it into two sections for both the interviewer and interviewee. This chapter would include how to interview someone and what to know before going on an interview. You could include sample questions (as addressed on your site in several topics) and answers.
Anyway, I think you did an excellent job with the first book and expect no less for this up-and-coming version.
The pressure is on...
(:
traveling consultants beg for mercey!
Nik Malenovic, November 11, 2004 - 6:31 pm UTC
multi volume???!!! so it's not enought that I carry my computer bag, my man-bag (no Friends references please!), my carry-on 3-day overnighter, my coffe, my morning papers, my cell phone/PDA/GPRS locator while trying to answer one client's questions whilst finding another client's location -- to all this you want to add multiple volumes?????!!!???
pardon my fat fingers, but I just can't seem to keep a grip on sliding three volume book whilst doing all of the above.
at this point I would like to beg "please figure a way how to securely distribute your book in electronic format so that I can keep it on my computer *without* an ability to hand it off to the next guy and drive you out of business accordingly". I would pay a pretty penny to have your book available in electronic format as a reference while I am doing my traveling consultant bit.
but then again, do you really know your customer base and their profile? Are we all traveling consultants? If 10% are traveling consultants, 50% DBA/Developers working as full timers, and 40% stationary consultants, it may make sense to charge extra $$$ for the electronic availability, as long as it has the neccessary copy protections. I know I'd pay a $100 for it (talking about putting money where my mouth is!).
and yes, I'd still like to have a physical 3 volume book so that I can show it off in the home office to visiting friends!
So the bottom line is figure out how your customers buy (me? I buy what my friends recommend, so make sure to offer 20% referral discounts while tracking who is referring who while handing out awards to the high-volume-referral-and-sale-closing mavens - think google gmail approach!) and what they want out of it (me? willing to pay premium $$$ for a portable electronic formats because I use it for my client work while traveling!) and charge accordingly!
thanks,
Strabucks-drinking,man-bag-carrying,4am-at-the-airpoort-flying-out,late-night-16-hour-working-day,google-is-my-best-friend,W-staying traveling consultant
When is yor second book coming out?
Aashees Naveen, December 03, 2004 - 7:31 pm UTC
Just want to know when is the edition of "Expert One-on-One oracle" comming out.
Very eagerly waiting.
By the way, I am a big fan of your knowledge and desire to share that knowledge. I am not sure when would I ever be able to post a question on your website though :-( Don't want to misuse this feedback form to ask a question.
December 04, 2004 - 10:53 am UTC
ctl-f
When do you expect to release this book
I want to buy your books
LARA, December 06, 2004 - 5:59 am UTC
Hello,Tom!
I am going your books,
write me please which books of expert can i buy?
I know that there is 2 books one by one.WHAT EVERY BOOK INCLUDE?What is the difference between 2 books?
What does the book "efficient plsql" include?
How can I buy the books and get them quickly?
Thank you very much.
LARA.
December 06, 2004 - 12:08 pm UTC
check out apress.com for Expert one on one Oracle and oraclepress.com for Efficient Oracle by design. the description of the books are there. also, amazon.com has many reviews you can read to see what others think about each book.
Efficient plsql has my "things you want to do when coding plsql" for maintainence, performance and so on.
I WANT TO BUY YOUR BOOKS
LARA, December 06, 2004 - 3:22 pm UTC
Hi,Tom,
I SAW THIS SIGHTS BUT THERE IS NOT MENTIONED THE ORACLE version.
I need books that combine Oracle 8i and 9i.If your books reffered only 8i and below how can i complete it to 9i?
My question relates to "One_on_one expert"
and "Efficient programming".
Thanks
LARA
December 07, 2004 - 9:43 am UTC
Expert one on one is universally applicable to 8i and 9i -- sure there are tweaks in 9i, stuff I don't mention in there -- but the architecture, transaction, concurrency control, tables, indexing, export, import, analytics, etc etc etc - all still relevant.
Effective Oracle by Design is up through 9i.
the difference is Expert is more like a reference manual, whereas Effective is all about best practices.
Chapter on LOBs
Todor Botev, December 22, 2004 - 5:26 am UTC
In expert One on One I was missing a chapter explaining LOBs and effective working with them.
I'm one of those thinking the book was "too heavy to carry". I'm even used to copy certain pages, so that I could read them in the train without carying the book (illegal, I suppose). Hence the multi-volume approach might work well for me. I will buy all the volumes anyway.
New book and popular content
Bill C., December 23, 2004 - 2:18 pm UTC
1) Tell them to work out and quit whining. Do they want more pictures and less words too? Oracle has a lot to offer and you can't cover it all in 200 pages.
2) If it had to be split up, I'm thinking 2 or 3 books sold together in a set, for $90 HB, $70 SB. Your advice and examples are worth the extra coin.
3) Not much. Quite good, actually. I find invaluable the "tricks" you use to force the outcome for certain scenarios for baselining and comparing. I cannot come up with that on my own.
Different topic, but I didn't have a personal email address for you, so I'm plopping it right here:
Today while searching for 8i/9i-independent way of determining database version (for flexible script I'm writing), ran across this content that looked awfully familiar. Comparing to page 77 of Effective Oracle by Design, I realized why:
</code>
http://www.akadia.com/services/ora_important_part_5.html#Customize%20the%20SQL*Plus%20Environment <code>
At least they don't claim its their work. Sure would be nice if they'd at least attribute it to the author though, right?
- bill c.
December 23, 2004 - 3:03 pm UTC
Indeed, a couple of things felt "familar" to me on that page.
It should be Expert One on One Oracle II
Dan, December 23, 2004 - 8:44 pm UTC
Marry Xmas, Tom!
The "Expert One on One Oracle" has already become classic and really should be Volume I. Your current 2nd edition really should be Volume II of the Expert One on One Oracle classic serials! There are so many new features in 9i and 10g. I would like to see you can cover them as many as possible in the new book!
By the way, I don't really care of the size and format of the book!
Thanks.
Other than these 3, what are the other books?
riyaz, December 24, 2004 - 9:21 am UTC
Author of
1. Expert one on one
2. Effecive oracle by design
Co-author in
1. Begining oracle programming
Apart from above, what are the other books from you?
For your information, I have all the above 3 books.
December 24, 2004 - 9:51 am UTC
see links i like on my home page for a list of books (one other book in the list that i wrote a single chapter in -- the pro 8i book). but i have other recommended books (that I've personally read or tech edited)
all the books are excellent
riyaz, December 24, 2004 - 9:33 am UTC
All the 3 books are
EXCELLENT. EXCELLENT. EXCELLENT.
asktom.oracle.com
Arun Panchal, January 03, 2005 - 2:17 pm UTC
This site (asktom.oracle.com) is a book in itself and TOM is Oracle Guru. When I have a problem, I search here for solution.
I think, we don't even need a book with this site and TOM around !!!
PS : I have tom's books and use it to understand concepts and clear my doubts.
New book, volumes, etc
Dale Fanning, January 03, 2005 - 3:07 pm UTC
I'd vote for a single book rather than volumes, but if it was a multi-volume set (such as Steven's classics TCP/IP works) I'd buy it anyway. I'd *much* rather have a physical book than a pdf, I only use PDF's for searching, never for straight reading. Your books are so useful I use them for both, but read a lot (and they are excellent by the way - best Oracle stuff I've ever read - thanks for all the hard work on them)
When ??????
Reader, January 06, 2005 - 12:12 am UTC
When can we expect this BOOK ?
I hope this year ...
Thanks
January 06, 2005 - 10:31 am UTC
ctl-f
When do you expect to release this book
To Bill C. from Houston, TX and Tom
Reader, January 06, 2005 - 12:17 pm UTC
The website you mentioned in your review now has this line thanks to you..
Author of this Tip: Thomas Kyte
January 06, 2005 - 12:44 pm UTC
Yes, I emailed them -- there is a ton more there that was "borrowed" and still not attributed, but at least some of it is :)
thanks for pointing it out. I don't mind sharing -- I just want the source to be referenced.
Results
Michaeel, January 08, 2005 - 8:31 pm UTC
I have read out all the comments and results that their should be more peoples who want to have an electronic copy though it can be password protected but must be there for quick reference.
Tom (very respetively saying) you might think about it again.
Im my view there are 70% and 30% ratio.
70% want an electronic book and others are not
I like to hear any comments from you.
January 09, 2005 - 11:23 am UTC
we decided that new book will be paper -- but you get the 1st edition electronically.
we are thinking about how to index it so that you could goto a website, enter a search and have it say "goto page N" as well -- but that is in the talking state still. Issues with corrections/errata and such.
Analytical Functions, and Model Clause
Tony, January 10, 2005 - 6:08 am UTC
We would request you to cover Analytical Functions, Model clause, and other SQL features extensivley in your new book. What is your thought?
Alberto Dell'Era, January 11, 2005 - 5:42 pm UTC
>We are planning on doing "on the web editing" of the material. (Sept 2004)
Still thinking about it ?
It would be interesting (for me at least) ...
January 11, 2005 - 7:10 pm UTC
I'll ping them -- was just thinking about that myself the other night, i really want to do that.
Dve, January 11, 2005 - 7:50 pm UTC
I think we are missing the most important question here.
Will you face be emblazoned all over the cover like the wrox one :-)
January 11, 2005 - 7:55 pm UTC
ha ha.
no.
(i wasn't a fan of that personally..)
A reader, January 11, 2005 - 8:39 pm UTC
Tom,
Electronic book. Great Idea.
Can we expect a book exclusively on Analytic and Model clause.
Thanks so much.
January 12, 2005 - 8:00 am UTC
not anytime 'soon', if ever. books are alot of work, alot (when done right anyway).
consider that thought when buying books - if someone has had time to write 30 books, you have to ask "how much time could they spend actually doing stuff for real" :)
About electronic copy
Kim Berg Hansen, January 12, 2005 - 6:39 am UTC
Tom
Your first two books are already available online on www.books24x7.com (subscribers only) along with tons of other reference books from many publishers. (I presume your publisher gets a percentage of the subscription fees for that site.)
I had a trial subscription for that site and it had very good search capabilities as well as clickable indexes for the books - so I'm considering buying a subscription there.
Can you confirm that you also get percentages of copies of your books "sold" via www.books24x7.com? In other words - do we support you if we gain access to your books that way, or do we have to buy "tree-ware" to support you?
I'll presume that since your publishers have many books on that site, then your second edition will probably be available there too - and if that's the case then I might consider hanging on to my paper-version of the first edition and get electronic access to your second edition.
You're the very best source of Oracle information and your books combined with your site is something any Oracle guy should consult on a daily basis :-)
Thanks.
January 12, 2005 - 9:43 am UTC
good question, was not aware of it....
Wrox edition of your book was very good in quality
Tony, January 12, 2005 - 7:36 am UTC
Tom,
Wrox edition of your book " Expert one-on-one" was fentastic in quality (Paper and Print), but your second book "Oracle Design" is not that much good in quality(Paper and Print).
January 12, 2005 - 9:49 am UTC
are you comparing both as "india reprints"
because I know the 2cd book costs virtually nothing in india (as opposed to how much it costs say in the US)
i've heard that the india reprint of the wrox book was poor quality as well (compared to the regular print anyway)
Content
Alex, January 12, 2005 - 9:07 am UTC
I'm voting for a real book (1 version), whether it be paperback or hardcover. The last thing I want to do is spend more time staring at a monitor. Will this book be worth getting if we already have the first one?
Expert One on One
Jigar, January 12, 2005 - 1:01 pm UTC
Tom:
I have purchased both your books and they have been a great asset to me. I agree about the PDF version of the book. I think it would be great the fact that I can copy it on my USB media card and carry it anywhere I go.
-Jigar
PDF in Chinaes
Michaeel, January 26, 2005 - 9:40 pm UTC
I have seen the book complete expert one on one in chinease language published by wrox. So it means it is in the market. Plus I have seen and even have some chapters(1,2,3,7) from 2nd book Effective oracle by design in .pdf and in English language but they have print option disable. So I believe that there will be the books in .pdf available soon in one way or other.
Dave
Dave, January 30, 2005 - 10:18 am UTC
1) Just one book
2) Buy all three volumes as set
3) Tips/examples how to use the new database features, just like you did with the first version.(I still think that the way you described the possibilities with UTL_SMTP were great and extremely helpfull).
BTW: 4 months are passed since you asked us these questions. Did you already decide what the approach is gonne be ?
January 30, 2005 - 10:45 am UTC
one book, 9i/10g only, first edition electronically available "as is" to be provided with the second edition.
So, it'll be about the same size, only cover new stuff, will point to 8i and before electronic version when needed (when I need to say, in the olden days -- it was different see .....)
Just curious.....
Dave, January 30, 2005 - 11:11 am UTC
Is it to soon to ask for a release date/period?
January 30, 2005 - 12:34 pm UTC
this year...
much later this year, but this year.
My Copy is on the way :)
Pradeep George, February 09, 2005 - 10:16 pm UTC
I read here that your next edition will be available this year itself. Still I can n't not refrain myself from having it anymore. So Ordered for it and it is on the way. I am pretty sure it will be a great addition to my collection...
Looking forward for the next edition too..
Pradeep George.
Bangalore.
PalmOne...
Shahrouz DARVISHZADEH, February 24, 2005 - 7:40 am UTC
...has a tricky mechanism to protect ebooks from mass redistribution. The key for opening the book is you credit card number ;-)
I think the guys are super. You never give anybody your creditcard number. do you?
Shahrouz
Book Titles - Information About...
Vikas Sangar, February 27, 2005 - 7:30 am UTC
Dear Mr. Kyte,
No matter all your books are one of their own class and are marked by the excellent knowledge gained and rendered by you to all your readers.
But one thing which is very hard to find out by an average user regarding your books is the necessary information rgarding them, on the sites such as Amazon, oracle-books.com etc.
I found it to be not only difficult but somehow impossible in getting the complete information regarding your books suc as:- Contents, Edition, Base Oracle version (8i, 9i, or 10i)
I am currently taking up a course in Oracle 9i DBA, and thought of giving a try to one of your books(Expert One on One Oracle) and due to the lack of above informations, I landed up buying the first edition (available here), which is based upon Oracle 8i, due to which i had to return the same back as it lacked the new and latest features present in Oracle 9i and 10i. It is only now, in this web site , that i have come to know about the release of Second edition of the above said book, but even now it is not clear wether it covers Oracle 9i/10i or not.
More over it is also not some times possible to search the complete website to access such informations, thus,I would therefore request the people who manage the promos of your books to provide the readers with above mentioned necessary information required by them on a separate block, next to the title of book.
On the other hand, I would also like to request you to develop a Basic/Beginners level book for those who are new to oracle.
Thanx.
February 27, 2005 - 8:35 am UTC
there is nothing called 10i
the 2cd edition doesn't even exist.
When I went to amazon, it was very clear to me that Expert One on One Oracle was "up to 8i version 8.1.7".
But in any case if you are trying to get OCP -- my books are not "how to get OCP", not even close. My books are about how Oracle works and in that sense, still applicable (Transactions, Rollback, Locking, the basics -- they have not changed)...
Masterpiece (Second Edition ... When??)
Girish Singhal, March 03, 2005 - 4:18 am UTC
Hi Tom,
It is of immense help and I would like to know when are you pouring your knowledge and intelligence and presenting oracle community/users with the second edition. Insights into new releases of oracle has become essential.
Warm Regards
March 03, 2005 - 7:51 am UTC
well, I'll be going offline for the month of April to concentrate on the book (nice vacation eh).
we are shooting for fall, 2005
2nd ed. Book with lightweight paper and discuss more on design with 10g
BAM, March 08, 2005 - 11:12 pm UTC
Hi Tom,
I've bought your Expert One on One from APress. The lightweight paper is very good. The bulky book is still lighter than the "Effective Oracle by Design" -- which is less pages but heavy to carry anywhere.
1st ed. seems to discuss more on prior and 8i. Although most features are relevant with newer version, those slowly not relevant on today's application architecture/design. For instance use of Pro*C, is becoming lesser.
My wish list:
- more discussion on design and issues with Oracle RAC
- more discussion on design and issues on 10g features
- test driven design and development for 10g
- performance by profile and 'robot' (test agent) which can collect the performance automatically.
- discussion on HTML DB.
Different discussions can be categorized in different volumes. For me, as long it's using lightweight paper it should be fine. Sometime is also difficult to carry multi volumes if many cross references needed during development/support.
Anyway, I really like the stuff you wrote. Looking forward your next great Oracle book.
Thanks and Regards,
B. Adji Maharyatno
Singapore
One or three volume doesn't matter..but need it sooner now
Bipul Kumar, March 16, 2005 - 11:21 am UTC
Hi Tom.
It really doesn't matter, if its one volume or three volume. Though, I think three volumes segregated by related topic areas would be better [esp for those who travel by train and want to carry the everyday]. We need it sooner now as the 9i/10g is out for a while with bounty of new [and sometimes obscure] features.
In terms of new features
1. I would like to see 9i/10g RAC explained. Havn't found any useful book on this topic, which explains the core [there are plenty to explain how to set it up]. Esp, the wait events unique to RAC environment,e.g. we see "global cache cr ... " waits all the time in statspack report, but need real insight into what it is and how to fix the root cause. Good explanation of Cache fusion etc...
2. A look under 10g CBO would be useful [obviously using your method of explaining things through simple sql queries]. We have a a db on 9i and another on 10g and often the plan on 10g is very different on 9i [and is efficient].
3. Don;t want too many pages on how to use new tools [e.g. SQL Tuning advisor or AWR or ADDM, the Oracle manual explains how to use it], rather how to interpret the data shown by these tools would be very useful.
4. I think from the 1st ed, chapter on exp/imp and data loading can go [this is my opinion, there may be tons of readers who maybe loving these two chapters ! ].
5. Some discussion on XML DB and XDK [when to use which and why?]
Thanks
bipul
Informatiuon about your Books
Vikas Sangar, March 17, 2005 - 2:06 am UTC
Dear Mr. Kyte,
Thanx a ton for your prompt feedback and update.
Regarding the question you had asked for the number of volumes of your forthcoming new Book. My suggestion are:-
1) I think one single volume is O.K, provided that its quality of paper, print and binding are very good. Since it is very difficult to maintian a book which has 1300-1400 pages and weighs more than 2kg. Since one needs to read your books like(Expert One on One Oracle) deeply in a pleasant and comfortable environment. (Its not a travel guide, or a pocket reference)That one is always carrying it on his way to anywhere.
2) Even then, if due to any reson it is decided to have multiple volumes, my choice is that nothing more than 2 volumes is going to serve the purpose, After all we are using the books that posses pages upto 650-700 with ease and some how are used of it, provided that contents in both the volumes are managed in away to make each of the two volumes independent of each other. Keeping in veiw the knowlwdge level of its prospective users (Intermediate/Advanced)
And now some personal request...
Can you please provide us about the latest information of all your books(existing and forthcoming), such as their latest Edition, Publication date, Publisher and their availability in the sub-continent (INDIA)
Thanx, with warmest regds.
Vikas.
March 17, 2005 - 8:37 am UTC
links to all books on home page (current release)
I do not track availability by country -- that is out of my hands, the publisher does that.
Informatiuon about your Books
Vikas Sangar, March 17, 2005 - 2:07 am UTC
Dear Mr. Kyte,
Thanx a ton for your prompt feedback and update.
Regarding the question you had asked for the number of volumes of your forthcoming new Book. My suggestion are:-
1) I think one single volume is O.K, provided that its quality of paper, print and binding are very good. Since it is very difficult to maintian a book which has 1300-1400 pages and weighs more than 2kg. Since one needs to read your books like(Expert One on One Oracle) deeply in a pleasant and comfortable environment. (Its not a travel guide, or a pocket reference)That one is always carrying it on his way to anywhere.
2) Even then, if due to any reson it is decided to have multiple volumes, my choice is that nothing more than 2 volumes is going to serve the purpose, After all we are using the books that posses pages upto 650-700 with ease and some how are used of it, provided that contents in both the volumes are managed in away to make each of the two volumes independent of each other. Keeping in veiw the knowlwdge level of its prospective users (Intermediate/Advanced)
And now some personal request...
Can you please provide us about the latest information of all your books(existing and forthcoming), such as their latest Edition, Publication date, Publisher and their availability in the sub-continent (INDIA)
Thanx, with warmest regds.
Vikas.
Your New Book - FONT SIZE
Vikas Sangar, March 17, 2005 - 4:18 pm UTC
Dear Mr. Kyte,
While going through the reviews and follow-ups in this site, one thing that I came to understand, and forgot to mention in my earlier postings is:-
"Your New Book is really going to have small Font Size"
I would like to request you to kindly be reasonable when it comes to the fontsize.
After all, the pupil who will be reading your book will/might also be spending considerable hours in front of their computers (sitting close to the Monitor). Its already a great Hazard to once health with regards to the Eyes & Eyesight. I feel that at least 60% of IT professionals who have direct connection with PC (Monitor) have weak eyesight (most of them wear Spects), and it still might be deteriorating as an side effect of their profession.
I would therefore suggest you to refrain from opting for really very small fonts, As it would not be easy for such people to refer your Book with ease and also, it will have adverse effect on the print of your Book. On the other hand it will further deteriorate the vision of all such readers (thats my personal Opinion).
I think, if you select the right Font Type and Font Size, it will hardly increase the total pages of your Book by another 60 - 100 pages (that can be worked out).
Whats your opinion/solution in regards? I strongly, am not in favour of having Fontsize smaller than the ones that are normally used.
Thanx - Once again.
March 17, 2005 - 5:57 pm UTC
I have no control over that. but i'll let the guys who are -- see this.
Cannot wait...
Sekar Sai, March 18, 2005 - 12:33 am UTC
Tom
Thank you very much for your support and this site.
Single Volume or Multiple Volume:
I Prefer Single Book. But If it is more than one then I will buy all. Please do not break it based on DBA/Developers.
Global Index/Content
I like the idea of having the Global Index in all volumes. I did not complete my readings on your books Expert 1 on 1 and Effective Oracle by Design. But I am still reading your books when I get time. I am always referring your books in need with the help of the Contents and Indexes. So, If each volume contains global Contents and Index it will be very helpful.
Electronic format:
Please provide the code/script of the new edition in electronic format.
Please provide the entire old edition book in electronic format.
Please release ASAP. I cannot wait :-).
Re - Font Size
Vikas Sangar, March 18, 2005 - 1:49 am UTC
Dear Mr. Kyte,
Thanx for the feedback.
That would great and really very beneficial for all us readers, if something really effective can be done and adapted by the people responsible towards the publish of your new Book, when it comes to resolve the problem of selecting an ideal Font type/Font size.
Thanx - Take care.
Split or not? That is the question...
Dmytro, March 18, 2005 - 2:50 am UTC
I think, it's better split the book in few parts and let people decide what parts do they need now, and what they need not. Come to think of it, in my country translation of your book was published in two parts anyway... :)) So it would be better to have it divided initially, not by some unknown to you and me people. And to say the truth, it would be kind of hard to carry that book if it becomes even larger (I remember my OpenGL book - that was really tough stuff to carry :) ). Plus some people can buy it step-by-step, when they will be in need for information in next part and some will not buy a book in a whole if it contains 40-50% of unnecessary information. In any case? sll your readers will buy all volumes in any case earlier or later. Waiting for new edition, maybe even buy it in English.
Thanks, for great work.
PS Never thought of opening some kind of cult or church? :)))
Alberto Dell'Era, March 18, 2005 - 4:59 am UTC
> I would therefore suggest you to refrain from opting
> for really very small fonts
But small fonts make it easy to switch between the text and the examples "at a glance" ... something i really appreciated in "Expert". Conflicting needs :(
new book
riyaz, March 31, 2005 - 2:11 am UTC
My suggstions:
1- You can a chapter called tools and tips which can have the things like a) in and exists b) null etc...
2- pl/sql - go in depth further and give problem solving.
3- Add new packages
Expert Oracle Signature Edition
Alex, April 03, 2005 - 8:14 pm UTC
I saw this on Barnesandnoble.com due out at the end of April, no description though. Is this just a hardcover version of Expert One on One?
April 03, 2005 - 8:47 pm UTC
Hardcover.
chapter 3 from the next edition (a preview).
CD of the book.
The coolest forward I've ever seen. By Ken Jacobs.
but pretty much a hardcover of 1st edition, last printing or something like that before the second edition due out by OOW this year.
Font Size & Type
VIKAS SANGAR, April 06, 2005 - 4:07 am UTC
>But small fonts make it easy to switch between the text and the examples "at aglance" ...
>something i really appreciated in "Expert". Conflicting needs.
To what extent? Even then, there are many such instances where there is a break between Text and Eexamples, they have been segregated to next page and sometimes amongst various pages. Where, previously you switched (turned over) between three pages, there you might have to switch between four pages - Whats the big deal?
But with an ideal Font size and Font type atleast the readebility is maintained, and reading book really becomes a fun. Else you'll have to really strain-up your Eyes.
It should always be greatest good for greatest number of people, and on other hand it is rightly said "Health is Wealth". Would anyone really like to hamper their sight and start wearing Spects or would they like to get the number/power of the lense of their spects to be increased???
Nice
Catherine, April 06, 2005 - 11:48 am UTC
Hello Tom,
How to compute the size of the database?
Does summing up the sizes of datafiles
give the actual size??
Please reply for this.
April 06, 2005 - 2:05 pm UTC
Alberto Dell'Era, April 06, 2005 - 3:01 pm UTC
> hand it is rightly said "Health is Wealth". Would anyone
> really like to hamper their sight and start wearing
> Spects or would they like to get the number/power
> of the lense of their spects to be increased???
My experience is slightly less dramatic; after having read "Expert" a lot of times, my vision is still excellent - but I may be a lucky one, who knows ;)
I was just stating my preference, which is always for small fonts (I use small fonts even on my pc); turning pages is always distracting when deeply concentrating on something (a technical book, a piece of code), even if I wouldn't kill anyone to get small fonts (but i would pay).
Re: CD of the book.
A reader, April 06, 2005 - 4:21 pm UTC
> CD of the book.
Do you by any chance know what format it will be in? I ask because I use a text-to-speach system to help me keep the pase for virtually all the english reading I do. Therefore, it would be a help if it was in some (machine) readable format.
On that note it would also be nice if the new (edition of the) book was available on a similar format (eg. ascii-text with no formatting, figures or sql-examples to discourage piracy, as a pdf with the build in reading option enabled, or even as a .wav/.mp3 read at 500 words/min). But I guess the piracy problem is to great for that.
April 06, 2005 - 7:04 pm UTC
I'll see if I cannot find out.
addendum to your "Free" space script
Hans Wijte, April 07, 2005 - 2:26 am UTC
Dear Tom,
I take it you meant UNKNOWN instead of UNKOWN as the tablespacename in your FREE script
Regards
Hans
April 07, 2005 - 9:21 am UTC
yup, it was just to display something even if there was nothing.
Re : Font size & Font Type.
Vikas Sangar, April 09, 2005 - 9:21 am UTC
>My experience is slightly less dramatic; after having read "Expert" a lot of times, my vision is still excellent -but I may be a lucky one, who knows ;)
>Preference, which is always for small fonts (I use small
fonts even on my pc); turning pages is always distracting when deeply concentrating on something (a technical book, a piece of code)
>I wouldn't kill anyone to get small fonts (but i would pay).
Well experiences are always realistic, & the reality is that, even if my vision is not hampered till now, but while reading "Expert" I really have to put a great amount of strain on my Eyes -- Fact. (Specially, when I read/consult it at late hours after returning from work). Some people may not be as lucky as many of us are, when it comes to Vision. (There are people - many my friends, who are facing the vision problems due to any reson, and may be or may want to read "Expert")
Even after using a small font size, there is no guarantee that you wont have to turn over to other pages, so it is completely irrelevant & impractical to incorporate large peice of text/code/example in one page. More over with the fonts, SMALLER THAN THE NORMAL ONES, one is likely to miss a peice of information/text/line which itself is great offset. You end up confused, with incomplete, insufficient and wrong piece of knowledge, blaming the Author for providing wrong contents. Also small fonts cause a great setback to the quality of the print of a book.
Killing? Thats the most dramatic part of the complete story - LoL. You dont have to go so far. Your money, your conveinience, your thought -- Your preference.
web editing of second edition
Alberto Dell'Era, April 22, 2005 - 3:53 pm UTC
I've noticed that no new chapters have appeared recently - have you changed your mind about web editing ?
April 22, 2005 - 3:55 pm UTC
just sent them chapters 3,4,5 -- hopefully soon
Analytics, please!
CJ, April 22, 2005 - 6:26 pm UTC
The Oracle documentation of the analytic functions is OK as far as it goes, but I would love to see a "real world" set of examples that I can learn from and adapt to my own use.
April 22, 2005 - 7:11 pm UTC
Expert One on One Oracle? I thought the chapter I had in there was pretty good.
I'd rather you understand how they work -- and then you can apply them anywhere. Having a list of "10 places to use them" would be counter productive (in my opinion)
interpreting results
hrishy, April 23, 2005 - 3:24 am UTC
Hi Tom
It would be great if you include things like
a)interpreting the results of statspack (with teasers on how statspack reports at first glance could be misreading)
b)I do have your book on expert one on one.i liked it very much at the place where we work we dont use much of 10g features (but we need to be prepared thats why i guess its worth going in for your next book)
c)Since most of us reading your book would be experienced people we dont need more on setup and configurations as bipul kumar already mentioned
d)One last thing if you can cover or devote a whole chapter to partitioning on when you should go for partitioning when partitoning is useful and when it has failed to deliver results.
e)many a time when the table gets big say aroud 15gb or so its natural for many of us to think about partitioning.
And we pay the price for such decisions.
sorry if i am too late with my suggestions and you dont have time and space to accommodate my requests.
April 23, 2005 - 9:16 am UTC
d & e) is in both expert and effective.... even more so in effective..
new features
A reader, April 24, 2005 - 1:51 pm UTC
Hi Tom I think instead of writing a book, why not to give an only service on improving your dba knowledge.
Tom definetively I think you are more smart than simply write a book, and more important you have the knowledge and resource to do it really nice. I think you can do something more imaginative.
If you publish a book, in one year a part could be out of date. In two years, more, and more.
The question tom is what is people looking in your books.
I think is the same they look in your seminars,
expertise opinions,
some examples,
clear concepts,
etc.
If you would do an online service to access your data, you will give better education.
letme be more spefiic.
I bought your book and I didn't read materialized views, because I use standar edition. Then one day I'll need, I'll need an expert and complete introduction. In that moment( six years later) that book (expert one on one, is not too usefull, the true it can be wrong, like sys statistics in 8i (don't do it) to 10g ( do it ) )
What about if I buy and online acces to your site
Then the day I need something I go to your site (and access the up to date data from your site).
This is defineitvely more cheap for you to do a new feature, for example you decide you like to explain an important invetigation in UNDO feature. Are you going to wait 4 years to add to your 3r edition?
And is this enough important to wast your money and customer's money in 10 pages more to the book.
I think you cut some content, because the book size; but if you do a site, you can put that content you want to share.
How much of hte price is for printing?
I think you can earn more giving the book cheaper.
And your customer will buy cheaper too :)
printing, well I don't think some body will make problems in cost printing.
honestly I would prefer have the choice to print two pages on one, I can read perfectly, I think based on the size of you previous book I would print 4 pages in one, this is even faster for consulting.
When i received you book the first time, I thought amazon sent me a complete volume of the bible instead.
I know advertisement rules about font size easy to read, but I think in our area, because the amount of text one must read, there should be an exception.
Piracy, well, I had found your russian and your chinese versions of one on one in emule, previous months. About access, I think you can easily restrict and control the access to avoid excessive piracy online.
But anyway data in computing is easily obsolete, so every one will prefer to access last data.
Soem ideas about what you could add to this site, I think you could have better ideas.
SHARE YOUR TEST, if you owuld have a site whre you share the test you do.
TEST DATABASE, give access a differente database releases to test for example bad binding, the time to set develop the example for a test databae is not easy.
GROUP INVESTIGATIONS, a place to share investigations about on specific topic, wher you could ask to share opinions about a very specific topic, this could help to other people who are investigating specific topics
The difference between thsi and asktom, is here you will develop a brief conclusion about the theme you propose.
Even you could give online assesment, not in answering question, else giving solutions.
DATABASE BLOGS, etc.
I trust Tom you can do something really nice, I think is only you decide to do it, in benefit of you and all Oracle community, I think you can get better and smarter ideas from your friends in this project.
pd.
Thinking about how big will be your next edition, I would like you consider the following serious points.
The paper, Don't forget the trees and the global warming
The weight, an airline overweight, imagine if a plane carrying your book crashes, how will you feel?
The space, not every one has big rooms, are you going to be happy is some one have to throw his cat to put your book instead?
;) good luck whathever you decide to do Tom.
Small correction for new book.
Alex V, May 11, 2005 - 3:10 pm UTC
Hello Tom,
(sorry if this is wrong place for my comment)
Just got new chapter 12 on analytics (pdf from OTN).
Very small correction: page 588, top: pl/sql example
has to use view, but instead just repeats
refcursor example.
Otherwise it is great (as usual :-)
Alex V.
May 11, 2005 - 7:27 pm UTC
that is the OLD chapter (and that was fixed in some errata release)
Expert One-on-One was water in the desert
Charles D. Mouteng - Certified DBA, May 11, 2005 - 5:19 pm UTC
In my jugment Expert One-on-One was excellent for 3 main reasons:
1) The author.
Tom is obviously extremely competent.
Tom reconciles DBAs and Developpers. He can discuss how the RDBMS itself is written: after all the RDBM is built by developpers for developpers and DBAs.
Tom is not a 'BS' person: he backs up everything he says with tests and facts, not slogans.
Tom brings to your attention issues you did not even realize existed.
Tom is thourough.
2) The topics and examples covered. I think these should be kept and developped in the context of the new releases -- I would favor 3 volumes and the addition of a chapter on the concept and application of the GRID.
3) The timing. The timing was excellent as it bridged the gap in to the 8i releases. With 10g out, there is a new gap to bridge.
In short: I would by the new edition in a heart beat (provided it is written by Tom of course).
Expert one on one Book Ed 2
Kamal, May 12, 2005 - 6:45 am UTC
Hi tom
I read your First Book and it was really useful..
When is your Second Release of Expert One on One which covers
9i and 10g.....Any approximate date for release....
Please Include Topic on AQ , XML Integration
Thanks
kamal
May 12, 2005 - 8:05 am UTC
this year. no xml from me -- not what I do.
It would be nice
Marko Bosnjak, May 12, 2005 - 10:41 am UTC
If you take a role in writing oracle documentation. At least for sql and pl/sql. I'm sure I share the opinion of everyone on this site.
That is my dream...
And my response is:
1- I think you have plenty of materials for (4 books): DBA, SQL, PL/SQL and The best of all three parts as a fourth one. I will suggest the titles :-)
2- DBA book: The stone of Oracle
3- SQL book: Don't be the prisoner of SQL
4- PL/SQL book: The revenge of procedural code
5- The best of: Just Â…The best survival kit for Oracle :-)
I hope you don't mind for a little humor in my post. I had no bed intention.
And at the end...is it possible that my dream from the beginning will become true?
May 12, 2005 - 1:17 pm UTC
That I would write oracle docs? I don't think so... Writing a book is hard enough, editing the 2nd edition is painful beyond belief.
but the 2nd edition is in the works...
2nd edition
EJAO, May 12, 2005 - 11:43 am UTC
Hi Tom,
1) I would go for multi-volumes. It would be handy to carry smaller book anywhere.
2) a) buy all three volumes as set
3) More 9i and 10g best-practice and advise from you.
Misleading editorial review in amazon.com
Ofir Manor, May 14, 2005 - 5:24 pm UTC
Hi Tom,
looking forward to your new book.
1. Funny thing, I looked it up at amazon.com and the editorial review promises things against your wishes... Specificly, it says: "...This fully revised edition covers the 9i and 10g versions, including the 10g Release 2..."
It felt funny, so I looked it up, and as I remembered, you said it in blog that your book won't cover 10g release 2, for a solid reason ("This space intentionally left blank"). So, maybe you should have this editorial fixed.
2. On another note, you wrote that you are not going to explore xmldb etc. I understand that it is not part of your expertise, but I hope you do introduce it and other advanced features / options (spatial, text etc) in a few pages in the architecture chapters or in an appendix. It might be inapropriate (no performance test cases etc), but as your book will probably become the Bible of Oracle, it might do good to educate people a bit about the features that they have in the database, so they will "dare" to open the documentation and learn a bit by themself. You might not like this marketing idea, but I think it will be effective.
thanks,
Ofir Manor
PS - Another funny issue is the exact number of pages - 1272, no more no less. They got to have some psychic powers!
Oh well, I guess someone had to make it up, if it's a mandatory field (working around a NOT NULL constraint? lol... )
May 14, 2005 - 5:37 pm UTC
1) i've already emailed the editor on that last week :)
2) nope -- well, text because I know and use it. I write about what I know and if I haven't, well, I won't. It isn't meant to be a marketing device in as much as a practical book on how to use the stuff.
Two Volumes and a CD
Michael, May 16, 2005 - 4:51 pm UTC
A newbie recently asked me what she should read to learn all about Oracle, and I said go read the Concepts Manual, then read Chapters 1, 2, and 5 of your "Expert One-on-One" book, then the Backup and Recovery Manual, then go on and read the rest of the "Expert One-on-One" book. That would be some foundation to build on. It got me to thinking about the differences in Database Creators and Maintainers, vs Database Developers and Users. After mulling it over, here is my vote for 2 volumes and a CD:
Vol 1: "Architecture, Setup, and Maintaining Oracle". Like Chapters 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14 and 16 of your "Expert One-on-One" book.
Vol 2: "Developing for, querying, and using Oracle". Like Chapters 1, 4, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. Include a master index in both books.
You could argue that one or two chapters from each volume belongs in the other, but I'm just throwing out an idea for discussion.
Either book could be said to be prerequisite for the other. (Using only one volume misses the point.) I always insist that DBAs and Developers need to understand each other's job functions relative to Oracle.
CD: All of the appendices, plus "Tom's Best Scripts" (as voted by us?) and the ddl to create your sample schema(s).
I would not worry too much about anyone pirating the appendices, most of that info is readily available in the Oracle Docs (but is nice to have as a reference in your book, and you make some useful comments about the packages).
Grumpy Ol' DBAs like me (doing this wayyyyy too long, 17 years and squinting a lot more) would also appreciate a slightly larger and bolder font!
A reader, May 17, 2005 - 8:40 am UTC
Tom,
Who are your technical reviewers this time?
May 17, 2005 - 9:25 am UTC
Jonathan Lewis
Roderick Manalac (Excellent top notch support analyst at Oracle)
Michael Moeller
Gabe Romanescu
(the person known as Gabe that points out so many gotcha's on this site ;)
form the core team, and the comments from the web
A reader, May 17, 2005 - 9:36 am UTC
That's a small team compared to last time. Do they review a few chapters each or all of them review all the chapters? If it's the first one, I think reviewers this time have a much more difficult task then last time ;-)
May 17, 2005 - 9:47 am UTC
there are others as well, thats the core team
they (above) review each and every chapter. chapter 4 came back with 150 comments. It was 37 pages long. They are picky.... (but correct)
Alberto Dell'Era, May 17, 2005 - 10:28 am UTC
The Web Reviewing Team is eagerly waiting for the new chapters to appear ... ;)
May 17, 2005 - 1:37 pm UTC
as soon as I said that -- I pinged Tony at apress to remind him
discussion board
Marcus, May 17, 2005 - 12:57 pm UTC
Some of my favorite books includes the five networking books by Stevens. I like that they're multi volume and I like the fact that it's hardcover. However, a book about Oracle has a shorter life span (since Oracle is under constant development) so the cost is more important than robustness. It's more justified in the Stevens case (TCP/IP and UNIX ipc/networking isn't changing that often).
So, please, go for multivolume but only hardcover if it's not that much more expensive.
One thing I'd really like is if you do is set up a server where each chapter can be discussed. Something like the PHP project does. See f.ex
</code>
http://ch2.php.net/zend-engine-2.php <code>
Would this be doable? I find it most helpful in the PHP case.
Thanks,
Marcus
About Effective Oracle By Design
Praveen, May 22, 2005 - 12:18 pm UTC
I am seriously considering buying your second book (because I have your first book, "Expert One on One Oracle")
"Effective Oracle by Design". I have not seen any reviews about it; neither couldnt find any excrepts. So just thought to check with you that whether it covers, in detail, database modeling concepts (normalization techniques etc) and database application designing methods using Oracle RDBMS. I am not much interested in DBA relative topics, although a fair share of it is appreciated. Am I looking for the right book?
Thanks
May 22, 2005 - 12:35 pm UTC
Hmm, no reviews? Did you check amazon.com? Or any of the online bookstores. They all have user reviews associated with them.
</code>
http://books.mcgraw-hill.com/getbook.php?isbn=0072230657&template=oraclepress <code>
has the table of contents and a sample chapter.
do I go into database design like "if you have students and employees and other people create these tables"... No, that is well covered in many "data modeling books".
Re: About Effective Oracle By Design
Praveen, May 22, 2005 - 1:28 pm UTC
Thanks for the link, Tom. "This what I think you should do" pharse explains everything.
Well, I never expect you giving "students and employee" examples in your book. But I do expect a much more complex and real-time example which you use to explain, say, a many-to-many issue resolution or denormalizing a 4th normal form database. I expect you explain "When to go for 4th normal form?" rather that "What is 4th normal form?".
It is almost an year after learning Oracle using Oracle documentation and a few other books (of the same scope as EOOOO), including a OTN publication, I bought "Expert One on One Oracle" (EOOOO), and never regreted about its worth till now, although all talk about the same thing - Oracle. There is a big difference.
Experience weighs much more than theory, right?
May 22, 2005 - 1:43 pm UTC
there are thousands of books on data modeling, I'm never going to write about that.
Experience weighs more than theory, but it is easier to get the experience with a firm grounding in the theory ;)
How do we know
sujit, May 22, 2005 - 1:34 pm UTC
Tom,
I am a giga fan of 'Expert One on One Oracle'. I have used the old release for a long time now. I read here that a new release is coming...
My question is, Is it already out, or is it still in the works?
How do we know when it comes out??
May 22, 2005 - 1:44 pm UTC
It is coming out this year.
You'll see it on my home page for sure.
I agree :)
Praveen, May 22, 2005 - 1:52 pm UTC
dave, May 22, 2005 - 3:37 pm UTC
out of curiousity, how many copies of the 1st edition have you sold?
May 22, 2005 - 3:47 pm UTC
stopped paying attention after about 25k I guess.
When WROX went under 2 years ago, we were just breaking 20k.
ISBN
Baiju Menon, May 23, 2005 - 11:15 pm UTC
sir,
Could u please specify the ISBN of Expert one-on-one oracle which covers the 9i release and later. I had enquired in the market but they are saying that it covers only oracle 8i. From where can I get the book. In ur home page u have the book shown what is the ISBN no of this book and the publication. Please specify.
May 24, 2005 - 7:35 am UTC
"u" isn't here, I really really want to meet that person. "U" gets an inordinate number of requests for information.
May "I" answer in "u's" place?
The second edition is in the works (a rewrite really). The second edition will cover 9ir1, 9ir2, 10gr1 exclusively and include the 8i book as a CD.
It is coming out this year. As of this date, it is not yet out.
What means Oracle core technology?
A reader, May 24, 2005 - 11:27 am UTC
Hi Tom, I didn't know where ask it, I don't konw if you could do a blog about it,
What means Oracle core technology?
I had read always in your books and I ask which is your work, you are vicepresident of what exacly?
May 24, 2005 - 1:32 pm UTC
core, as in comparision to applications.
the "core technologies" of Oracle -- not the tools, not the applications (HR, CRM, etc)
the servers.
More Details The Better
Kevin Shidler, May 24, 2005 - 3:14 pm UTC
I am a huge fan as others are on this site. I have all of your books, which cover ALOT of material. I am always for expanding my knowledge. If you put out volumes, given the amount of detail you have in your current versions, I can't even imagine how much more I would learn. I would definitely purchase them all. Even if it wasn't multi-volume, I'd still buy them ;) Keep up the terrific work!
Best Regards,
Kevin
Which book is what
Robert Smith, May 25, 2005 - 10:32 am UTC
I am confused about the books for "Expert One_on_One Oracle". If I look at Amazon, they show a completely different cover than the one on Apress. Apress says its out of print, but Amazon keeps selling it. Apress says that "Expert Oracle, Signature Edition" is the replacement for One_on_One, but you say it is not complete. What is the status of these three(?) books. If I don't already have One_on_One, should I wait for the newest one? Should I get Signature, or should I get the old One_on_One, and then the new one when it is available (that would be a lot of money). Would it really be worth getting all three (Ouch!)? Thanks for any advice you can give!
May 25, 2005 - 1:17 pm UTC
There is Expert One on One Oracle by WROX press, June 2001. That is out of print.
There is Expert One on One Oracle by Apress, August 2003. it is the SAME BOOK as above
</code>
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=asktom03-20&path=tg%2Fdetail%2F-%2F1590592433 <code>
I see the apress site says out of print, and I'll ask why, but amazon would have a stock of it.
There is the 'signature' edition, which is a reprint of the above (same content) in hardback with a CD that is the "book online" as well. (And yes, it has my signature on the front, hence the name). It has a forward by Ken Jacobs and a sample from the forthcoming book but is the same book otherwise.
Make it searchable but not downloadable
A reader, May 25, 2005 - 10:50 am UTC
Tom,
Seeing as you have this site and it has "adequate" bandwidth why not put the text of the book into your current favourite method of searching and allow people to search it online
Give a purchase link and then the result set. A single sentence and a page reference for a result, not enough to be truly useful but enough to get the desired results really quickly with the book to hand
I like your idea of having the 8i version electronically, but the searchable online index for the current one
Do you have any timeframes for the new book yet ?
May 25, 2005 - 1:29 pm UTC
we are thinking about ways to make the content searchable -- in fact, the 8i book is available somewhere out there now on an "electronic book" site in this manner already.
fall 2005 for volume I
</code>
http://asktom.oracle.com/Misc/book.html <code>
Signature Edition
Peter Tran, May 25, 2005 - 11:37 pm UTC
May 26, 2005 - 8:28 am UTC
it is the 2001 version (which is the 2003 version when bought by apress) released
a) in hardback
b) with a cd-rom of the book included
c) and a chapter from the upcoming book
d) and a forward by ken jacobs
and they made me put my signature on the cover, which frankly is lots better than my big face.
Thanks, I'll keep the current, and get the new
Robert Smith, May 26, 2005 - 6:59 am UTC
Tom,
Thanks for clearing that up for me. I will keep the One_on_One I just got, and get the new one(s) in September!
This web environment, it's much more than just a "page", is an incredible learning tool. While I see a lot of people giving you thanks, I suspect it's just the "tip of the iceberg" as to the people you really help.
Chapter 3 ?
Todor Botev, May 31, 2005 - 3:01 am UTC
Tom,
The link on the home page says the chapters 3 and 4 are posted for reviewing. But the chapters are numbered 4 and 5 in the PDFs I downloaded.
I'm missing the chapter about files so far. Isn't it meant to be chapter 3? It didn't go public so far.
May 31, 2005 - 7:45 am UTC
You are right, 1,2 and 3 were posted, it is now 4 and 5. I'll fix the page, thanks.
3 was posted ?
Todor Botev, May 31, 2005 - 7:58 am UTC
I don't think 3 was ever posted. Or I've missed it (but I've checked frequently). Only 1,2,4,5 were posted so far.
May 31, 2005 - 8:22 am UTC
Ugh, you are right -- 1 and 2 were out there.
3 was printed in the hard back of Expert one on one Oracle (available now with a CD of the book) as a sample chapter and will be on DBAZine.com soon as well (along with a chance to "win" some of the books).
4 and 5 are out there now. Sorry for the confusion. (i don't do the posting, Apress is doing all of that)
Expert one-on-one
jp, June 03, 2005 - 12:47 pm UTC
Dear Tom,
I am planning to buy you book but when I saw it I realize that its all about version 7 and 8, of course, at that time those were the available version, but all concepts in this book apply for verision 9 and 10? I am not sure when second edition its coming out, as I am normally using 9i and 10g should I wait for the second edition? or this edition can help me to learn more about 9i and 10g as well.
please your feedback
thanks
June 03, 2005 - 1:30 pm UTC
It'll ultimately be up to you -- but the 8i book is 85% or more 'compatible'. It is missing things new to 9i/10g -- but the premises put forth are still 100% sound and correct.
The 9i/10g release of the book is a rewrite almost though. Lots new, lots to add.
Will be two volumes. Volume I will be released by September (don't know about India however, the other countries follow after some time)
Should I buy them now?
Tom's Fan, June 06, 2005 - 5:07 am UTC
Honestly, Its not easy to find good books in this country, its very expensive and again if i order from amazon.com with shipping charging (Which is about 70$) i get almost the same price... any how I was planning to buy your both books by the end of this month but came to know that most of the content is old as compare to these days releases.
However, would you suggest me to buy your both (Expert One on One Oracle & Effective Oracle by Design) books or wait for the second edition? And I will be really great if you could advise me any more books of yours coz I have been savins money buy the books at once from amazon.com this month.
Hope to hear from ya soon...
June 06, 2005 - 7:31 am UTC
I don't like to advise in this really -- it is totally up to you. The 2nd edition (volume I) only will be out in september, how long it takes to get reprinted elsewhere is beyond me (and out of my control)
Will it help?
Tom's Fan, June 06, 2005 - 8:41 am UTC
What I really wanted to know if it will help me atleast 50% coz im using 9ir2 and 10gr1? and the book usually covers old releases of oracle.
Please advice...
June 06, 2005 - 8:57 am UTC
the book is totally relevant to 9i and 10g as far as best practices and such go, however, it will not cover any of the new "A" stuff (automatic pga management, sga menagment, undo management, segment space management) for example as it didn't exist back then.
Alex, July 01, 2005 - 3:22 pm UTC
Tom,
How would you compare the new Oracle JDBC book you tech edited to the other Oracle/Java book you did Oracle 9i Java Programming. I know the latter covers SQLJ, which is dead.
The new one looks good though, wondering if it has value for those of us with Oracle 9i Java Programming.
July 01, 2005 - 3:29 pm UTC
apples and toaster ovens.
This one is a programming guide -- how to do jdbc against Oracle, best practices..
The older one was more "here is java, this is what java is, these are classes, this is inheritance, this is what jdbc stands for, this is the architecture, here are three chapters on doing jdbc, this is sqlj, this is the oracle jvm, this is java stored procedures".
The jdbc one is focused on one thing and goes deep
The 9i java programming is much "broader" and stays at a higher level
To Alex
Menon, July 01, 2005 - 3:39 pm UTC
"I know the latter covers
SQLJ, which is dead."
Hi Alex,
This is Menon, the author of the new JDBC book.
SQLJ is not dead :) There was a brief period for which
there were plans to desupport it but then Oracle
revoked that decision.
Scroll down to "SQLJ is back!" at
</code>
http://www.oracle.com/technology/tech/java/sqlj_jdbc/index.html
The amazon description unfortunately is an earlier
one (when SQLJ was indeed desupported) and
in spite of my repeated attempts, they have not
correcting the book description - I have
given up on them. Description at bookpool.com
is more accurate.
"The new one looks good though, wondering if it has value for those of us with Oracle 9i Java Programming. "
I have covered 9i and 10g both in the new book...
Note that not all topics are covered (e.g. I have left out
distributed transasctions.) But the ones I cover
I have tried my utmost to do justice to them.
You can look at sample chapters at
http://www.oracle.com/technology/books/files/menon_ch.zip <code>
Alberto Dell'Era, July 01, 2005 - 6:31 pm UTC
Since I know you (Menon) from your posts here, I've always been 110% satisfied by books suggested by Tom, who also tech edited this (and I do use JDBC), I've just ordered my copy of your JDBC book for my Oracle On the Hammock program, Summer 2005 Edition :)
July 01, 2005 - 7:24 pm UTC
remember, I have absolutely no idea if menon knows java at all :)
I can only attest that he faithfully uses bind variables, parses as little as possible and benchmarks implementations to see what you can see !
(don't worry, they had people that could spell java edit it as well, I'm sure it passes in that respect)
hi Alberto!
Menon, July 01, 2005 - 8:30 pm UTC
Thanx! But you are putting too much pressure on me
(or perhaps on Tom!;))
I hope you enjoy the book.
Alberto Dell'Era, July 02, 2005 - 5:09 am UTC
> I can only attest that he ... benchmarks implementations
"only" ?
That's what I want to find in books, the safe route to a very good work, as consistently demonstrated by my sample of the Oracle literature (30+ books, I'd say a statistically accurate sample).
All the books that I've found "very useful" use examples and benchmarks - without a single exception - so that's the first reason that made me buy Menon's book...
Alex, July 02, 2005 - 1:24 pm UTC
This site is awesome. I ask a question about a book and get a personal response by the author himself!
I too like Alberto think it's safe to get anything Tom had to do with. I have most of the books in Tom's links and the only one I can maybe do without is the Transaction Processing book. Only because it's so technical I can't even read it.
July 02, 2005 - 1:30 pm UTC
Oh, I liked that transaction processing book, if you get into that and understand much of it -- you'll be able to answer so many "what if" questions. It is deep - it is a hard, slow read - but for me, it was the difference between thinking I knew and knowing sometimes
besides, his analogy on two phase commit and marriage is priceless ;)
OK..
Menon, July 02, 2005 - 11:17 pm UTC
I had been thinking of buying that transaction processing
book for quite some time now - Your last review finally
clinched it! I just placed an order for the book.
book
mo, July 06, 2005 - 1:36 pm UTC
Tom:
there is a new oracle book for developers released in June 2005
Professional Oracle Programming (Programmer to Programmer)
by Rick Greenwald, Robert Stackowiak, Gary Dodge, David Klein, Ben Shapiro, Christopher G. Chelliah
I do not see your name there. DO ou have any comments/recomendations on buying this? it is rated 5 stars by some and i am wondering if you looked through it. some sections seem to be similar to "expert one on one".
July 06, 2005 - 2:30 pm UTC
I've not heard of it, no.
1 Book Plus CD
Richard Collette, July 06, 2005 - 3:39 pm UTC
I always do a first read, on the beach, by the pool, in the bathroom.... Reading a book on the screen is annoying.
But after that, I need to find information and generally, a PDF is going to be a huge help in that regard. I wish all computer reference materials came with a PDF version. Security is an issue but there has to be some technology that allows you to get an authorization key for an individual copy of a PDF. Please consider the PDF option seriously.
At a minimum, the scripts and examples referenced in the book should be made available on line.
P Manivannan, July 08, 2005 - 8:57 am UTC
I hade gone thro your two books there are very effective to understand also lot of examples, very easy to pick your ideas.
I had revieved a book from cary milasp he had confused in some pages like statspack & v$views are not effective.
Examples are not given like your book
Your comments please
July 08, 2005 - 9:49 am UTC
P Manivannan, July 08, 2005 - 9:59 am UTC
In your effective oracle by design, you have no elaborated more in tkprof result
Other then oracle documentation, please suggest good book for plsql
thanks
Alex, July 08, 2005 - 12:44 pm UTC
Check out his links at the top of the page. Connor's book is pretty good, I just got it recently.
Peter, July 18, 2005 - 9:23 am UTC
Hello Tom, I do have both of your books and consider them really very useful, i learned a lot especially from "effective by design".
My question is, will there be enough new material in second edition of expert One on One that it's worth to order it?
thank you
July 18, 2005 - 9:45 am UTC
You can read the online chapters and judge for yourself
(see my home page, they'll be there for a bit -- IF you are reading this some time in the future and there is no link, that means they are not there anymore and please don't ask for the link -- they won't be there after a while)
Difference between expert one-one oracle and expert oracle:Signature edition
Von, July 27, 2005 - 3:36 pm UTC
Tom
I am planning to buy 2 of your books (Effective Oracle by design
and Expert one-one oracle..Whats the difference between
Expert one-on one Oracle and Expert Oracle -Signature Edition
Thanks
July 27, 2005 - 3:54 pm UTC
Well, you might wait till september -- volume I (of II) is being released which will be a rewrite of expert One on one (the first half - 9 chapters turned into 15). It will INCLUDE the original expert one on one oracle on CD (so you get the original plus the rewrite of the first half).
The difference between the old Expert One on One Oracle and the Signature Edition is that the signature edition
o has the nicest forward anyone could ever write for me, penned by Ken Jacobs (also known as "Dr DBA")
o a sample chapter from the new edition
o a CD of the book (first edition)
o is in hard back
o actually has my signature on the cover (oh boy - that'll clinch it won't it)
Alex, August 05, 2005 - 4:56 pm UTC
Tom how come no link to Menon's JDBC book under the "Links I like"? Does the author have to be affiliated with Oracle in some way since AskTom is Oracle's right?
August 05, 2005 - 5:51 pm UTC
You'd be surprised who Jim Gray works for then. (the transaction processing book)
</code>
http://research.microsoft.com/~Gray/ <code>
I need to add that and Mark Williams book on .nyet with Oracle
RE: I need to add...
Mark A. Williams, August 05, 2005 - 7:17 pm UTC
> I need to add that and Mark Williams book on .nyet with Oracle
I'm not sure there is a Russian translation yet :)
- Mark
August 06, 2005 - 9:19 am UTC
That was my personal translation :)
Instrumentation discussion in your new book
Menon, August 15, 2005 - 4:32 pm UTC
I believe you have covered instrumentation in detail in your new book. I wanted to get your thoughts on this topic.
I see multiple types of instrumentation based on how they are used:
1. To figure out during the development or debugging
what is going on for an execution that is happenning
now. For example, dbms_output (crude in pre 10gr2
at least) or debug.f by chris beck or dbms_application_info. Your asktom site is also famously instrumented for this type (at the minimum.)
2. To figure out what went wrong in the past. The first
type can be used for this purpose only if the problem
is reproduceable which is not always the case. In this
case, you need to log the information either in tables
or files.
Ideally, one would combine the two types and always log
everything but that may be costly (similar to turning
the trace on always) taking care of level of instrumentation etc. In case of Oracle performance
issues, one way is to selectively trace the session
when the problem reproduces again. But this does not
help with the past again.
Any thoughts?
August 15, 2005 - 10:41 pm UTC
I will be in the second volume, it is *not* in the first.
Figuring out what went wrong in the past to me is "error logging", with as much detail as you can -- but no more.
Just as we don't run the database with sql_trace=true... But you do get error messages and trace dumps upon an error sometimes.
makes sense...
Menon, August 16, 2005 - 11:37 am UTC
"I will be in the second volume, it is *not* in the first."
You mean "It"?!;) OK - sorry about that..
"Figuring out what went wrong in the past to me is "error logging", with as much
detail as you can -- but no more.
Just as we don't run the database with sql_trace=true... But you do get error
messages and trace dumps upon an error sometimes. "
Makes sense - it is what we are currently doing in our systems.
August 17, 2005 - 10:49 am UTC
right, IT will be in the....
Expert One-on-One Oracle for DBAs?
DanielD, August 17, 2005 - 11:52 am UTC
It looks like your book Expert one-on-one Oracle is focusing mainly on developers. Have you written, or can you recommend anything for DBAs?
Thank you,
DanielD
August 17, 2005 - 1:56 pm UTC
You see, I look at it totally differently...
dba's don't need to know how oracle works?
how memory is managed?
what the processes do?
how to tune?
partitioning?
materialized views?
and so many other things?
(but the same list applies to developers in my opinion)
Expert One-on-One Oracle for DBAs?
DanielD, August 17, 2005 - 2:56 pm UTC
I would like to apologize for not being clear enough in my previous posting. I have only one answer to your follow up questions - yes, they do.
I am reading your book, however, and on page 157 (Redo and Rollback) I read:
<cite> "... What we will not cover are the tings your DBA should be exclusively in charge of figuring out and tuning. For example how to find the optimum settings for RECOVER_PARALLELISM or the FAST_START_IO_TARGET init.ora parameters are the topics we will not cover. Instead, we will concentrate on the things that a database developer should be concerned with, and how they will impact your application."</cite>
What I wanted to ask is whether you had written/or can recommend a book where it would be "What we will not cover are
"What we will not cover are the tings your DEVELOPER should be exclusively in charge of figuring out..."
and
"Instead, we will concentrate on the things that a database administrator should be concerned with, and how they will impact your application."
Because I really like how you do explain the stuff (with examples, etc) I am curious whether you had written a book where the way how to find the optimum settings for RECOVER_PARALLELISM or the FAST_START_IO_TARGET init.ora parameters ARE the topics covered.
I still do find your expert one-to-one book very valuable, just wanted to know whether there is anything more from DBAs' point of view.
Thank you for your time.
DanielD
August 17, 2005 - 5:10 pm UTC
I doubt I will, I'm more of a developer/DBA, that is where my heart lies -- that is what I'm best at.
I believe there is a large overlap between what the two need to know (a HUGE overlap) - hence anything I write is applicable to both.
Hien, August 19, 2005 - 1:46 am UTC
Hi Tom,
Which book of yours has got the most coverage on analytics?
Thanks
Hien
August 20, 2005 - 3:36 pm UTC
currently, the old version of Expert One on One Oracle -- which comes complete on CD ROM with the newest book (Oracle Database Architecture) - so that would be the book to get right now if you wanted Analytics (on the CD ROM with 9i/10g current material about Oracle in the book)
Expert one on one (9i/10g)
Deepak, August 26, 2005 - 12:15 am UTC
Hi Tom,
Has the Expert one on one Oracle been published for 9i/10g, if yes, is it available in India? Please provide details as I only find the Oracle 8 versions here.
August 26, 2005 - 8:23 am UTC
avaliable in India
Ajeet, August 29, 2005 - 4:12 am UTC
This book is now avaliable in India - at least in Mumbai. I have bought it today .
Thanks
Ajeet
August 29, 2005 - 5:04 am UTC
You have gotten confused -- it is not, it is still at the printers.
Expert Oracle Database Architecture: 9i and 10g Programming Techniques and Solutions (Paperback)
is the title, you likely just got Expert One on One Oracle.
Yes -it was expert-one-on-one (2005 edition)
Ajeet, August 29, 2005 - 5:47 am UTC
Thanks Tom - yes I found that this was 2005 ed of expert-one - I alreay had it.So i will wait for the new book.
Thanks for making it clear.
Ajeet
Setting up AUTOTRACE in SQL*Plus
DanielD, August 30, 2005 - 12:25 pm UTC
Tom,
I am using Oracle8i for testing purposes and I do have a problem to enable AUTOTRACE for other user than SYS. I did follow your instructions from the book:
C:\Win32app\oracle\ora81\RDBMS\ADMIN>sqlplus
SQL*Plus: Release 8.1.7.0.0 - Production on Tue Aug 30 09:40:01 2005
(c) Copyright 2000 Oracle Corporation. All rights reserved.
Enter user-name: system
Enter password:
Connected to:
Oracle8i Enterprise Edition Release 8.1.7.0.0 - Production
With the Partitioning option
JServer Release 8.1.7.0.0 - Production
system@DIGITEST> @utlxplan
create table PLAN_TABLE (
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-00955: name is already used by an existing object
system@DIGITEST> drop table plan_table;
Table dropped.
system@DIGITEST> @utlxplan
Table created.
system@DIGITEST> CREATE PUBLIC SYNONYM PLAN_TABLE FOR PLAN_TABLE;
CREATE PUBLIC SYNONYM PLAN_TABLE FOR PLAN_TABLE
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-00955: name is already used by an existing object
system@DIGITEST> DROP PUBLIC SYNONYM PLAN_TABLE;
Synonym dropped.
system@DIGITEST> CREATE PUBLIC SYNONYM PLAN_TABLE FOR PLAN_TABLE;
Synonym created.
system@DIGITEST> GRANT ALL ON PLAN_TABLE TO PUBLIC;
Grant succeeded.
system@DIGITEST> EXIT
Disconnected from Oracle8i Enterprise Edition Release 8.1.7.0.0 - Production
With the Partitioning option
JServer Release 8.1.7.0.0 - Production
C:\Win32app\oracle\ora81\RDBMS\ADMIN>cd ..\..
C:\Win32app\oracle\ora81>cd sqlplus
C:\Win32app\oracle\ora81\sqlplus>cd admin
C:\Win32app\oracle\ora81\sqlplus\admin>sqlplus
SQL*Plus: Release 8.1.7.0.0 - Production on Tue Aug 30 09:42:15 2005
(c) Copyright 2000 Oracle Corporation. All rights reserved.
Enter user-name: sys
Enter password:
Connected to:
Oracle8i Enterprise Edition Release 8.1.7.0.0 - Production
With the Partitioning option
JServer Release 8.1.7.0.0 - Production
sys@DIGITEST> @plustrce
sys@DIGITEST>
sys@DIGITEST> drop role plustrace;
Role dropped.
sys@DIGITEST> create role plustrace;
Role created.
sys@DIGITEST>
sys@DIGITEST> grant select on v_$sesstat to plustrace;
Grant succeeded.
sys@DIGITEST> grant select on v_$statname to plustrace;
Grant succeeded.
sys@DIGITEST> grant select on v_$session to plustrace;
Grant succeeded.
sys@DIGITEST> grant plustrace to dba with admin option;
Grant succeeded.
sys@DIGITEST>
sys@DIGITEST> set echo off
sys@DIGITEST> GRANT PLUSTRACE TO PUBLIC;
Grant succeeded.
sys@DIGITEST> @CONNECT docpadmin@digitest;
Enter password:
Input truncated to 14 characters
docpadmin@DIGITEST> set autotrace traceonly explain;
ERROR:
ORA-00904: invalid column name
SP2-0611: Error enabling EXPLAIN report
docpadmin@DIGITEST> @connect sys@digitest;
Enter password:
Input truncated to 14 characters
sys@DIGITEST> set autotrace traceonly explain;
sys@DIGITEST>
August 30, 2005 - 12:31 pm UTC
you are connecting remotely with docpadmin- @digitest
did you do the same with sys and system.
Price is changing frequenstly
Syed Imran Nayer, August 30, 2005 - 12:56 pm UTC
I am anxiously waiting for this book. I often visit amazon.com and apress.com to see when it will be released. Amazon.com has changed price of the book several times. I remember a month a go it was around $36 then they changed it to some thing arround 29 or so. And now it is $32.99. I can't believe the price of the book is going up and down like share prices go up and down :). Let see where it will stop.
August 30, 2005 - 1:43 pm UTC
they have priced the book at 50$ list price (because I was too verbose, sorry about that, I went to 768 pages - with the CD they said they could not do 45$)
the original price was just wrong (70$)
the second price was right for a bit of time (45$)
the right final price is 50$ - with cd of first edition, 768 pages.
check out the blog, I'm printing a little of it there today and the next two days.
A reader, August 30, 2005 - 2:06 pm UTC
www.bookpool.com is offering the book for : $30.95
August 30, 2005 - 2:44 pm UTC
those are all LIST - never buy a book for list :)
Re: Follow up
DanielD, August 30, 2005 - 3:29 pm UTC
"you are connecting remotely with docpadmin- @digitest
did you do the same with sys and system."
Tom,
There is only one 'digitest' instance, on my PC. I have been contected to that instance with all 3 users (sys, system, docpadmin):
...
system@DIGITEST>
...
sys@DIGITEST>
...
docpadmin@DIGITEST>
...
However, I have re-done the wholre process again, this time without @digitest:
C:\Win32app\oracle\ora81\sqlplus\admin>sqlplus
SQL*Plus: Release 8.1.7.0.0 - Production on Tue Aug 30 13:05:42 2005
(c) Copyright 2000 Oracle Corporation. All rights reserved.
Enter user-name: docpadmin
Enter password:
Connected to:
Oracle8i Enterprise Edition Release 8.1.7.0.0 - Production
With the Partitioning option
JServer Release 8.1.7.0.0 - Production
docpadmin@DIGITEST> select name from v$database;
NAME
---------
DIGITEST
docpadmin@DIGITEST> @connect system
Enter password:
Input truncated to 14 characters
system@DIGITEST> @C:\Win32app\oracle\ora81\rdbms\admin\utlxplan
create table PLAN_TABLE (
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-00955: name is already used by an existing object
system@DIGITEST> DROP TABLE plan_table;
Table dropped.
system@DIGITEST> @C:\Win32app\oracle\ora81\rdbms\admin\utlxplan
Table created.
system@DIGITEST> CREATE PUBLIC SYNONYM PLAN_TABLE FOR PLAN_TABLE;
Synonym created.
system@DIGITEST> select name from v$database;
NAME
---------
DIGITEST
system@DIGITEST> GRANT ALL ON PLAN_TABLE TO PUBLIC;
Grant succeeded.
system@DIGITEST> @connect sys
Enter password:
Input truncated to 14 characters
sys@DIGITEST> select name from v$database;
NAME
---------
DIGITEST
sys@DIGITEST> @C:\Win32app\oracle\ora81\sqlplus\admin\plustrce
sys@DIGITEST>
sys@DIGITEST> drop role plustrace;
Role dropped.
sys@DIGITEST> create role plustrace;
Role created.
sys@DIGITEST>
sys@DIGITEST> grant select on v_$sesstat to plustrace;
Grant succeeded.
sys@DIGITEST> grant select on v_$statname to plustrace;
Grant succeeded.
sys@DIGITEST> grant select on v_$session to plustrace;
Grant succeeded.
sys@DIGITEST> grant plustrace to dba with admin option;
Grant succeeded.
sys@DIGITEST>
sys@DIGITEST> set echo off
sys@DIGITEST> GRANT PLUSTRACE TO PUBLIC;
Grant succeeded.
sys@DIGITEST> @connect docpadmin
Enter password:
Input truncated to 14 characters
docpadmin@DIGITEST> select name from v$database;
NAME
---------
DIGITEST
docpadmin@DIGITEST> set autotrace traceonly explain;
ERROR:
ORA-00904: invalid column name
SP2-0611: Error enabling EXPLAIN report
docpadmin@DIGITEST> @connect sys
Enter password:
Input truncated to 14 characters
sys@DIGITEST> set autotrace traceonly explain;
sys@DIGITEST>
I would really appreciate if you can let me know what am I doing wrong. Thank you for your time.
DanielD
August 30, 2005 - 3:31 pm UTC
before you do:
docpadmin@DIGITEST> set autotrace traceonly explain;
turn on sql_trace and see what query is actually failing (edit the trace file)
see you in 9 hours :) going to bed now....
One Volume is Fine
Paul Brelin, August 30, 2005 - 7:24 pm UTC
I prefer one volume.
I don't think I have ever been so excited about a technical book. Can hardly wait to pick it up.
Thanks!
August 31, 2005 - 1:02 pm UTC
too late, the first volume hits the bookstores sept 19th.
A reader, August 30, 2005 - 7:26 pm UTC
Yo DanielD, what does your question have to do with this thread?
A reader, August 30, 2005 - 7:27 pm UTC
Tom,
Did not get what do you mean by
>>those are all LIST - never buy a book for list :)
August 31, 2005 - 1:04 pm UTC
list price, never buy a book for list price. they are always discounted somewhere.
Have you seen a book on amazon that isn't "XX% off"?
sql_trace is on, and what query is actually failing?
DanielD, August 31, 2005 - 10:27 am UTC
Tom,
This is what I've executed:
docpadmin@DIGITEST> @connect docpadmin
Enter password:
Input truncated to 14 characters
docpadmin@DIGITEST> select name from v$database;
NAME
---------
DIGITEST
docpadmin@DIGITEST> alter session set sql_trace=true;
Session altered.
docpadmin@DIGITEST> set autotrace traceonly explain;
ERROR:
ORA-00904: invalid column name
SP2-0611: Error enabling EXPLAIN report
docpadmin@DIGITEST> alter session set sql_trace=false;
Session altered.
And here is the content of the tracefile:
Dump file C:\Win32app\oracle\admin\digitest\udump\ORA01328.TRC
Tue Aug 30 14:44:56 2005
ORACLE V8.1.7.0.0 - Production vsnsta=0
vsnsql=e vsnxtr=3
Windows 2000 Version 5.0 Service Pack 4, CPU type 586
Oracle8i Enterprise Edition Release 8.1.7.0.0 - Production
With the Partitioning option
JServer Release 8.1.7.0.0 - Production
Windows 2000 Version 5.0 Service Pack 4, CPU type 586
Instance name: digitest
Redo thread mounted by this instance: 1
Oracle process number: 15
Windows thread id: 1328, image: ORACLE.EXE
*** 2005-08-30 14:44:56.196
*** SESSION ID:(12.15217) 2005-08-30 14:44:56.087
APPNAME mod='SQL*Plus' mh=3669949024 act='' ah=4029777240
=====================
PARSING IN CURSOR #1 len=34 dep=0 uid=185 oct=42 lid=185 tim=36180431 hv=2195525345 ad='51d681c'
alter session set sql_trace=true
END OF STMT
EXEC #1:c=6,e=14,p=0,cr=0,cu=0,mis=1,r=0,dep=0,og=4,tim=36180432
=====================
PARSING IN CURSOR #1 len=40 dep=0 uid=185 oct=3 lid=185 tim=36181085 hv=1948987396 ad='5452190'
SELECT DECODE('A','A','1','2') FROM DUAL
END OF STMT
PARSE #1:c=2,e=1,p=0,cr=0,cu=0,mis=1,r=0,dep=0,og=4,tim=36181085
EXEC #1:c=0,e=0,p=0,cr=0,cu=0,mis=0,r=0,dep=0,og=4,tim=36181089
FETCH #1:c=0,e=0,p=0,cr=1,cu=4,mis=0,r=1,dep=0,og=4,tim=36181089
STAT #1 id=1 cnt=1 pid=0 pos=0 obj=195 op='TABLE ACCESS FULL DUAL '
=====================
PARSE ERROR #1:len=637 dep=0 uid=185 oct=3 lid=185 tim=36181090 err=904
SELECT ID ID_PLUS_EXP,PARENT_ID PARENT_ID_PLUS_EXP,LPAD(' ',2*(LEVEL-1))||OPERATION||DECODE(OTHER_TAG,NULL,'','*')||DECODE(OPTIONS,NULL,'',' ('||OPTIONS||')')||DECODE(OBJECT_NAME,NULL,'',' OF '''||OBJECT_NAME||'''')||DECODE(OBJECT_TYPE,NULL,'',' ('||OBJECT_TYPE||')')||DECODE(ID,0,DECODE(OPTIMIZER,NULL,'',' Optimizer='||OPTIMIZER))||DECODE(COST,NULL,'',' (Cost='||COST||DECODE(CARDINALITY,NULL,'',' Card='||CARDINALITY)||DECODE(BYTES,NULL,'',' Bytes='||BYTES)||')') PLAN_PLUS_EXP,OBJECT_NODE OBJECT_NODE_PLUS_EXP FROM PLAN_TABLE START WITH ID=0 AND STATEMENT_ID=:1 CONNECT BY PRIOR ID=PARENT_ID AND STATEMENT_ID=:1 ORDER BY ID,POSITION
*** 2005-08-30 14:45:14.712
=====================
PARSING IN CURSOR #1 len=34 dep=0 uid=185 oct=42 lid=185 tim=36182282 hv=1582735206 ad='51c0ed8'
alter session set sql_trace=false
END OF STMT
PARSE #1:c=1,e=1,p=0,cr=0,cu=0,mis=1,r=0,dep=0,og=4,tim=36182282
EXEC #1:c=0,e=0,p=0,cr=0,cu=0,mis=0,r=0,dep=0,og=4,tim=36182284
Thank you Tom, I will check your answer tomorrow, have your self a good night.
DanielD
August 31, 2005 - 1:58 pm UTC
PARSE ERROR #1:len=637 dep=0 uid=185 oct=3 lid=185 tim=36181090 err=904
SELECT ID ID_PLUS_EXP,PARENT_ID PARENT_ID_PLUS_EXP,LPAD('
',2*(LEVEL-1))||OPERATION||DECODE(OTHER_TAG,NULL,'','*')||DECODE(OPTIONS,NULL,'',
' ('||OPTIONS||')')||DECODE(OBJECT_NAME,NULL,'',' OF
'''||OBJECT_NAME||'''')||DECODE(OBJECT_TYPE,NULL,'','
('||OBJECT_TYPE||')')||DECODE(ID,0,DECODE(OPTIMIZER,NULL,'','
Optimizer='||OPTIMIZER))||DECODE(COST,NULL,'','
(Cost='||COST||DECODE(CARDINALITY,NULL,'','
Card='||CARDINALITY)||DECODE(BYTES,NULL,'',' Bytes='||BYTES)||')')
PLAN_PLUS_EXP,OBJECT_NODE OBJECT_NODE_PLUS_EXP FROM PLAN_TABLE START WITH ID=0
AND STATEMENT_ID=:1 CONNECT BY PRIOR ID=PARENT_ID AND STATEMENT_ID=:1 ORDER BY
ID,POSITION
*** 2005-08-30 14:45:14.712
that is, can you describe the plan_table??
"Yo DanielD, what does your question have to do with this thread?"
DanielD, August 31, 2005 - 11:45 am UTC
Hello "a reader",
Well,
1. I am reading through Tom's Expert Oracle book, and I do have a problem with setting up autotrace in SQL*Plus (page 14)
2. It is up to Tom to judge, isn't it ;) ?
Re: that is, can you describe the plan_table??
DanielD, September 01, 2005 - 9:34 am UTC
Hello Tom,
Here it is:
sys@DIGITEST> desc plan_table
Name Null? Type
----------------------------------------------------- -------- ------------------------------------
STATEMENT_ID VARCHAR2(30)
TIMESTAMP DATE
REMARKS VARCHAR2(80)
OPERATION VARCHAR2(30)
OPTIONS VARCHAR2(30)
OBJECT_NODE VARCHAR2(128)
OBJECT_OWNER VARCHAR2(30)
OBJECT_NAME VARCHAR2(30)
OBJECT_INSTANCE NUMBER(38)
OBJECT_TYPE VARCHAR2(30)
OPTIMIZER VARCHAR2(255)
SEARCH_COLUMNS NUMBER
ID NUMBER(38)
PARENT_ID NUMBER(38)
POSITION NUMBER(38)
COST NUMBER(38)
CARDINALITY NUMBER(38)
BYTES NUMBER(38)
OTHER_TAG VARCHAR2(255)
PARTITION_START VARCHAR2(255)
PARTITION_STOP VARCHAR2(255)
PARTITION_ID NUMBER(38)
OTHER LONG
DISTRIBUTION VARCHAR2(30)
As the user sys I can see all columns used by query, so I've connected as user docpadmin and described the plan_table as well:
sys@DIGITEST> @connect docpadmin
Enter password:
Input truncated to 14 characters
docpadmin@DIGITEST> desc plan_table;
Name Null? Type
----------------------------------------------------- -------- ------------------------------------
STATEMENT_ID VARCHAR2(30)
TIMESTAMP DATE
REMARKS VARCHAR2(80)
OPERATION VARCHAR2(30)
OPTIONS VARCHAR2(30)
OBJECT_NODE VARCHAR2(128)
OBJECT_OWNER VARCHAR2(30)
OBJECT_NAME VARCHAR2(30)
OBJECT_INSTANCE NUMBER(38)
OBJECT_TYPE VARCHAR2(30)
OPTIMIZER VARCHAR2(255)
SEARCH_COLUMNS NUMBER(38)
ID NUMBER(38)
PARENT_ID NUMBER(38)
POSITION NUMBER(38)
OTHER LONG
Now I can't see columns OTHER_TAG, COST, CARDINALITY, and BYTES. How come?
Thank you for your time. P.S. how do you like Czech Republic so far? :)
September 01, 2005 - 3:40 pm UTC
docpadmin has it's own plan table, doesn't it.
drop it, use the right one.
Czech Republic has been great, leaving tommorrow morning, 10 hours on a plan and I'll be back home.
plan_table
Greg W, September 01, 2005 - 12:23 pm UTC
Daniel,
by chance does docpadmin have his own plan_table that was created in a previous version of Oracle? In your examples, you dropped and recreated the sys & system plan_tables, but I didn't see you issue the drop table from docpadmin......
just a thought
plan_table from a previous version of Oracle?
DanielD, September 01, 2005 - 12:44 pm UTC
Bingo!
Thank you Greg, that was it. When I ran this query based on your suggestion, I've found that:
sys@DIGITEST> select owner, table_name from dba_tables where table_name = 'PLAN_TABLE';
OWNER TABLE_NAME
------------------------------ ------------------------------
DOCPADMIN PLAN_TABLE
SYSTEM PLAN_TABLE
Therefore:
sys@DIGITEST> DROP TABLE DOCPADMIN.PLAN_TABLE;
Table dropped.
sys@DIGITEST> @CONNECT docpadmin
Enter password:
Input truncated to 14 characters
docpadmin@DIGITEST> set autotrace traceonly explain;
docpadmin@DIGITEST>
Now I can set autotrace as user docpadmin.
I've build a test instance from scratch to play with, but I've also imported docpadmin's schema from development... That is also why I had the same issue while connected to dev.
Greg, thank you for your help and for your time.
DanielD
will the latest edition of expert -one be avaliable everywhere from 19th Sept
Ajeet, September 02, 2005 - 8:43 am UTC
Hi Tom
will the new book be availaible gloabally from 19th Sept or it is only for USA .
Thanks
Ajeet
September 03, 2005 - 7:08 am UTC
it'll be in various countries on the 19th and spread out from there.
I have no control over it.
I have no say in it.
I have no idea what the schedule is ;)
Your new book
Sujit, September 06, 2005 - 3:00 pm UTC
Tom,
Has the new version of your book for 10g come out already. I saw a link on asktom.oracle.com
The reason why I am asking is, the cover still looks like the old version, excpet this one is "Expert Oracle Database Architecture: 9i and 10g Programming Techniques and Solutions (Paperback)"
Please confirm. Seems like my waiting days are finally over.
September 06, 2005 - 8:57 pm UTC
see the home page, we are talking about the new book coming out sept 19th, which is a rewrite of part of expert one on one Oracle to cover 10g. links to discussions on it.
source code for the book ???
Manish Upadhyay, September 26, 2005 - 3:12 pm UTC
September 27, 2005 - 9:45 am UTC
I just sent it to them this morning - it should be available shortly (like today sometime)
When will volume 2 be available?
alastair green, September 28, 2005 - 7:10 am UTC
Hello Tom,
We have a couple of copies of "Expert One on One Oracle" version one here and would like to get the Second edition. I see from the comments here and elsewhere that it is in 2 volumes. Can you tell me roughly:
1) when the second volume will be published
2) what it will be called
3) what it will cover
Thanks
September 28, 2005 - 9:59 am UTC
a) next year
b) same title, replace architecture with development
c) dba/development topics
I'll be posting a blog soon with a tentative outline to get feedback/ideas on.
.. yet another masterpiece!
Jim, September 28, 2005 - 9:20 am UTC
..nothing like coming home to an amazon.com box containing ops$tkyte's latest literary work of art.
Thanks again man, ... you are the KING!!
Electronic format of 'Expert one on one"
Thiru, October 07, 2005 - 10:57 am UTC
Hi Tom,
The cd you have included in your new book is very useful instead of carrying the big book all the time. But the only thing is I am not able to find a way to see the contents in a left pane and navigate to the required chapter/section. Going to and fro across the book and looking at the various topics is not easy. Do you think it is due to my adobe reader (7.0) or is there some setting I need to do to get the contents and the hyperlinks.
Thanks for responding.
A reader, October 17, 2005 - 1:57 pm UTC
after reading the section covering date, timestamp and interval types within chapter 12 of your new book there are only built-ins "new_time" and "from_tz" left somehow unclear (to me) ... :o(
did you skip them on purpose (maybe left to the second part)?
October 17, 2005 - 2:42 pm UTC
new_time and from_tz are old as dirt functions that don't work very well (very very limited TZ support - very limited)
A reader, October 18, 2005 - 4:46 am UTC
hey, one *more* reason to investigate this ... ;o)
about your new book
Giridhar, October 21, 2005 - 10:01 am UTC
Hi tom,
may i know whether your new book
" Expert Oracle Database Architecture: 9i and 10g Programming Techniques and Solutions "
is available in India. I enquired in few books shops here and they said they did not get this book yet.
Regards,
Giridhar
October 21, 2005 - 10:25 am UTC
I don't know the schedule for India reprints.
Paper or Electrons
John Hawksworth, October 21, 2005 - 11:31 am UTC
Tom
vis-a-vis the paper/electronic format debate, I have noticed that when I can't use a computer because something's wrong, there's no point in having an on-line manual. I can't read said manual because my computer's not working.
I understand that technical reference manuals are usually for precisely that (reference) but sometimes they're needed to get broken things working again.
Anyway, it impresses the punters if you have a large quantity of "bedtime reading" :)
If I have the first book ?
Sravan, October 21, 2005 - 11:34 am UTC
Tom and others,
is the 2nd book an updated version of the first or an extension to it. In other words, can I put away the first book and just keep the new one ???? Or does the first book cover topics which the 2nd book doesn't.
October 21, 2005 - 11:42 am UTC
see the asktom home page, I have links to 3 articles where we discuss this (the new book comes with the Old book on CD...)
thanks
A reader, October 21, 2005 - 12:39 pm UTC
Tom,
I got my answers after reading those links.
Thanks.
RE : Your books
A reader, October 25, 2005 - 3:27 pm UTC
Tom,
I have your old version of your "Expert-One-On-One Oracle" (the book with your photo on the front) and want to find out what is different in each of your following books :
1. Expert-one-on-one Oracle
Apress Edition (Black and White cover, not sure of ISBN)
2. Expert Oracle (Signature Edition)
3. Expert Oracle 9i and 10g
In book(2) you have a CD on the back of the book which indicates that it has a searchable PDF version of "Expert-one-on-one" oracle
Also book (3) has a CD and the book indicates that the CD contains the 8i version of this book. Basically, I want to know what it refers to the 8i version of the book. I thought both Expert-One-On-One Oracle and Expert Oracle (Signature Edition) are the same except the latter contains a preview chapter of 9i version of this book. If that is the case why do we have CDs that have the same content coming with the new book.
Pls. clarify.
October 26, 2005 - 11:25 am UTC
1 and 2 are the same, except 2 comes with cd
3 - see the home page and click on the links to where we've discussed it - we go over that....
A reader, October 29, 2005 - 7:33 pm UTC
Hi Tom I recently gave time to read "Effective Oracle by Design" I found really interesting the details your gave.
The first time I read I skip the themes searching something interesting, and supposed it was something similar to documentation, so I read a few paragraph from that book.
Now I decided to end and archive it, but reading in detail now all the book I found very interesting information, ecause you included very interesting examples.
That is why I'll ask you if you could write two books.
First a book describing in detail the most simple process.
Explaining how it goes updating the dictionary views information
For example a query (in hte same way you describe some columns are being updated in your book).
1) it parses,
if the query is binding, the update the find x in the table y.
And so on, until you fetch the data.
Then describe in the same way the process of recover, etc.
I'm interesting to know how Oracle goes updating the dictionary and the detail of process it goes doing.
Eevn when this is documented in reference manual is not the same when you explaine when it is updated, following the process.
Second a book giving examples of uses of advances queues, workflow, etc., etc. technologies are there but nobody seems to use them. Eevn xml, for people who don't have time to invesitgate deeply a technology an advice about when to use and when not to use new technologies are really really nice.
And Introduction to technologies like grid and others. Now I know what is intranet, but when you don't know you need a very simple phrase describing what is, something like this is enough "intranet, is like internet but only accesed locally in your network". I'm not asking you to give complex examples neither copmlex explanations.
I had tried to use advanced queues but I needed some ideas of how to use it. This was not about how to get to work, else an expert advice about what you can do, what you must care, and what you can get.
I think this will book should be named "The lost technologies inside oracle"
And finally I'll ask you not being too repetitive across your books, some themes are repeted several times, even when in one books are better than others, I don't know if this justify. Maybe a mark saying (if you read oracle 8i expert one on one don't read this, or read this beacuse is better)
:)
October 30, 2005 - 3:54 am UTC
I describe how Oracle works in both Expert one on one Oracle (up to 8i) and in Expert Oracle Database Architecture (new, includes Expert one on one Oracle on CDROM and covers Oracle 9ir1, 9ir2, 10gr1).
I write about things I know, things I can give good advice on - that'll currently rule out XML and Workflow :)
You can read about the book I'm currently working on here:
</code>
http://asktom.oracle.com/Misc/next-book-part-ii.html <code>
What exactly was repetitive? (I do try to say "bind variables" at least once per page and I'm not going to stop until people start using them but what else is repetitive??)
But the themes I put across are simple and I will repeat them (else, well, they would not be *themes* would they??)
o understand how it works
o understand why it works
o understand when to use some feature
o understand when NOT to use some feature
o use bind variables :)
o build to scale
o build to be secure
those are my very very repetitive themes that you will not get me to deviate from.
string tokenizer
Alberto Dell'Era, October 30, 2005 - 5:53 pm UTC
Please add a strtok-like SQL function to the wish list, it is "probably" useful in many occasions, and it should not be very difficult to implement. Eg parsing a comma or tab-separated string is something that happens quite frequently.
--
Maybe having an external table that can get the data from a CLOB instead that from an OS file is something to consider, too. One could upload/insert a file from the client as a CLOB, and then process it using the powerful parsing engine of the external tables. All inside the database, no access required to the server OS filesystem ...
Second volume
Gabriel, November 14, 2005 - 10:02 am UTC
Hello Tom,
I started reading your latest book and I'm already looking forward to the second volume. Any idea when it will be available?
Thank you,
November 14, 2005 - 1:25 pm UTC
sept 2006
your new book
A reader, November 29, 2005 - 11:08 am UTC
Hi Tom
I have started reading your new book.
Although the material in the new book is never in doubt and the paper used is thick but there is yellowish tone in the paper which is not appealling to the eyes.
Your last book effective oracle by design had white paper.
Also one more thing effective oracle by design had also covered most of the Oracle 9i. I think a book which is only dedicated to Oracle 10g of course authored by you is what oracle professionals need.
Regards
November 30, 2005 - 10:48 am UTC
The paper in my copies and all copies I have seen is brilliantly white, very white, perfectly white.
Has anyone else seen this?
Su Baba, February 13, 2006 - 1:19 am UTC
Not sure if this is the right place to mention this. On p. 716 of your latest book "Expert Oracle Database Architecture," you have
---------------------------------------------
Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS), 41
advantages, 167
compared to dedicated server, 166
Net8 listener, 158
server processes, 156, 158
when and how to use, 170
---------------------------------------------
I think you had Shared Server in mind instead of Microsoft Transaction Server?
February 13, 2006 - 8:18 am UTC
Indeed - darn indexers (I don't do that part)
check point when migrating
juancarlosreyesp, February 13, 2006 - 12:17 pm UTC
Tom, why don't you include in one of your books a complete checkpoint when migranting from sql server of things you must be aware, a checkpoint when migrating from db2, etc. Or better if you include that in the documentation in a migration from other databases to oracle manual.
February 13, 2006 - 12:50 pm UTC
because I too must sometimes sleep.
A reader, February 14, 2006 - 12:15 pm UTC
:)
A reader, February 14, 2006 - 4:27 pm UTC
If I don't bother you.
Tom why don't you start a blog about hard work.
For example I know a person who was an ibm manager here, a really responsible person, then he move to a bank,and ended divorced, and after some years and with some medidation
he said
"(at least here and I'm refering to low salaries too) people who endeavor to be a really good on something computer related programming things, end divorced"
and he decided to open a travel agency and from then he enjoy the life, and "damn" the day he decied to work on computers.
About me, I remember when my child were born I couldn't help my wife because I was migrating until 4am severla days from clipper to oracle the system.
The previous years to my child I almost didn't see my wife, we had separated lives.
Then I decided to change the rules, and become more efficient instead of working more.
About you, When I receive an answer from you sundays I say "what a great person is Tom Kyte" obviously I ask too, What would say his wife about it.
:)
Second Edition of "Expert One on One Oracle
arvind, February 24, 2006 - 5:51 am UTC
You are the Best
Most Important is that I want your BOOK in INDIA
So Please tell me any place in india from where I
will be able to get(buy) your book...
"Expert One on One Oracle" -> Tiltle of book.
Urgent help is required
February 24, 2006 - 8:34 am UTC
it is there, in India. It has been. You can buy electronic copies right now too, apress.com.
Passion not hard work
Khalid, February 24, 2006 - 6:44 pm UTC
I am actually responding the last 'A reader' from Feb 24, when you are in the zone (as they say in sports) it is no longer hard work, it is something you enjoy. I have felt that kind of passion too when I was younger and I played chess. See I don't think Linus Torvalds would have got this product called Linux without the passion, it is not about money for some people, because if it was only hard work for money, Linux would turn out like windows. I am not speaking for Tom or for Linus T, but that is what I think it is imho. I know I don't have it, but some people are different than us run of the mill kinds.
Yeah, and I am going to buy me this book too.
And oh, btw, I wonder why Tom doesn't use a sequence generator to number his reviews, many times the last review is not what I want to respond to.
February 25, 2006 - 11:08 am UTC
Oh, but I do use a sequence.
And a random number.
And some other stuff.
A couple of reasons
o it is just a number, a surrogate key, an identifier. It need not be sequential anymore than URL's on a website should be sequential.
o spreads the activity on my index out all over the place
o makes the ID's not guessable :) I did that one purpose for a reason....
I don't see how using a sequence would make responding to anything "easier" in any way shape or form however...
Re : Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS), 41
Notna, February 26, 2006 - 3:15 am UTC
Hi Tom,
But in page 41, you mentioned
<QUOTE>
Perhaps in your visual basic code running under Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS).
</QUOTE>
I think that index page should be p166...
Regards....
Expert Oracle Database Architecture: 9i and 10g Programming Techniques and Solutions
Umesh Kasturi, March 29, 2006 - 7:35 am UTC
Tom,
When is the Indian Edition of "Expert Oracle Database Architecture: 9i and 10g Programming Techniques and Solutions " getting released ?
March 29, 2006 - 11:04 am UTC
no idea, that would be a question for apress.com to answer.
We just write the books - we (the authors) have little to no say over any distribution thereof
Interdependence on chapters?
Radhakrishna, June 06, 2006 - 2:36 am UTC
Hi Tom,
I've recently bought the new 'Expert Oracle Database Architecture - 9i and 10g Programming Techniques and Solutions'. I'm like a beginner with Oracle and only have bits and pieces of knowledge. So, I want to utilise the book to the fullest extent possible.
Is there any interdependence in the chapters? If I start with 1st chapter, do I have to continue chapter wise in sequence? If you have any other order without disturbing the flow, can you suggest? Or at least have you mentioned the suggested flow to read the chapters in the book anywhere? If so where? Could you please suggest?
But, I'm quite sure this book will help me heaps.
Cheers
Sarma.
June 06, 2006 - 8:28 am UTC
if you want the "flow", start with one and go to two and then three and so on.
But, each chapter is more or less standalone in many respects, you can skip around.
just bought it
Elaine H, June 09, 2006 - 9:57 am UTC
you mentioned that this was the first of three books to be published...when are the other two due to be completed and published.
i can hardly wait.
June 09, 2006 - 1:07 pm UTC
working on second now
CEO of Oracle
Larry Ellison, June 30, 2006 - 12:23 pm UTC
What is your feelings if larry ellison came to you and ask you to take over his position(CEO of Oracle), like billgates to Craig Mundie or Ray Ozzie.
Thanks,
June 30, 2006 - 12:49 pm UTC
I'd laugh out loud, and then wake up.
Second volume/book release date
Tony, July 25, 2006 - 10:37 am UTC
Tom,
I red the first volume. It's simply great.
1. When will the second volume/book be released?
2. What are the topics covered in the second book?
3. Topics covered in the third book & release date.
Second Book in June-2006
Anto, July 25, 2006 - 5:15 pm UTC
Back cover of your first book says that the second book would be released in June-2006. This is July-2006. Why is it not released yet?
July 25, 2006 - 5:26 pm UTC
well, mostly because I haven't written it yet.
multiple
A reader, July 25, 2006 - 5:40 pm UTC
good to know that there are multiple Antos from USA - Surprise to see another Anto
thanks
Anto
Mirjana, July 26, 2006 - 4:29 am UTC
Yesterday I got the third copy of the book (the previous two "disappeared" somewhere in the office), and this one was the "deep insults" one... Wow... Collectors item ... ;-)
By the way, Anto or Ante, very common name in Croatia....
Disgusting...
Sarma, July 27, 2006 - 5:54 am UTC
Hey Man!
What is this? Everytime when we ask you about your next volume, you say, 'immediately after I finish writing it'. But for God's sake(and for all others sake, of course), please can you COMMIT on some date?
In the first place, why did you PARTITION your book? To Oracle, I got CONNECTED BY strongly because of your first volume, and I'm in NO WAIT till you release next volume. If you don't ROLLBACK and SELECT a date for release of second volume, there will be a huge SEQUENCE of similar posts.
P.S: My dissatisfaction is reflected in the ratig for this article.
Regrets
Sarma.
July 27, 2006 - 11:55 am UTC
You don't want to know what I find digusting.
I'll commit to a date. The book will be published prior to 2010.
There - happy now?
Geez. Can you gauge MY dissatisfaction with you?
Sarma
AD, July 27, 2006 - 12:19 pm UTC
Hi Sarma,
If you are demanding something then be polite - there is no point asking the same question when others have done.
It does not take long to notice when the new book is due to be released - so why is the hurry?
It's not very encouraging to read your frustation. Please don't set a wrong example.
Regards
out of line ... and ... out of touch
Gabe, July 27, 2006 - 2:18 pm UTC
Sarma,
Since you took it upon yourself to speak on behalf of many others I feel I should remind you that an argument is hardly more convincing just because one claims to be the voice of many.
No one, individual or corporation or whatever, owns you an education Â… well, maybe your parents do. It is totally upon you to be better tomorrow than you are today.
Expert one on one
Manjunath, August 01, 2006 - 3:23 am UTC
Hi Tom,
I've been looking for expert one on one but the book vendors have no stock of it. they say that a new edition will be released. Can you let me know when your new edition will be released.
Thanks
Manjunath
August 01, 2006 - 7:21 am UTC
last september.
Expert Oracle Database Architecture.
includes a cd with the entire first book on it.
Expert One on One
Manjunath, August 07, 2006 - 5:07 am UTC
Thank you very much.
How about a "Best of Ask Tom"?
A reader, August 15, 2006 - 2:22 pm UTC
The information contained on this site is excellent. Perhaps the threads could be "sifted" through to contain only pretanent info and have redundant questions removed.
Then it could sell as a CD or download (so links would still work). I would buy it in a minute.
You could include a "rant" section as a separate thread :)
thnx
Andrew, August 31, 2006 - 12:45 pm UTC
thank you Tom for all excellent work on the book and site.
I totaly missed the second edition :( - it didn't occur to me that it will have a different title. Oh, well, silly me :)
I guess my company will spend another $XX on smth usefull :)
thank you
Andrew
On New Book
A reader, September 13, 2006 - 9:09 am UTC
When your new book "Expert Oracle Database Development" come to published ? We wish as fast as possible :)
September 13, 2006 - 2:43 pm UTC
me too :)
Please let us know the second book date
Saraja, October 18, 2006 - 8:48 am UTC
Dear Tom,
When are you planning to release your second book? Okay! Let me put it this way. Out of 100%, what percentage did you accomplish in releaseing your second book? This time at least!
Cheers
Saraja
October 18, 2006 - 9:36 am UTC
I released my second book years ago :)
I am currently 0% of the way through the 2nd half of the second edition though.
Data warehouse
H, October 19, 2006 - 12:51 pm UTC
Tom,
Are you planning to write any book on data warehouse? if yes, what would be the likely contents of the same?
Regards,
H
October 19, 2006 - 2:18 pm UTC
nope, not really. not my speciality.
Expert One on One Oracle
Ihab, October 26, 2006 - 5:30 am UTC
where can i found the Expert One on One Oracle
October 26, 2006 - 11:58 am UTC
bookstores? amazon.com?
Johny, November 10, 2006 - 10:21 am UTC
Tom,
Following are the books, which I got from a search in Amazon.uk.
Could you give some kind information (in one or two lines) for each one?
I am confused with all these books and I donÂ’t know which one should be bought.
I am a pl/sql developer, and now I am looking for one or two books, with which I can widen my knowledge in Performance tuning
Thanks
Johny
1 Expert Oracle Database Architecture - 9i and 10g Programming Techniques and Solutions by Thomas Kyte (Paperback - 14 Sep 2005)
2 Expert Oracle Signature Edition (Expert's Choice) by Thomas Kyte (Paperback - April 2005)
3 Effective Oracle by Design (Osborne Oracle Press) by Thomas Kyte (Paperback - 1 Sep 2003)
4 Beginning Oracle Programming by Sean Dillon, Christopher Beck, Thomas Kyte, and Joel Kallman (Paperback - 20 Mar 2002)
5 Expert One-on-One Oracle by Thomas Kyte (Paperback - 2001)
6 Expert One-On-One: Oracle by Thomas Kyte (Paperback - 1 Jun 2001)
7 Professional Oracle 8i Application Programming with Java, PL/SQL and XML by Michael Awai, Matthew Bortniker, John Carnell, and Kelly Cox (Paperback - 1 Dec 2000)
your new book
jas, January 18, 2007 - 6:30 pm UTC
Hi Tom
I baught Expert Oracle database architecture 9i and 10g programming techniques and solutions last december.
This website is now showing Expert Oracle 9i and 10g programming techniques and solutions with no database architecture in it.
Is this new book or tha same with name change.
Regards
A request
Sandeep Bhatia, February 09, 2007 - 10:49 am UTC
Dear Tom,
Very thankful for the beautiful book. Thanks for being the technology I work in.
Anyway, I have a small question regarding the content of the book. Will that be a violation of Copy Rights if I paste the contents of your book say, 2-3 lines in any of the Oracle forums? If you say, 'DO NOT POST' I will not. Whatever you say.
The reason I'm asking this is, I feel no one else can explain anything (related to Oracle database) any better.
Having said that, I will also insist them on buying your book. Please let me know.
Sandeep
February 12, 2007 - 8:34 am UTC
go ahead and quote, attribute the quote, but quote.
all part of the fair use.
Effective Oracle by Design book upgrade/update
Ray R, March 21, 2007 - 11:06 am UTC
Hi Tom,
This is my first time to post but was reading for quite some time and, like everyone, find everything very useful.
Your book, Effective Oracle by Design, has been out for almost 4 years now. Any plans of updating this one like you did to Oracle One on One?
By the way, I bought myself a copy of your Oracle Database Architecture and I am looking forward to meet you and, I would be honored, have your signature on it.
Thank you
Books on Oracle
Rajesh, May 01, 2007 - 3:08 pm UTC
Dear Tom,
I am regular visitor to your site and keep reading your replies to postings. I am working on Oracle for the past six years mostly as administrator. I wish to have a collection of your books for reference.
Can you please give me a list of books written by you which i can use as a ready reckoner to go out and purchase them.
Regards
Rajesh
May 01, 2007 - 4:19 pm UTC
goto home page, click on either of my books, then on amazon, click on my name...
A reader, May 01, 2007 - 5:13 pm UTC
Can you disclosure some information about planned second part of "Expert Oracle"? When we have a chance to see it?
Regards,
Oleksandr Alesinskyy
May 01, 2007 - 9:08 pm UTC
right after I write it, nothing more can be said - working on it.
Well...
Stephan, May 01, 2007 - 10:41 pm UTC
Gee, Tom, maybe you'd get more done on the book if you weren't answering posts at all hours of the night ;)
Hope the writing goes well - looking forward to it.
Looking forward to new book
Dave Freyer, May 02, 2007 - 6:03 am UTC
Searched for your new book and it is not available. Please ask the publisher to print and distribute more copies.
Your works and site are important references in my work -- it's good to have a real pro to give "stick and rudder" when needed.
ORACLE 11G
Bill B, July 13, 2007 - 3:09 pm UTC
Will you be coming out with a new version of expert 1-on-1 soon to cover 11G? I know that you can't download 11G yet (sigh...), but I would like to read about it's new features from THE expert on all things oracle.
July 13, 2007 - 7:48 pm UTC
well, here is a somewhat different take on that from the rest of the world.
I'm going to write - and it'll be written now (next few months). Will I touch 11g?
No - not likely.
Why?
I haven't any real world experience with it yet.
So, those first to market books - beware of them. How can they give advice on how to use something new - given they have never used it...
Read the new features guide (that is what I do...)
In a while, we'll all be a little used to using the new stuff :)
desperate for your book...
Ram Srinivasan, July 24, 2007 - 5:17 am UTC
Hi Tom,
I'm just another one of your millions of followers, fans or whatever way we can call us.. I think it's too long a wait for us.. I have all of your books except Expert one-on-one oracle which I failed to get even after repeated tries which I still don't give up. Please let us not wait any more...
Summary of the Thomas Kyte's publications
Sandro, July 26, 2007 - 12:09 pm UTC
This is the summary of the Thomas Kyte's publications.
* Expert Oracle Database Architecture: 9i and 10g Programming Techniques and Solutions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
by Thomas Kyte (Author)
# Paperback: 768 pages
# Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (Sep 15 2005)
# ISBN-10: 1590595300
# ISBN-13: 978-1590595305
* Effective Oracle by Design
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
by Thomas Kyte (Author)
# Paperback: 688 pages
# Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; 1 edition (Aug 22 2003)
# ISBN-10: 0072230657
# ISBN-13: 978-0072230659
* Expert One-on-One Oracle
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
by Thomas Kyte (Author)
# Paperback: 1297 pages
# Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (August 8, 2003)
# ISBN-10: 1590592433
# ISBN-13: 978-1590592434
Expert One on One Oracle
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
by Thomas Kyte (Author)
# Paperback: 1265 pages
# Publisher: Peer Information Inc. (Jun 1 2001)
# ISBN-10: 1861004826
# ISBN-13: 978-1861004826
Expert One-On-One Oracle Performance by Design
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
by Wrox Author Team (Author), Thomas Kyte (Author)
?? June 2001 ?? FRANCE ??
# Paperback: 600 pages
# Publisher: Wrox Press
# ISBN-10: 1861008260
# ISBN-13: 978-1861008268
--> That is out of print.
Expert Oracle, Signature Edition Programming Techniques and Solutions for Oracle 7.3 through 8.1.7 (Expert One-On-One)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
by Thomas Kyte (Author)
# Hardcover: 1328 pages
# Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (April 25, 2005)
# ISBN-10: 1590595254
# ISBN-13: 978-1590595251
--> out of date (only up to 817)
Professional Oracle 8i: Application Programming with Java, PL/SQL and XML (International Edition)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
by Matthew Bortniker, John Carnell, Kelly Cox, Daniel O'Connor, Mario Zucca, Sean Dillon, Thomas Kyte, Ann Horton, Frank Hubeny, Glenn E. Mitchell II, Kevin Mukhar, Gary Nicol, Guy Ruth Hammond Michael Awai
# Publisher: Shroff Publishers India; First International edition (2001)
# ISBN-10: 8173661812
# ISBN-13: 978-8173661815
Beginning Oracle Programming (Expert's Voice)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
by Sean Dillon (Author), Christopher Beck (Author), Thomas Kyte (Author), Joel Kallman (Author), Howard Rogers (Author)
# Paperback: 1128 pages
# Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (September 24, 2003)
# ISBN-10: 1590592867
# ISBN-13: 978-1590592861
--> That is a beginners book, written for 9i and before.
Firsts 3 are very good.
Any update?
Stephan Uzzell, March 31, 2008 - 1:34 pm UTC
Hi Tom,
The last info I can find from you (nearly a year ago in this thread) was that the 2nd volume was in progress.
Any updates? We all wait with bated breath...
March 31, 2008 - 1:55 pm UTC
sorry, no updates yet.
new book
sam, June 27, 2008 - 2:24 pm UTC
Tom:
Do you have any plans to publish a book about your personal life? I am very interested in that. I think that will be a best seller.
Like how often you read books, what type of books you read, what sports do you like, any specific foods or pills that make you super intelligent etc.
June 27, 2008 - 3:17 pm UTC
read tkyte.blogspot.com - especially the older entries.
no, there will never be such a book...
Likes your answer "that there will be no such book"
Girish Singhal, November 06, 2008 - 3:17 pm UTC
I like that answer as it displays character and shows that you believe in continuity of life..... :-) ..... like the different reincarnations of Lord Vishnu in Hindu Mythology..... every time a new personality in a new birth..... immortal by being mortal..... :-)
P.S. Just don't take it too seriously what I wrote above..... Just felt that I should write it..... I don't want to offend you or anyone else..... Just a mere expression of thought.
Also I didn't know what rating to give on this one so I just selected 4 - Very Useful
Good Books
A Reader, January 15, 2009 - 4:01 am UTC
Hi Tom,
Wow! What knowledge these books impart. i have read One-on-one and oracle by design and was stunned by your explanations on each topic in so detail.
However could you write something on :
When we feel it is better to utilize a cache instead of utilizing the Oracle database?
How to determine it is appropriate to take risks in Production?
Regards
Wiki???
Jay, May 29, 2009 - 2:53 pm UTC
Tom,
There was an article about you on Wikipedia and it had your picture on it as well. Someone deleted it. Grrrrr... Why??
You deserve to be on there. You're a hero for so many people.
re: wikipedia
Stew Ashton, June 03, 2009 - 7:09 am UTC
Update?
chandini paterson, June 15, 2009 - 1:10 am UTC
Tom,
Have you got any update for us regarding your new book? Any idea when it will be out? And will you now be including 11g stuff in it (pretty please)?
Thank you,
chandini
Write Book fro DBA
Ankit, July 23, 2009 - 11:49 am UTC
Hi Tom,
Why don't you write a book on Performance and Tuning, it would sell like anything :)
July 26, 2009 - 6:59 am UTC
Because the database comes with software to automate that which can be automated.
I believe in "design to perform", not "pump out whatever and then try to fix it". That is what I've written about.
Ankit, July 27, 2009 - 10:26 am UTC
Sure what you say is perfectly well.
But there are many people who in a tough situation can benefit from your wisdom, anyways please consider my request.
July 27, 2009 - 7:43 pm UTC
as I said, the database already does 100% of any "here are ten steps for tuning" could do. It has been written, it is part of the software
what you can do is learn how the database works so you can design implementations that take advantage of it.
The database can tune your sql.
Only you can tune your algorithms. And doing that is not a ten step process, it is something that takes knowledge, understanding and experience. And that is what I write about.
user managed complete recovery steps
sachin tyagi, February 12, 2010 - 8:23 am UTC
sir , i want to have steps of complete recoveries in oracle 9i, if u please tell me the whole steps to recover a database with user managed way....
indianr reprint
vinod, April 14, 2010 - 11:20 am UTC
sir
Is this book available in india. As your previous books were published by Tata McGraw India.
If yes then please tell me publishers name and Price in Indian Rs.
regards
vinod
April 14, 2010 - 3:55 pm UTC
take the ISBN and go to a bookstore - they would know.
I don't actually control, nor have any knowledge, of the distribution.
Expert Oracle db architecture - 11g
Rajeshwaran, Jeyabal, December 10, 2012 - 6:52 am UTC
Tom,
I was reading your book, Expert Oracle database architecture 11g.
Pageno : 529
Chapter 11: Indexes
Topic : Do Nulls and Indexes Work Together?
How does your Autotrace on 11gR2 instance produces, explain plan simillar to Oracle 9i database?
<quote>
ops$tkyte@ORA11GR2> set autotrace on
ops$tkyte@ORA11GR2> select * from t where x is null;
X Y
---------- ----------
1
Execution Plan
----------------------------------------------------------
0 SELECT STATEMENT Optimizer=ALL_ROWS (Cost=1 Card=1 Bytes=5)
1 0 INDEX (RANGE SCAN) OF 'T_IDX' (INDEX (UNIQUE)) (Cost=1 Card=1 Bytes=5)
December 14, 2012 - 2:34 pm UTC
it was unchanged from 9i... so when editing for the update, I just must not have cut and pasted the plan - just the query.
sandeep, December 15, 2012 - 1:50 am UTC
hi,
i need to capture the ip address and all the relevant info of a client who is connected to databse server through application server in oracle 11g please help
December 17, 2012 - 4:18 pm UTC
the ip address of course would be the ip address of the thing connected to Oracle - which isn't what you want (probably).
which means your application server code will have to push all of this "relevant" information into the database - maybe using an application context.
but your middle tier absolutely needs to do this - in the database we only see the middle tier, only the middle tier knows the 'relevant' information....
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/B28359_01/network.111/b28531/app_context.htm
Books For oracle 11g
sunny, January 24, 2017 - 7:09 am UTC
Can you help me to give books name or any resources useful for become expert in oracle 11g database and 12c.
Like that Tom Kyte book Expert one and one in oracle not cover for oracle 11g database or may be my mistake.
January 24, 2017 - 9:31 am UTC
Expert Oracle Database Architecture 3rd ed. Edition (see our Resources page) is an update to date reference for the fundamentals.
The Concepts guide (docs.oracle.com) is also a very good read.
Other than that -
a) get involved in user groups
b) start a blog, read lots of them
c) jump onto the oracle forums