Re: documentation for system packages?

Edelstein (info_at_rbsbooks.com) wrote:
: In article <aj.28.000720FE_at_knoware.nl>, aj_at_knoware.nl says...
: > Apart from a the procedure builders help file there seems to be a lack of
: > any official documentation on the system packages(i.e. dbms_lock,
: > dbms_sql etc.) Could anyone suggest where we might locate this?

The "Server Application Developer's Guide" in Oracle's 7.2 manual set. That's the 7.2 title; I don't think it changed in 7.3. You really can't do better than to spend time with the encyclopedia.

: You can always look at the packages' specifications in the data dictionary.
:
: select text from all_source
: where name = 'DBMS_SQL'
: and type = 'PACKAGE'
: order by line;

Not necessary here, but it reminds me of a question I've had: Is there a command or utility which will dump a package specification in some standard form, i.e. do for package specs what 'describe' does for procedures and functions? I thought I'd run across such a command once, but I can't seem to find it now. Sometimes I want to see package specs in a format independent of the author's coding style.

Cheers,

--
| Dave Schweisguth                        For purposes of complying with    |
| dcs_at_proton.chem.yale.edu (MIME OK)      the New Jersey Right to Know Act: |
| http://proton.chem.yale.edu/~dcs/       Contents partially unknown.       |
| Yale Depts. of MB&B & Chemistry   Phone: 203-432-5208   Fax: 203-432-6144 |