Oracle Questions

- ABS(number)

Returns the absolute positive value of an expression.
Syntax:
ABS(expression)
Example:
SELECT ABS(-1.0), ABS(0.0), ABS(1.0)
Output:
1.0    .0    1.0

- CEIL(number)

Returns the smallest integer greater than, or equal to, the specified numeric expression.
Syntax:
CEILING(expression)
Example:
SELECT CEILING($223.45), CEILING($-223.45), CEILING($0.0)
Output:
224.00    -223.00        0.00

- FLOOR(number)

Returns the largest integer less than, or equal to, the specified numeric expression.
Syntax:
FLOOR(expression)
Example:
SELECT FLOOR($223.45), CEILING($-223.45), CEILING($0.0)
Output:
223.00      -224.00        0.00

- MOD(number, divisor)

Returns the remainder of the division from 2 integer values.
Syntax:
MOD(dividend, divisor)
Example:
SELECT MOD(20,3)
Output:
2

- POWER(number, power)

Returns the exponential value for the numeric expression.
Syntax:
POWER(number, power)
Example:
SELECT POWER(2.0, 3.0)
Output:
8.0

- SIGN(number)

Returns the sign i.e. positive or negative value for the numeric expression. It returns -1 for negative expressions, a value of 0 for zero
Syntax:
SIGN(number)
Example:
SELECT SIGN(4)
Output:
1

- ROUND(number, precision)

Returns the numeric value rounded off to the next value specified.
Syntax:
ROUND(number, number of places)
Example:
SELECT ROUND(1.3456, 2)

- SQRT(number)

Returns the square root value of the expression.
Syntax:
SQRT(number)
Example:
SELECT SQRT(4.0)
Output:
2.0

- TRUNC(number, precision)

Returns a numeric value that truncate to the specific places
Syntax:
TRUNCATE(number,places)
Example:
SELECT TRUNCATE(1.3456, 2)
Output:
1.34

The UTL_FILE database package can be used to read and write operating system files. You need to have read /write access rights in that directory before the package can be used.

Example to write file:

Fhandler is a variable of type UTL_FILE.FILE_TYPE

UTL_FILE.PUTF(fHandler, 'Im writing to a file\n');

Example to read file:

UTL_FILE.GET_LINE(fHandler, buf);

A record data type represents a data type for that row in a database table. It lets u define your own records and not your own fields.

Cursors help you manipulate the information retrieved by select statements. This can be done by assigning a name to the cursor.

Example:

CURSOR emp_cur 

IS 

SELECT emp_number from employee_tbl where employee_name = name_in;

Types of Cursors:

Implicit cursors- These cursors are not declared by the programmer. They are issued when the SQL statement is executed. The open, close and fetching is done by itself.

Example:

UPDATE employee SET salary = salary * 2.1;

Here, an implicit cursor is issued to identify the set of rows in the table which would be affected by the update.

Explicit cursors- These cursors are defined by programmer. They are used in queries that return multiple rows.

Example:

CURSOR emp_cur 

IS 

SELECT emp_number from employee_tbl where employee_name = name_in;

1) START- Used to run a SQL script.
2) ACCEPT- Accepts input from user.
3) GET- Gets the sql file from user to place in buffer.
4) LIST- Displays the last command executed.
5) RUN- Used to list and run the command in buffer
6) SHOW- Shows the environment settings. Example: SHOW PAGESIZE

New column can be added using the ALTER TABLE command as shown below:
Example:
ALTER TABLE employee ADD DateOfBirth date