Re: Didn't mean to ruffle any feathers

George wrote:

> Sorry to inform you but the only system in our facility with any Oracle
> access did NOT have the docs installed. As far as the 'I dont have time'
> excuse, I guess you work in an environment where you can just get up, go to
> a book store, spend the day reading and come back just in time to do the
> whole project. You must have missed the key point to my dilema. I had about
> 6 hours do get this done. No warning, no prep, no resources, no manuals, no
> web access and no experience with Oracle.
>
> I turned to the only place I could for help and that help was for the most
> part not very helpful. Tell me, what would you do in my situation?
>
> "Jim Kennedy" <kennedy-down_with_spammers_at_attbi.com> wrote in message
> news:UDGR9.233268$qF3.19267_at_sccrnsc04...
> > I read the "I don't have time" excuse as "my time is more important than
> > your time". Which is I think the point some people are trying to make.
> (no
> > it isn't) Also the manuals should be available on the CD that came with
> the
> > product. Mine always was. I have been doing this for years and I still
> > refer to the manuals and other books to get my job done. I read all the
> > time; it is part of the job.
> > Jim
> >
> > --
> > Replace part of the email address: kennedy-down_with_spammers_at_attbi.com
> > with family. Remove the negative part, keep the minus sign. You can
> figure
> > it out.
> > "George" <junk_at_ixsis.com> wrote in message
> > news:fcFR9.561808$P31.191578_at_rwcrnsc53...
> > > I didn't mean to cause a stink here. I was sitting in my office and was
> > told
> > > I had to get data from our Oracle based ERP system 2200 miles away into
> > my
> > > SQL Server by days end. I have no manuals and our firewall blocks port
> 80
> > > (and getting that open would take an act of congress). So searching for
> > > help on the web is out. I do not have time to take classes or read
> books.
> > I
> > > DO have usenet access so I used it. In doing so I chose the least
> > > restrictive group I could find - comp.databases.oracle.misc
> > >
> > > In all my years utililizing the SQL server groups, never have I seen so
> > many
> > > 'professionals' tell a person to take a class or read a book. In fact,
> the
> > > response that Vladimir left below is what I am used to. I realize full
> > well
> > > that you do this because you want to not becasue you have to. Once
> again,
> > > you could simply have chosen to neglect the post completely.
> > >
> > > Thank you Vladimir for your response. It was most helpful.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "George" <junk_at_ixsis.com> wrote in message
> > > news:jCtR9.553405$P31.188196_at_rwcrnsc53...
> > > > I didn't realize you Oracle guys were so aggressive in your responses.
> > If
> > > > you don't want to help, just don't. I would rather not have a post
> > > responded
> > > > to then get your pompus attitude. Thank you (and Ed ) for your help
> > > > thusfar. I will make sure to not post here for help in the future.
> > > >
> > > > I'm sorry I missed the post declaring that usenet was suddenly for
> > experts
> > > > only.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "DA Morgan" <damorgan_at_exesolutions.com> wrote in message
> > > > news:3E162E23.87CEBC4C_at_exesolutions.com...
> > > > > George wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > Wonderful! Thanks
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Now this opens a whole new can of worms for me.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The first one to come to mind is the select * statement. I am
> > > assuming
> > > > that
> > > > > > this can be a lengthy operation if the table has many fields and
> > > > modifying
> > > > > > the table later would rise cause to modify all procedures that
> > contain
> > > a
> > > > > > select * from the modified table.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Also how then does the procedure return records to the client, or
> > does
> > > > it
> > > > > > not? I then surmize that using procedures to return records to the
> > > > client is
> > > > > > might not be the prefered method but rather a view?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "DA Morgan" <damorgan_at_exesolutions.com> wrote in message
> > > > > > news:3E15BA0A.EC90F173_at_exesolutions.com...
> > > > > > > George wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I am coming from a SQL Server background so be gentle...
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I am trying to get this simple procedure worked out and it
> > > compiles
> > > > > > invalid.
> > > > > > > > What am I doing wrong
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > BEGIN
> > > > > > > > SELECT SSN FROM STUDENT;
> > > > > > > > END;
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > You must SELECT into something.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > PL/SQL is a server language not a client language.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > So you SELECT statement slelects the value into nothingness.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Try this:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > DECLARE
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > x student.ssn%TYPE;
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > BEGIN
> > > > > > > SELECT ssn
> > > > > > > INTO x
> > > > > > > FROM student;
> > > > > > > END;
> > > > > > > /
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Daniel Morgan
> > > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > We don't run an Oracle tutorial service here on the usenet. You need
> > to
> > > go
> > > > to
> > > > > your local bookstore or take a class.
> > > > >
> > > > > Ed gave you a good answer for returning multiple rows inside a
> > procedure
> > > > but
> > > > > not necessarily for returning them to a front-end program. You need
> to
> > > use
> > > > > http://tahiti.oracle.com to look up your questions before coming
> here
> > > for
> > > > tips
> > > > > when you get stuck. To get you started on this one look up "REF
> > CURSOR".
> > > > >
> > > > > Daniel Morgan
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >

A normal Oracle work environment is one in which professionals invest in their profession. Much like attorneys and physicians we buy books, we spend our money on classes, we follow tutorials, and we own those precious CDs (they cost $0.00) that contain documentation.

Please excuse my frank talk here ... but whoever the Bozo is that installed Oracle without making the documentation available: And whoever the Bozo is that asked a SQL Server person to do something with Oracle without providing appropriate time and resources: They should be summarily sent to the woodshed for the appropriate punishment.

If you want to work in Oracle you must start with understanding Oracle concepts and architecture. Oracle is not another brand of SQL Server. They are very different products and techniques that work with one will create disasters in the other.

Please don't blame us for expecting you to have the background required to do something before attempting it. I would't want my surgeon practicing a new procedure on me for the first time either.

Daniel Morgan Received on Sun Jan 05 2003 - 15:06:53 CST