The following conventions are used in this book:
- Italic
Used for file and directory names and URLs.
-
Constant width
Used for code examples.
-
Constant width bold
In some code examples, highlights the statements being discussed.
-
Constant width italic
In some code examples, indicates an element (e.g., a filename) that you supply.
- UPPERCASE
In code examples, indicates PL /SQL keywords.
- lowercase
In code examples, indicates user-defined items such as variables, parameters, etc.
- Punctuation
In code examples, enter exactly as shown.
- Indentation
In code examples, helps to show structure (but is not required).
- --
In code examples, a double hyphen begins a single-line comment, which extends to the end of a line.
- /* and */
In code examples, these characters delimit a multiline comment, which can extend from one line to another.
- .
In code examples and related discussions, a dot qualifies a reference by separating an object name from a component name. For example, dot notation is used to select fields in a record and to specify declarations within a package.
- < >
In syntax descriptions, angle brackets enclose the name of a syntactic element.
-
[ ]
In syntax descriptions, square brackets enclose optional items.
-
{ }
In syntax descriptions, curly brackets enclose a set of items; you must choose only one of them.
-
|
In syntax descriptions, a vertical bar separates the items enclosed in curly brackets, as in {
VARCHAR2 | DATE | NUMBER }
.
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