RE: A Question on the Basics of PL/SQL

Get the PL/SQL Programming book by Oracle Press. Thats where I got the definitions below from.

It also comes with a CD containing scripts which will populate database tables so you can try the examples in the book.

Go nuts!

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2001 5:17 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L

I am a bit confused as to when to use the following. I cannot seem to find any definitive rules.

• function
  "Functions are named PL/SQL blocks that return a value and
  can be called with arguments. They can be used as part of an expression. They are legal in procedural statements, and certain functions can be used in SQL statements in PL/SQL 2.1 and higher. Functions can be stored in the database with the CREATE [OR REPLACE] FUNCTION command, or they can be located in the declarative section of another block."
• cursor
  "Cursors are used to control the processing for queries that return
  more than one row. A cursor is declared using the CURSOR..IS syntax, then processed with OPEN, FETCH, and CLOSE. Cursor attributes are used to determine the current status of a cursor, with information about how many rows the cursor has returned, whether the cursor is open, and whether the last fetch was successful."
• procedure
  "Procedures can be stored in the database with the CREATE OR REPLACE
  PROCEDURE statement, or they can be declared in the declarative secion of a block. A procedure is a named block that can be called with parameters. The parameters can either accept a value from the calling environment (IN), return a value to the calling environment (OUT), or both (IN OUT)."
• package
  "Packages are defined as two separate data dictionary objects--the package
  header (or specification) and the package body. The header is created with the CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE command, the body with the CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY command. Packages must be stored in the database; they cannot be placed in the declarative section like procedures or functions. Packages themselves can contain procedures, functions, variables, types, cursors, and exceptions. Items declared in the package header will be visible outside the package, while items defined in only the package body will be private to the package. Packages also break the dependency chain because the package body can be recompiled without affecting the package specification."

If someone can point me to a white paper, or whatever, that defines the rules for their usage I would be most thankful.

Thanks,
Ken Janusz, CPIM

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