Question/Answers

1 Which is more faster - IN or EXISTS?

EXISTS is more faster than IN because EXISTS returns a Boolean value whereas IN returns a value.

2 Which datatype is used for storing graphics and images?

LONG RAW data type is used for storing BLOB's (binary large objects).

3 When do you use WHERE clause and when do you use HAVING clause?
HAVING clause is used when you want to specify a condition for a group function and it is written after
GROUP BY clause. The WHERE clause is used when you want to specify a condition for columns, single row
functions except group functions and it is written before GROUP BY clause if it is used.

4 What WHERE CURRENT OF clause does in a cursor?

LOOPSELECT num_credits INTO v_numcredits FROM classesWHERE dept=123 and course=101;UPDATE
studentsSET current_credits=current_credits+v_numcreditsWHERE CURRENT OF X;END
LOOPCOMMIT;END;

5 What should be the return type for a cursor variable.Can we use a scalar data type as return type?
The return type for a cursor must be a record type.It can be declared explicitly as a user-defined or
%ROWTYPE can be used. eg TYPE t_studentsref IS REF CURSOR RETURN students%ROWTYPE

6 What is use of a cursor variable? How it is defined?

A cursor variable is associated with different statements at run time, which can hold different values at run
time. Static cursors can only be associated with one run time query. A cursor variable is reference type (like a
pointer in C).Declaring a cursor variable:TYPE type_name IS REF CURSOR RETURN return_type
type_name is the name of the reference type,return_type is a record type indicating the types of the select list
that will eventually be returned by the cursor variable.

7 What is the purpose of a cluster?

Oracle does not allow a user to specifically locate tables, since that is a part of the function of the RDBMS.
However, for the purpose of increasing performance, oracle allows a developer to create a CLUSTER. A
CLUSTER provides a means for storing data from different tables together for faster retrieval than if the table
placement were left to the RDBMS.

8 What is the maximum buffer size that can be specified using the DBMS_OUTPUT.ENABLE function?
1,000,00

9 What is syntax for dropping a procedure and a function .Are these operations possible?
Drop Procedure procedure_nameDrop Function function_name

10 What is OCI. What are its uses?

Oracle Call Interface is a method of accesing database from a 3GL program. Uses--No precompiler is
required,PL/SQL blocks are executed like other DML statements. The OCI library provides· -functions to
parse SQL statemets· -bind input variables· -bind output variables· -execute statements· -fetch the results

11 What is difference between UNIQUE and PRIMARY KEY constraints?

A table can have only one PRIMARY KEY whereas there can be any number of UNIQUE keys. The columns
that compose PK are automatically define NOT NULL, whereas a column that compose a UNIQUE is not
automatically defined to be mandatory must also specify the column is NOT NULL.

12 What is difference between SUBSTR and INSTR?

SUBSTR returns a specified portion of a string eg SUBSTR('BCDEF',4) output BCDEINSTR provides
character position in which a pattern is found in a string. eg INSTR('ABC-DC-F','-',2) output 7 (2nd occurence
of '-')

13 What is difference between SQL and SQL*PLUS?

SQL*PLUS is a command line tool where as SQL and PL/SQL language interface and reporting tool. Its a
command line tool that allows user to type SQL commands to be executed directly against an Oracle database.
SQL is a language used to query the relational database(DML,DCL,DDL). SQL*PLUS commands are used to
format query result, Set options, Edit SQL commands and PL/SQL.

14 What is difference between Rename and Alias?

Rename is a permanent name given to a table or column whereas Alias is a temporary name given to a table or
column which do not exist once the SQL statement is executed.

15 What is difference between a formal and an actual parameter?

The variables declared in the procedure and which are passed, as arguments are called actual, the parameters in
the procedure declaration. Actual parameters contain the values that are passed to a procedure and receive
results. Formal parameters are the placeholders for the values of actual parameters

16 What is an UTL_FILE.What are different procedures and functions associated with it?
UTL_FILE is a package that adds the ability to read and write to operating system files. Procedures associated
with it are FCLOSE, FCLOSE_ALL and 5 procedures to output data to a file PUT, PUT_LINE, NEW_LINE,
PUTF, FFLUSH.PUT, FFLUSH.PUT_LINE,FFLUSH.NEW_LINE. Functions associated with it are FOPEN,
ISOPEN.

17 What is a view ?
A view is stored procedure based on one or more tables, it’s a virtual table.

18 What is a pseudo column. Give some examples?

It is a column that is not an actual column in the table.eg USER, UID, SYSDATE, ROWNUM, ROWID,
NULL, AND LEVEL.

19 What is a OUTER JOIN?

Outer Join--Its a join condition used where you can query all the rows of one of the tables in the join condition
even though they don’t satisfy the join condition.

20 What is a cursor?
Oracle uses work area to execute SQL statements and store processing information PL/SQL construct called a
cursor lets you name a work area and access its stored information A cursor is a mechanism used to fetch more
than one row in a Pl/SQl block.

21 What is a cursor for loop?

Cursor For Loop is a loop where oracle implicitly declares a loop variable, the loop index that of the same
record type as the cursor's record.

22 What are various privileges that a user can grant to another user?
· SELECT· CONNECT· RESOURCES

23 What are various constraints used in SQL?

· NULL· NOT NULL· CHECK· DEFAULT

24 What are ORACLE PRECOMPILERS?

Using ORACLE PRECOMPILERS, SQL statements and PL/SQL blocks can be contained inside 3GL
programs written in C,C++,COBOL,PASCAL, FORTRAN,PL/1 AND ADA.The Precompilers are known as
Pro*C,Pro*Cobol,...This form of PL/SQL is known as embedded pl/sql,the language in which pl/sql is
embedded is known as the host language. The prcompiler translates the embedded SQL and pl/sql ststements
into calls to the precompiler runtime library.The output must be compiled and linked with this library to creater
an executable.

25 What are different Oracle database objects?

· TABLES· VIEWS· INDEXES· SYNONYMS· SEQUENCES· TABLESPACES etc

26 What are different modes of parameters used in functions and procedures?

· IN· OUT· INOUT

27 What are cursor attributes?

· %ROWCOUNT· %NOTFOUND· %FOUND· %ISOPEN

28 What a SELECT FOR UPDATE cursor represent.

[ANSWER]SELECT......FROM......FOR......UPDATE[OF column-reference][NOWAIT] The processing done
in a fetch loop modifies the rows that have been retrieved by the cursor. A convenient way of modifying the
rows is done by a method with two parts: the FOR UPDATE clause in the cursor declaration, WHERE
CURRENT OF CLAUSE in an UPDATE or declaration statement.

29 There is a string 120000 12 0 .125 , how you will find the position of the decimal place?
INSTR('120000 12 0 .125',1,'.')output 13

30 There is a % sign in one field of a column. What will be the query to find it?
'' Should be used before '%'.

31 Suppose a customer table is having different columns like customer no, payments.What will be the query to
select top three max payments?
SELECT customer_no, payments from customer C1
WHERE 3<=(SELECT COUNT(*) from customer C2
WHERE C1.payment <= C2.payment)

32 minvalue.sql Select the Nth lowest value from a table

select level, min('col_name') from my_table where level = '&n' connect by prior ('col_name') <
'col_name')
group by level;
Example:
Given a table called emp with the following columns:
-- id number
-- name varchar2(20)
-- sal number
--
-- For the second lowest salary:
-- select level, min(sal) from emp
-- where level=2
-- connect by prior sal < sal
-- group by level

33 maxvalue.sql Select the Nth Highest value from a table

select level, max('col_name') from my_table where level = '&n' connect by prior ('col_name') >
'col_name')
group by level;
Example:
Given a table called emp with the following columns:
-- id number
-- name varchar2(20)
-- sal number
--
-- For the second highest salary:
-- select level, max(sal) from emp
-- where level=2
-- connect by prior sal > sal
-- group by level

34 How you will avoid your query from using indexes?

SELECT * FROM emp
Where emp_no+' '=12345;
i.e you have to concatenate the column name with space within codes in the where condition.
SELECT /*+ FULL(a) */ ename, emp_no from emp
where emp_no=1234;
i.e using HINTS

35 How you will avoid duplicating records in a query?

By using DISTINCT

36 How you were passing cursor variables in PL/SQL 2.2?

In PL/SQL 2.2 cursor variables cannot be declared in a package.This is because the storage for a cursor
variable has to be allocated using Pro*C or OCI with version 2.2, the only means of passing a cursor variable
to a PL/SQL block is via bind variable or a procedure parameter.

37 How you open and close a cursor variable.Why it is required?

OPEN cursor variable FOR SELECT...Statement
CLOSE cursor variable In order to associate a cursor variable with a particular SELECT statement OPEN
syntax is used. In order to free the resources used for the query CLOSE statement is used.

38 How will you delete duplicating rows from a base table?

delete from table_name where rowid not in (select max(rowid) from table group by
duplicate_values_field_name); or
delete duplicate_values_field_name dv from table_name ta where rowid <(select min(rowid) from table_name
tb where ta.dv=tb.dv);

39 How do you find the numbert of rows in a Table ?

A bad answer is count them (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM table_name)
A good answer is :-
'By generating SQL to ANALYZE TABLE table_name COUNT STATISTICS by querying Oracle System
Catalogues (e.g. USER_TABLES or ALL_TABLES).
The best answer is to refer to the utility which Oracle released which makes it unnecessary to do ANALYZE
TABLE for each Table individually.

40 Find out nth highest salary from emp table

SELECT DISTINCT (a.sal) FROM EMP A WHERE &N = (SELECT COUNT (DISTINCT (b.sal)) FROM
EMP B WHERE a.sal<=b.sal);
For Eg:-
Enter value for n: 2
SAL
---------
3700

41 Display the records between two range?

select rownum, empno, ename from emp where rowid in (select rowid from emp where rownum <=&upto
minus select rowid from emp where rownum<&Start);

42 Display the number value in Words?

SQL> select sal, (to_char(to_date(sal,'j'), 'jsp'))
from emp;
the output like,
SAL (TO_CHAR(TO_DATE(SAL,'J'),'JSP'))
--------- -----------------------------------------------------
800 eight hundred
1600 one thousand six hundred
1250 one thousand two hundred fifty
If you want to add some text like, Rs. Three Thousand only.
SQL> select sal "Salary ",
(' Rs. '|| (to_char(to_date(sal,'j'), 'Jsp'))|| ' only.'))
"Sal in Words" from emp
/
Salary Sal in Words
------- ------------------------------------------------------
800 Rs. Eight Hundred only.
1600 Rs. One Thousand Six Hundred only.
1250 Rs. One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty only.

43 Display Odd/ Even number of records

Odd number of records:
select * from emp where (rowid,1) in (select rowid, mod(rownum,2) from emp);
Output:-
1
3
5
Even number of records:
select * from emp where (rowid,0) in (select rowid, mod(rownum,2) from emp)
Output:-
2
4
6

44 Difference between procedure and function.

Functions are named PL/SQL blocks that return a value and can be called with arguments procedure a named
block that can be called with parameter. A procedure all is a PL/SQL statement by itself, while a Function call
is called as part of an expression.

45 Difference between NO DATA FOUND and %NOTFOUND

NO DATA FOUND is an exception raised only for the SELECT....INTO statements when the where clause of
the querydoes not match any rows. When the where clause of the explicit cursor does not match any rows the
%NOTFOUND attribute is set to TRUE instead.

46 Difference between database triggers and form triggers?

Data base trigger(DBT) fires when a DML operation is performed on a data base table. Form trigger(FT) Fires
when user presses a key or navigates between fields on the screen
Can be row level or statement level No distinction between row level and statement level.
Can manipulate data stored in Oracle tables via SQL Can manipulate data in Oracle tables as well as variables
in forms.
Can be fired from any session executing the triggering DML statements. Can be fired only from the form that
define the trigger.
Can cause other database triggers to fire.Can cause other database triggers to fire, but not other form triggers.

47 Difference between an implicit & an explicit cursor.

PL/SQL declares a cursor implicitly for all SQL data manipulation statements, including quries that return only
one row. However,queries that return more than one row you must declare an explicit cursor or use a cursor
FOR loop.
Explicit cursor is a cursor in which the cursor name is explicitly assigned to a SELECT statement via the
CURSOR...IS statement. An implicit cursor is used for all SQL statements Declare, Open, Fetch, Close. An
explicit cursors are used to process multirow SELECT statements An implicit cursor is used to process
INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE and single row SELECT. .INTO statements.

48 Can you use a commit statement within a database trigger?

No.

49 Can the default values be assigned to actual parameters?

Yes

50 Can cursor variables be stored in PL/SQL tables.If yes how. If not why?
No, a cursor variable points a row which cannot be stored in a two-dimensional PL/SQL table.

51 Can a primary key contain more than one columns?

Yes

52 Can a function take OUT parameters. If not why?

No. A function has to return a value,an OUT parameter cannot return a value.

53 What are various joins used while writing SUBQUERIES?

Self join-Its a join foreign key of a table references the same table. Outer Join--Its a join condition used where
One can query all the rows of one of the tables in the join condition even though they don't satisfy the join
condition.
Equi-join--Its a join condition that retrieves rows from one or more tables in which one or more columns in
one table are equal to one or more columns in the second table.

54 Differentiate between TRUNCATE and DELETE

TRUNCATE deletes much faster than DELETE
TRUNCATE
DELETE

It is a DDL statement It is a DML statement

It is a one way trip,cannot ROLLBACK One can Rollback
Doesn't have selective features (where clause) Has
Doesn't fire database triggers Does
It requires disabling of referential constraints. Does not require

1 What is PL/SQL ?
PL/SQL is a procedural language that has both interactive SQL and procedural programming language
constructs such as iteration, conditional branching.

2 Write the order of precedence for validation of a column in a table ?

I. done using Database triggers.
ii. done using Integarity Constraints.

I & ii.

Exception :

3 Where the Pre_defined_exceptions are stored ?

In the standard package.

Procedures, Functions & Packages ;

4 What are % TYPE and % ROWTYPE ? What are the advantages of using these over datatypes?

% TYPE provides the data type of a variable or a database column to that variable.

% ROWTYPE provides the record type that represents a entire row of a table or view or columns selected in
the cursor.

The advantages are : I. Need not know about variable's data type
ii. If the database definition of a column in a table changes, the data type of a variable changes accordingly.

5 What will happen after commit statement ?

Cursor C1 is
Select empno,
ename from emp;
Begin
open C1; loop
Fetch C1 into
eno.ename;
Exit When
C1 %notfound;-----
commit;
end loop;
end;

The cursor having query as SELECT .... FOR UPDATE gets closed after COMMIT/ROLLBACK.

The cursor having query as SELECT.... does not get closed even after COMMIT/ROLLBACK.

6 What is the basic structure of PL/SQL ?

PL/SQL uses block structure as its basic structure. Anonymous blocks or nested blocks can be used in
PL/SQL.

7 What is Raise_application_error ?

Raise_application_error is a procedure of package DBMS_STANDARD which allows to issue an user_defined

error messages from stored sub-program or database trigger.

8 What is Pragma EXECPTION_INIT ? Explain the usage ?

The PRAGMA EXECPTION_INIT tells the complier to associate an exception with an oracle error. To get an
error message of a specific oracle error.

e.g. PRAGMA EXCEPTION_INIT (exception name, oracle error number)

9 What is PL/SQL table ?

Objects of type TABLE are called "PL/SQL tables", which are modeled as (but not the same as) database
tables, PL/SQL tables use a primary PL/SQL tables can have one column and a primary key.

Cursors

10 What is Overloading of procedures ?

The Same procedure name is repeated with parameters of different datatypes and parameters in different
positions, varying number of parameters is called overloading of procedures.

e.g. DBMS_OUTPUT put_line

What is a package ? What are the advantages of packages ?

11 What is difference between a PROCEDURE & FUNCTION ?

A FUNCTION is always returns a value using the return statement.

A PROCEDURE may return one or more values through parameters or may not return at all.

12 What is difference between a Cursor declared in a procedure and Cursor declared in a package specification
?

A cursor declared in a package specification is global and can be accessed by other procedures or procedures
in a package.
A cursor declared in a procedure is local to the procedure that can not be accessed by other procedures.

13 What is difference between % ROWTYPE and TYPE RECORD ?

% ROWTYPE is to be used whenever query returns a entire row of a table or view.

TYPE rec RECORD is to be used whenever query returns columns of different

table or views and variables.

E.g. TYPE r_emp is RECORD (eno emp.empno% type,ename emp ename %type
);
e_rec emp% ROWTYPE
cursor c1 is select empno,deptno from emp;
e_rec c1 %ROWTYPE.

14 What is an Exception ? What are types of Exception ?

Exception is the error handling part of PL/SQL block. The types are Predefined and user defined. Some of
Predefined exceptions are.
CURSOR_ALREADY_OPEN
DUP_VAL_ON_INDEX
NO_DATA_FOUND
TOO_MANY_ROWS
INVALID_CURSOR
INVALID_NUMBER
LOGON_DENIED
NOT_LOGGED_ON
PROGRAM-ERROR
STORAGE_ERROR
TIMEOUT_ON_RESOURCE
VALUE_ERROR
ZERO_DIVIDE
OTHERS.

15 What is a stored procedure ?

A stored procedure is a sequence of statements that perform specific function.

16 What is a database trigger ? Name some usages of database trigger ?

Database trigger is stored PL/SQL program unit associated with a specific database table. Usages are Audit
data modifications, Log events transparently, Enforce complex business rules Derive column values
automatically, Implement complex security authorizations. Maintain replicate tables.

17 What is a cursor for loop ?

Cursor for loop implicitly declares %ROWTYPE as loop index,opens a cursor, fetches rows of values from
active set into fields in the record and closes
when all the records have been processed.

eg. FOR emp_rec IN C1 LOOP

salary_total := salary_total +emp_rec sal;
END LOOP;

18 What is a cursor ? Why Cursor is required ?

Cursor is a named private SQL area from where information can be accessed. Cursors are required to process
rows individually for queries returning multiple rows.

19 What happens if a procedure that updates a column of table X is called in a database trigger of the same
table ?

Mutation of table occurs.

20 What are two virtual tables available during database trigger execution ?

The table columns are referred as OLD.column_name and NEW.column_name.

For triggers related to INSERT only NEW.column_name values only available.
For triggers related to UPDATE only OLD.column_name NEW.column_name values only available.
For triggers related to DELETE only OLD.column_name values only available.
21 What are two parts of package ?

The two parts of package are PACKAGE SPECIFICATION & PACKAGE BODY.

Package Specification contains declarations that are global to the packages and local to the schema.
Package Body contains actual procedures and local declaration of the procedures and cursor declarations.

22 What are the two parts of a procedure ?

Procedure Specification and Procedure Body.

23 What are the return values of functions SQLCODE and SQLERRM ?

SQLCODE returns the latest code of the error that has occurred.
SQLERRM returns the relevant error message of the SQLCODE.

24 What are the PL/SQL Statements used in cursor processing ?

DECLARE CURSOR cursor name, OPEN cursor name, FETCH cursor name INTO or Record types, CLOSE
cursor name.

25 What are the modes of parameters that can be passed to a procedure ?

IN,OUT,IN-OUT parameters.

26 What are the datatypes a available in PL/SQL ?

Some scalar data types such as NUMBER, VARCHAR2, DATE, CHAR, LONG, BOOLEAN.
Some composite data types such as RECORD & TABLE.

27 What are the cursor attributes used in PL/SQL ?

%ISOPEN - to check whether cursor is open or not

% ROWCOUNT - number of rows fetched/updated/deleted.
% FOUND - to check whether cursor has fetched any row. True if rows are fetched.
% NOT FOUND - to check whether cursor has fetched any row. True if no rows are featched.
These attributes are proceeded with SQL for Implicit Cursors and with Cursor name for Explicit Cursors.

28 What are the components of a PL/SQL Block ?

Declarative part, Executable part and Exception part.

Datatypes PL/SQL

29 What are the components of a PL/SQL block ?

A set of related declarations and procedural statements is called block.

30 What are advantages fo Stored Procedures /

Extensibility,Modularity, Reusability, Maintainability and one time compilation.

1 What is PL/SQL ?
PL/SQL is a procedural language that has both interactive SQL and procedural programming language
constructs such as iteration, conditional branching.

2 Write the order of precedence for validation of a column in a table ?

I. done using Database triggers.
ii. done using Integarity Constraints.

I & ii.

Exception :

3 Where the Pre_defined_exceptions are stored ?

In the standard package.

Procedures, Functions & Packages ;

4 What are % TYPE and % ROWTYPE ? What are the advantages of using these over datatypes?

% TYPE provides the data type of a variable or a database column to that variable.

% ROWTYPE provides the record type that represents a entire row of a table or view or columns selected in
the cursor.

The advantages are : I. Need not know about variable's data type
ii. If the database definition of a column in a table changes, the data type of a variable changes accordingly.

5 What will happen after commit statement ?

Cursor C1 is
Select empno,
ename from emp;
Begin
open C1; loop
Fetch C1 into
eno.ename;
Exit When
C1 %notfound;-----
commit;
end loop;
end;

The cursor having query as SELECT .... FOR UPDATE gets closed after COMMIT/ROLLBACK.

The cursor having query as SELECT.... does not get closed even after COMMIT/ROLLBACK.

6 What is the basic structure of PL/SQL ?

PL/SQL uses block structure as its basic structure. Anonymous blocks or nested blocks can be used in
PL/SQL.

7 What is Raise_application_error ?
Raise_application_error is a procedure of package DBMS_STANDARD which allows to issue an user_defined
error messages from stored sub-program or database trigger.

8 What is Pragma EXECPTION_INIT ? Explain the usage ?

The PRAGMA EXECPTION_INIT tells the complier to associate an exception with an oracle error. To get an
error message of a specific oracle error.

e.g. PRAGMA EXCEPTION_INIT (exception name, oracle error number)

9 What is PL/SQL table ?

Objects of type TABLE are called "PL/SQL tables", which are modeled as (but not the same as) database
tables, PL/SQL tables use a primary PL/SQL tables can have one column and a primary key.

Cursors

10 What is Overloading of procedures ?

The Same procedure name is repeated with parameters of different datatypes and parameters in different
positions, varying number of parameters is called overloading of procedures.

e.g. DBMS_OUTPUT put_line

What is a package ? What are the advantages of packages ?

11 What is difference between a PROCEDURE & FUNCTION ?

A FUNCTION is always returns a value using the return statement.

A PROCEDURE may return one or more values through parameters or may not return at all.

12 What is difference between a Cursor declared in a procedure and Cursor declared in a package specification
?

A cursor declared in a package specification is global and can be accessed by other procedures or procedures
in a package.
A cursor declared in a procedure is local to the procedure that can not be accessed by other procedures.

13 What is difference between % ROWTYPE and TYPE RECORD ?

% ROWTYPE is to be used whenever query returns a entire row of a table or view.

TYPE rec RECORD is to be used whenever query returns columns of different

table or views and variables.

E.g. TYPE r_emp is RECORD (eno emp.empno% type,ename emp ename %type
);
e_rec emp% ROWTYPE
cursor c1 is select empno,deptno from emp;
e_rec c1 %ROWTYPE.
14 What is an Exception ? What are types of Exception ?

Exception is the error handling part of PL/SQL block. The types are Predefined and user defined. Some of
Predefined exceptions are.
CURSOR_ALREADY_OPEN
DUP_VAL_ON_INDEX
NO_DATA_FOUND
TOO_MANY_ROWS
INVALID_CURSOR
INVALID_NUMBER
LOGON_DENIED
NOT_LOGGED_ON
PROGRAM-ERROR
STORAGE_ERROR
TIMEOUT_ON_RESOURCE
VALUE_ERROR
ZERO_DIVIDE
OTHERS.

15 What is a stored procedure ?

A stored procedure is a sequence of statements that perform specific function.

16 What is a database trigger ? Name some usages of database trigger ?

Database trigger is stored PL/SQL program unit associated with a specific database table. Usages are Audit
data modifications, Log events transparently, Enforce complex business rules Derive column values
automatically, Implement complex security authorizations. Maintain replicate tables.

17 What is a cursor for loop ?

Cursor for loop implicitly declares %ROWTYPE as loop index,opens a cursor, fetches rows of values from
active set into fields in the record and closes
when all the records have been processed.

eg. FOR emp_rec IN C1 LOOP

salary_total := salary_total +emp_rec sal;
END LOOP;

18 What is a cursor ? Why Cursor is required ?

Cursor is a named private SQL area from where information can be accessed. Cursors are required to process
rows individually for queries returning multiple rows.

19 What happens if a procedure that updates a column of table X is called in a database trigger of the same
table ?

Mutation of table occurs.

20 What are two virtual tables available during database trigger execution ?

The table columns are referred as OLD.column_name and NEW.column_name.

For triggers related to INSERT only NEW.column_name values only available.
For triggers related to UPDATE only OLD.column_name NEW.column_name values only available.
For triggers related to DELETE only OLD.column_name values only available.

21 What are two parts of package ?

The two parts of package are PACKAGE SPECIFICATION & PACKAGE BODY.

Package Specification contains declarations that are global to the packages and local to the schema.
Package Body contains actual procedures and local declaration of the procedures and cursor declarations.

22 What are the two parts of a procedure ?

Procedure Specification and Procedure Body.

23 What are the return values of functions SQLCODE and SQLERRM ?

SQLCODE returns the latest code of the error that has occurred.
SQLERRM returns the relevant error message of the SQLCODE.

24 What are the PL/SQL Statements used in cursor processing ?

DECLARE CURSOR cursor name, OPEN cursor name, FETCH cursor name INTO or Record types, CLOSE
cursor name.

25 What are the modes of parameters that can be passed to a procedure ?

IN,OUT,IN-OUT parameters.

26 What are the datatypes a available in PL/SQL ?

Some scalar data types such as NUMBER, VARCHAR2, DATE, CHAR, LONG, BOOLEAN.
Some composite data types such as RECORD & TABLE.

27 What are the cursor attributes used in PL/SQL ?

%ISOPEN - to check whether cursor is open or not

% ROWCOUNT - number of rows fetched/updated/deleted.
% FOUND - to check whether cursor has fetched any row. True if rows are fetched.
% NOT FOUND - to check whether cursor has fetched any row. True if no rows are featched.
These attributes are proceeded with SQL for Implicit Cursors and with Cursor name for Explicit Cursors.

28 What are the components of a PL/SQL Block ?

Declarative part, Executable part and Exception part.

Datatypes PL/SQL

29 What are the components of a PL/SQL block ?

A set of related declarations and procedural statements is called block.

30 What are advantages fo Stored Procedures /

Extensibility,Modularity, Reusability, Maintainability and one time compilation.

31 Name the tables where characteristics of Package, procedure and functions are stored ?

User_objects, User_Source and User_error.

32 Is it possible to use Transaction control Statements such a ROLLBACK or COMMIT in Database Trigger ?
Why ?

It is not possible. As triggers are defined for each table, if you use COMMIT of ROLLBACK in a trigger, it
affects logical transaction processing.

33 How packaged procedures and functions are called from the following?
a. Stored procedure or anonymous block
b. an application program such a PRC C, PRO COBOL
c. SQL *PLUS

a. PACKAGE NAME.PROCEDURE NAME (parameters);

variable := PACKAGE NAME.FUNCTION NAME (arguments);
EXEC SQL EXECUTE
b.
BEGIN
PACKAGE NAME.PROCEDURE NAME (parameters)
variable := PACKAGE NAME.FUNCTION NAME (arguments);
END;
END EXEC;
c. EXECUTE PACKAGE NAME.PROCEDURE if the procedures does not have any
out/in-out parameters. A function can not be called.

34 How many types of database triggers can be specified on a table ? What are they ?

Insert Update Delete

Before Row o.k. o.k. o.k.

After Row o.k. o.k. o.k.

Before Statement o.k. o.k. o.k.

After Statement o.k. o.k. o.k.

If FOR EACH ROW clause is specified, then the trigger for each Row affected by the statement.

If WHEN clause is specified, the trigger fires according to the returned Boolean value.

35 Give the structure of the procedure ?

PROCEDURE name (parameter list.....)

is
local variable declarations
BEGIN
Executable statements.
Exception.
exception handlers

end;

36 Give the structure of the function ?

FUNCTION name (argument list .....) Return datatype is

local variable declarations
Begin
executable statements
Exception
execution handlers
End;

37 Explain the usage of WHERE CURRENT OF clause in cursors ?

WHERE CURRENT OF clause in an UPDATE,DELETE statement refers to the latest row fetched from a
cursor.

Database Triggers

38 Explain the two type of Cursors ?

There are two types of cursors, Implicit Cursor and Explicit Cursor.
PL/SQL uses Implicit Cursors for queries.
User defined cursors are called Explicit Cursors. They can be declared and used.

39 Explain how procedures and functions are called in a PL/SQL block ?

Function is called as part of an expression.

sal := calculate_sal ('a822');
procedure is called as a PL/SQL statement
calculate_bonus ('A822');

Programmatic Constructs
Last Update: September 06, 2004

1 What are the different types of PL/SQL program units that can be defined and stored in ORACLE database ?
Procedures and Functions,Packages and Database Triggers.

2 What are the differences between Database Trigger and Integrity constraints ?
A declarative integrity constraint is a statement about the database that is always true. A constraint applies to
existing data in the table and any statement that manipulates the table.

A trigger does not apply to data loaded before the definition of the trigger, therefore, it does not guarantee all
data in a table conforms to the rules established by an associated trigger.
A trigger can be used to enforce transitional constraints where as a declarative integrity constraint cannot be
used.

3 What is difference between Procedures and Functions ?

A Function returns a value to the caller where as a Procedure does not.

4 What is Database Trigger ?

A Database Trigger is procedure (set of SQL and PL/SQL statements) that is automatically executed as a result
of an insert in,update to, or delete from a table.

5 What is a Procedure ?
A Procedure consist of a set of SQL and PL/SQL statements that are grouped together as a unit to solve a
specific problem or perform a set of related tasks.

6 What is a Package ?
A Package is a collection of related procedures, functions, variables and other package constructs together as a
unit in the database.

7 What are the uses of Database Trigger ?

Database triggers can be used to automatic data generation, audit data modifications, enforce complex Integrity
constraints, and customize complex security authorizations.

8 What are the advantages of having a Package ?

Increased functionality (for example,global package variables can be declared and used by any proecdure in
the package) and performance (for example all objects of the package are parsed compiled, and loaded into
memory once)
1 With which function of summary item is the compute at options required?
percentage of total functions.

2 Why is it preferable to create a fewer no. of queries in the data model?

Because for each query, report has to open a separate cursor and has to rebind, execute and fetch data.

3 Why is a Where clause faster than a group filter or a format trigger?

Because, in a where clause the condition is applied during data retrieval than after retrieving the data.

4 Which parameter can be used to set read level consistency across multiple queries?
Read only.

5 Which of the two views should objects according to possession?

view by structure.

6 Which of the above methods is the faster method?

performing the calculation in the query is faster.

7 Where is the external query executed at the client or the server?

At the server.

8 Where is a procedure return in an external pl/sql library executed at the client or at the server?
At the client.

9 When do you use data parameter type?

When the value of a data parameter being passed to a called product is always the name of the record group
defined in the current form. Data parameters are used to pass data to produts invoked with the run_product
built-in subprogram.

10 When a form is invoked with call_form, Does oracle forms issues a save point?
Yes

11 What are the important difference between property clause and visual attributes?
Named visual attributes differ only font, color & pattern attributes, property clauses can contain this and any
other properties. You can change the appearance of objects at run time by changing the named visual attributes
programmatically , property clause assignments cannot be changed programmatically. When an object is
inheriting from both a property clause and named visual attribute, the named visual attribute settings take
precedence, and any visual attribute properties in the class are ignored.

12 What use of command line parameter cmd file?

It is a command line argument that allows you to specify a file that contain a set of arguments for r20run.

13 What is WHEN-Database-record trigger?

Fires when oracle forms first marks a record as an insert or an update. The trigger fires as soon as oracle forms
determines through validation that the record should be processed by the next post or commit as an insert or
update. c generally occurs only when the operators modifies the first item in the record, and after the operator
attempts to navigate out of the item.

14 What is use of term?

The term file which key is correspond to which oracle report functions.

15 What is trigger associated with the timer?

When-timer-expired.

16 What is the use of transactional triggers?

Using transactional triggers we can control or modify the default functionality of the oracle forms.

17 What is the use of place holder column?

A placeholder column is used to hold calculated values at a specified place rather than allowing is to appear in
the actual row where it has to appear.

18 What is the use of image_zoom built-in?

To manipulate images in image items.

19 What is the use of hidden column?

A hidden column is used to when a column has to embed into boilerplate text.

20 What is the use of break group?

A break group is used to display one record for one group ones. While multiple related records in other group
can be displayed.

21 What is the remove on exit property?

For a modelless window, it determines whether oracle forms hides the window automatically when the
operators navigates to an item in the another window.

22 What is the purpose of the product order option in the column property sheet?
To specify the order of individual group evaluation in a cross products.
23 What is the maximum no of chars the parameter can store?
The maximum no of chars the parameter can store is only valid for char parameters, which can be upto 64K.
No parameters default to 23Bytes and Date parameter default to 7Bytes.

24 What is the main diff. bet. Reports 2.0 & Reports 2.5?
Report 2.5 is object oriented.

25 What is the frame & repeating frame?

A frame is a holder for a group of fields. A repeating frame is used to display a set of records when the no. of
records that are to displayed is not known before.

26 What is the difference between OLE Server & Ole Container?

An Ole server application creates ole Objects that are embedded or linked in ole Containers ex. Ole servers are
ms_word & ms_excel. OLE containers provide a place to store, display and manipulate objects that are created
by ole server applications. Ex. oracle forms is an example of an ole Container.

27 What is the difference between object embedding & linking in Oracle forms?
In Oracle forms, Embedded objects become part of the form module, and linked objects are references from a
form module to a linked source file.

28 What is the difference between boiler plat images and image items?
Boiler plate Images are static images (Either vector or bit map) that you import from the file system or
database to use a graphical elements in your form, such as company logos and maps. Image items are special
types of interface controls that store and display either vector or bitmap images. Like other items that store
values, image items can be either base table items(items that relate directly to database columns) or control
items. The definition of an image item is stored as part of the form module FMB and FMX files, but no image
file is actually associated with an image item until the item is populate at run time.

29 What is the difference between $$DATE$$ & $$DBDATE$$ $$DBDATE$$ retrieves the current database
date $$date$$ retrieves the current operating system date.

30 What is the diff. when Flex mode is mode on and when it is off?
When flex mode is on, reports automatically resizes the parent when the child is resized.

31 What is the diff. when confine mode is on and when it is off?

When confine mode is on, an object cannot be moved outside its parent in the layout.

32 What is the diff. bet. setting up of parameters in reports 2.0 reports 2.5?
LOVs can be attached to parameters in the reports 2.5 parameter form.

33 What is the advantage of the library?

Libraries provide a convenient means of storing client-side program units and sharing them among multiple
applications. Once you create a library, you can attach it to any other form, menu, or library modules. When
you can call library program units from triggers menu items commands and user named routine, you write in
the modules to which you have attach the library. When a library attaches another library, program units in the
first library can reference program units in the attached library. Library support dynamic loading-that is library
program units are loaded into an application only when needed. This can significantly reduce the run-time
memory requirements of applications.

34 What is term?
The term is terminal definition file that describes the terminal form which you are using r20run.

35 What is system.coordination_operation?
It represents the coordination causing event that occur on the master block in master-detail relation.

36 What is synchronize?
It is a terminal screen with the internal state of the form. It updates the screen display to reflect the information
that oracle forms has in its internal representation of the screen.

37 What is strip sources generate options?

Removes the source code from the library file and generates a library files that contains only pcode. The
resulting file can be used for final deployment, but can not be subsequently edited in the designer. ex. f45gen
module=old_lib.pll userid=scott/tiger strip_source YES output_file

38 What is relation between the window and canvas views?

Canvas views are the back ground objects on which you place the interface items (Text items), check boxes,
radio groups etc.,) and boilerplate objects (boxes, lines, images etc.,) that operators interact with us they run
your form . Each canvas views displayed in a window.

39 What is pop list?

The pop list style list item appears initially as a single field (similar to a text item field). When the operator
selects the list icon, a list of available choices appears.

40 What is new_form built-in?

When one form invokes another form by executing new_form oracle form exits the first form and releases its
memory before loading the new form calling new form completely replace the first with the second. If there
are changes pending in the first form, the operator will be prompted to save them before the new form is
loaded.

41 What is lexical reference? How can it be created?

Lexical reference is place_holder for text that can be embedded in a sql statements. A lexical reference can be
created using & before the column or parameter name.

42 What is forms_DDL?
Issues dynamic Sql statements at run time, including server side pl/SQl and DDL

43 What is difference between open_form and call_form?

when one form invokes another form by executing open_form the first form remains displayed, and operators
can navigate between the forms as desired. when one form invokes another form by executing call_form, the
called form is modal with respect to the calling form. That is, any windows that belong to the calling form are
disabled, and operators cannot navigate to them until they first exit the called form.

44 What is bind reference and how can it be created?

Bind reference are used to replace the single value in sql, pl/sql statements a bind reference can be created
using a (:) before a column or a parameter name.

45 What is an user exit used for?

A way in which to pass control (and possibly arguments ) form Oracle report to another Oracle products of 3
GL and then return control ( and ) back to Oracle reports.

46 What is an OLE?
Object Linking & Embedding provides you with the capability to integrate objects from many Ms-Windows
applications into a single compound document creating integrated applications enables you to use the features
form .

47 What is an object group?

An object group is a container for a group of objects; you define an object group when you want to package
related objects, so that you copy or reference them in other modules.

48 What is an anchoring object & what is its use?

An anchoring object is a print condition object which used to explicitly or implicitly anchor other objects to
itself.

49 What is a User_exit?
Calls the user exit named in the user_exit_string. Invokes a 3Gl program by name which has been properly
linked into your current oracle forms executable.

50 What is a timer?
Timer is an "internal time clock" that you can programmatically create to perform an action each time the
timer expires.

51 What is a Text_io Package?

It allows you to read and write information to a file in the file system.

52 What is a text list?

The text list style list item appears as a rectangular box which displays the fixed number of values. When the
text list contains values that can not be displayed, a vertical scroll bar appears, allowing the operator to view
and select undisplayed values.

53 What is a property clause?

A property clause is a named object that contains a list of properties and their settings. Once you create a
property clause you can base other object on it. An object based on a property can inherit the setting of any
property in the clause that makes sense for that object.

54 What is a physical page ? & What is a logical page ?

A physical page is a size of a page. That is output by the printer. The logical page is the size of one page of the
actual report as seen in the Previewer.

55 What is a library?
A library is a collection of subprograms including user named procedures, functions and packages.

56 What is a difference between pre-select and pre-query?

Fires during the execute query and count query processing after oracle forms constructs the select statement to
be issued, but before the statement is actually issued. The pre-query trigger fires just before oracle forms issues
the select statement to the database after the operator as define the example records by entering the query
criteria in enter query mode. Pre-query trigger fires before pre-select trigger.

57 What is a combo box?

A combo box style list item combines the features found in list and text item. Unlike the pop list or the text list
style list items, the combo box style list item will both display fixed values and accept one operator entered
value.

58 What does the term panel refer to with regard to pages?

A panel is the no. of physical pages needed to print one logical page.

59 What are visual attributes?

Visual attributes are the font, color, pattern proprieties that you set for form and menu objects that appear in
your application interface.
60 What are three panes that appear in the run time pl/sql interpreter?
1.Source pane. 2. interpreter pane. 3. Navigator pane.