Oracle PL/SQL Programming: Guide to Oracle8i Features

The following conventions are used in this book:

Italic

Used for file and directory names and URLs, and for the first mention of new terms under discussion.

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 like variables and parameters.

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 code examples, an ellipsis indicates code that's been omitted because it's not relevant to the discussion.

[ ]

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, for example, {IN OUT IN OUT }.