September's PL/SQL Puzzler!

Solve the monthly PL/SQL Puzzler from the "PL/SQL Pipeline" and your name will automatically be entered into a drawing for your choice of a free Oracle technical book from O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. You can reach the PL/SQL Pipeline by pointing your web browser to http://www.revealnet.com/plsql-pipeline

In this month's PL/SQL Puzzler, Steven Feuerstein writes:

"...Let's have some fun with strings. My father, Sheldon Feuerstein, has always had a curious, playful brain. He especially enjoyed talking "in reverse" - converting "on the fly" the spelling of words to their reverse and then pronouncing those new "words". He was astonishingly good at holding a conversation - of sorts - speaking backwards.

For example, I can tell you in an instant my name in reverse: Nevets Nietsreuef, with the last name pronounced NEETSROYF.

So here's the puzzle: build a function which returns the reverse of a string, with the following additional features:

1. Specify start and end locations of the portion to be reversed.
2. Specify whether you want to return just the reversed portion or the reversed portion embedded in the rest of the string.
3. Provide an interface to pronounce the reversed string (just kidding!).

And now for the final challenge...

Come up with a generic function (or procedure) to extend the set of built-ins, including implementation of that program. If it something that hasn't already been added to PL/Vision, I will add it to that library - crediting you, of course! -- and you will receive your choice of a book from the O'Reilly & Associates catalogue! We will also publish all such utilities on the PL/SQL Pipeline so everybody can make immediate use of your idea.

Have fun, and best wishes,

Cam White
RevealNet, Inc. Received on Tue Sep 09 1997 - 00:00:00 CEST