[ANNOUNCE] Oratcl-2.41 released

From: Tom Poindexter <tpoindex_at_nyx.cs.du.edu>
Date: 1996/12/12
Message-ID: <58psjk$f15_at_nyx.cs.du.edu>


I've released Oratcl-2.41. It is a minor upgrade from 2.4, fixing a few small configuration problems, some safety measures for oratcl.c, and small changes for Wosql. It's available at:

        ftp://ftp.neosoft.com/pub/tcl/incoming/oratcl-2.41.tar.gz

	This is the upload directory; you can fetch the file directly
	from here, but you won't be able to see a directory listing.
	As time permits, the Neosoft administrator will move it to a permanent 
	location:
	
	ftp://ftp.neosoft.com/pub/tcl/NEW/oratcl-2.41.tar.gz 
	ftp://ftp.neosoft.com/pub/tcl/sorted/databases/oratcl-2.41.tar.gz 

        You can also cruise the Neosoft archive, including the incoming
	directory at:

        http://www.neosoft.com/tcl/ftparchive


The relevant portions of the CHANGES file, and the entire README file are attached.

Enjoy!

Tom Poindexter
tpoindex_at_nyx.net
http://www.nyx.net/~tpoindex/

---CHANGES----------------------------------------------------------------------

Version 2.41, December 1996

     Change oratcl.c - zero out lda and hda before logon

     Configure/makefile - fix problem when --exec-prefix= is different from
     --prefix,  include extra paths in library search, include compile time
     lib search flag since linker may prefer shared libs over static when
     both are present.

     Change wosql - add server names from ~/.tnsnames.ora and Oracle home
     $ORACLE_HOME/network/admin/tnsnames.ora


---README-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Oratcl - Tcl interface to Oracle database server

  • Oracle interface to Tcl
    *
  • Copyright 1993 Tom Poindexter and U S WEST Advanced Technologies, Inc.
    *
  • Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
  • documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted, provided
  • that the above copyright notice appear in all copies.
  • Tom Poindexter and U S WEST make no representations about the suitability
  • of this software for any purpose. It is provided "as is" without express or
  • implied warranty. By use of this software the user agrees to
  • indemnify and hold harmless Tom Poindexter and U S WEST from any
  • claims or liability for loss arising out of such use.
    *
    *-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  • Version 1.0 July, 1993
  • Tom Poindexter, Boulder Colorado
  • tpoind_at_advtech.uswest.com or tpoindex_at_nyx.cs.du.edu
    *-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  • Version 2.0 November, 1993
  • Tom Poindexter, Boulder Colorado
  • tpoind_at_advtech.uswest.com or tpoindex_at_nyx.cs.du.edu
    *-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  • Version 2.1 February, 1994
  • Tom Poindexter, Boulder Colorado
  • tpoind_at_advtech.uswest.com or tpoindex_at_nyx.cs.du.edu
    *-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  • Version 2.11 April, 1994
  • Tom Poindexter, Boulder Colorado
  • tpoind_at_advtech.uswest.com or tpoindex_at_nyx.cs.du.edu
    *-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  • Version 2.2 October, 1994
  • Tom Poindexter, Denver Colorado
  • tpoindex_at_nyx.cs.du.edu <<<note new address!
    *-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  • Version 2.3 August, 1995
  • Tom Poindexter, Denver Colorado
  • tpoindex_at_nyx.cs.du.edu
    *-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  • Version 2.4 September, 1996
  • Tom Poindexter, Denver Colorado
  • tpoindex_at_nyx.net
    *-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  • Version 2.41 December, 1996
  • Tom Poindexter, Denver Colorado
  • tpoindex_at_nyx.net
    *

WHAT IS ORATCL? Oratcl is an extension to Tool Command Language (Tcl) that provides access to a Oracle Database server. Oratcl adds additional Tcl commands that login to an Oracle Server, pass SQL code, read results, etc. Oratcl was inspired by similar tools written for Perl (sybperl, oraperl) but was written from scratch instead of borrowing on the work of either Perl extension.

Oratcl was based on my earlier effort with Sybtcl. The sample program "wosql" is a direct descendent of Sybtcl's "wisql".

Oratcl features:

  -supports multiple connections to the same or different Oracle Servers
  -sends Sql code or anonymous PL blocks to the server
  -caches return rows from the server for efficiency
  -converts results to strings and returns rows as Tcl lists
  -allows user defined null values to be returned
  -Version 7 stored procedures can be executed and return values accessed
  -accesses column names, lengths, and datatypes of rows & return values
  -provides feedback of Oracle messages and codes
  -reads/writes long columns to files
  -commit, rollback, and autocommit options



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

	John Ousterhout (ouster_at_sprite.berkeley.edu) for Tcl and Tk -
	    wonderful software in my opinion.

	Karl Lehenbauer (karl_at_NeoSoft.com) and 
	    Mark Diekhans (markd_at_Grizzly.com) for Extended Tcl -
	    more good stuff.

	Michael Peppler (mpeppler_at_itf0.itf.ch) for sybperl, which gave me
	    the inspiration to write Oratcl.  


REQUIREMENTS Since Oratcl is an extension to Tcl, you should already have Tcl, or be prepared to get it via Ftp [sites listed below].

Of course, you must also have access to a Oracle Databaser Server. Oratcl must be linked with the Oracle OCI libraries.

Starting with version 2.4, Oratcl supports building a dynamic load library on systems that support dynamic loading. If you build static libraries and executables, I recommend building with Extended Tcl.

The specific software versions I used:  

        Tcl - 7.5             ftp.smli.com:/pub/tcl/tcl7.5.tar.Z
        Tk  - 4.1             ftp.smli.com:/pub/tcl/tk4.1.tar.Z
                              also avaible at
                              ftp.neosoft.com:/pub/tcl/mirror/ftp.smli.com
			      and 
			      http://www.neosoft.com/tcl
 
        Extended Tcl - 7.5.2  ftp.neosoft.com
                                /pub/tcl/tclx-distrib/tclX7.5.2.tar.gz


	Oracle SQL Server - Version 6 or Version 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3   
	Oracle OCI libraries

>>>>>>>	I've put oratcl-2.41.tar.gz on ftp.nesoft.com 
        in /pub/tcl/NEW/oratcl-2.41.tar.gz

	The Tcl archive at ftp.neosoft.com is due for reorganization, so
	the path may have changed.  Just keep looking in the tcl area.

	see the newsgroup comp.lang.tcl for general Tcl discussion and
	the Tcl Frequently Asked Questions.

**Flash**

Configure and Makefile have been tweaked to work with Tcl7.6, Tk4.2, and TclX7.6.0, as well as the versions listed above.

I've built Oratcl in SunOS 4.1.2 (BSD), Solaris 2.5 (Sys 5.4), and HP-UX 10.x.

Other users have reported successful compiles on:

Data General DG/UX
Sequent PTX 2.1
IBM AIX
Dec Alpha OSF/1
SGI Irix

(mail to me on a successful port on other platforms; I'll add to this list)

SAMPLES Some samples are included using the Extended Tcl tcl(1) and wishx(1) interpreters. In particular, the "wosql" (Windowing Oracle SQL) program is a handy replacement for Sql*Plus for ad hoc queries. Wosql does not attempt to provide any of the report generating and formatting capabilities of Sql*Plus.

Also in ./samples is iud_maker, an Oratcl that builds insert-update-delete applications for a single table.

The ODDIS graphical data dictionary application is included in ./samples/oddis. Check it out!

See ./samples/README.samples plus each file's comments and code.

MAN PAGE You're in luck! I've written one.

OTHER DOCUMENTATION The directory ./doc contains a draft of a chapter I'm writing on Oratcl for an upcoming book on Tcl extensions, to be published by O'Reilly & Associates late summer 1996 (?).  

BUG REPORTS Comments, suggestions, et.al., should be mailed to me at the above email address, or posted to comp.lang.tcl if general enough nature. Hell, you can even mail to me if you like Oratcl!

Mail bug reports to: tpoindex_at_nyx.net

Please *always* include:

        -version of Oratcl
        -version of Tcl, Tk, and TclX
        -version of Oracle server and OCI libary
        -version of your operating system
        -compiler used, stock cc or Gcc
        -samples of SQL or Oratcl code causing problems
        -relevant database table definitions, views, procedures


KNOWN BUGS !!! Oracle's 7.1.4 release seems to have introduced several problems with their Oracle Call Interface (OCI) libraries that Oratcl uses. Symptoms include excessively long connect times (2+ minutes) when using Sql*Net, or possibly "fetch out of sequence" errors when retrieving rows. Use 7.0.x or 7.1.6+ OCI libraries if you experience problems with 7.1.4.

Some users have reported that this bug is still in some versions after 7.1.6, possibly SunOS. I recommend calling Oracle Tech support.

*Flash* it seems that some versions of Oracle 7.3 may have this bug as well :( Please call Oracle tech support, they need to fix OCI.

See the file OCI714.bug for additional details.

I've also received a few reports of Oratcl (OCI problems again) having some bad interaction with Tcl's 'exec' command. It sounds like OCI and the 'exec' command are battling over signals. If you're having problems using 'exec' with Oratcl, try using 'exec' with in a 'catch' command. Mail to me on this problem if you have any explanations, and again, contact Oracle tech support.

ORATCL WWW PAGE   I keep terse, but usually up todate information at:

        http://www.nyx.net/~tpoindex  

TCL DATABASE MAILING LIST A mailing list is available for specific discussions about using Tcl with databases, including Oratcl, Sybtcl, etc. Feel free to join and mail to the list. The list is hosted by De Clarke.

To subscribe to this list send mail to  

        tcldb-request_at_ucolick.org  

and in the body of the message write  

        subscribe  

To unsubscribe... (well, you get the idea).  

Please remember to write to tcldb-owner with problems about the list itself, or to postmaster_at_ucolick.org if you have difficulties getting through to the tcldb-owner address. Please do not send subscribe and unsubscribe messages to the list itself.  

INSTALLATION   Quickie install instructions:  

        ./configure --prefix=/same/prefix/path/as/with/tcl/configure  \
                    --exec-prefix=/same/exec-prefix/path/as/with/tcl/configure \
                    --enable-shared  #optional shared library
        make
        make install
 

Didn't work? You'll have to read the INSTALL file. Maybe you should read it anyway.

If you are having problems trying to build a dynamic load library for Oratcl (--enable-shared), check the notes in the INSTALL file.

OTHER Try out the Oratcl C API. It allows your C programs to access Oracle using the Oratcl model. It's experimental; please mail to me if it works for you, or if you have improvements. See ./oratcl-capi/*

See the file CHANGES for changes in versions of Oratcl.

-finis-

-- 
Tom Poindexter   
tpoindex_at_nyx.net
http://www.nyx.net/~tpoindex/
Received on Thu Dec 12 1996 - 00:00:00 CET

Original text of this message