Training Course: ORACLE PL/SQL Fundamentals Training Course

This 5-day course gives an introduction to ORACLE PL/SQL, an application development environment that enables the writing of stored procedures, functions, and triggers using both SQL and PL/SQL commands.

The course takes the format of a workshop, with a mix of lectures, working examples, and practical exercises. Although the content may be customized, at least 2 days are needed to cover the core elements.

Full course notes are provided along with sample database files, for example, SQL files, and free software tools for use in accessing an ORACLE database.

Course Objectives

• Understand the fundamentals of Oracle PL/SQL programming
• Learn how to write, test, and execute PL/SQL blocks, procedures, functions, and triggers
• Gain practical skills in using SQL and PL/SQL together for database development
• Work with variables, datatypes, conditions, loops, and records in PL/SQL
• Understand exception handling and error management techniques
• Use cursors for handling multi-row query processing efficiently
• Develop modular programs using procedures, functions, and packages
• Implement triggers for automating database operations and enforcing business rules
• Learn dynamic SQL and its applications in PL/SQL development
• Work with file handling using UTL_FILE and system packages
• Understand collections (nested tables, VARRAYs, index-by tables) and their usage
• Apply bulk processing techniques to improve performance
• Gain hands-on experience through workshops and real database examples
• Build the ability to develop and maintain PL/SQL-based database applications

Target Audience 

Introduction

• Aims and Objectives

• Course Schedule

• Introductions

• Pre-requisites

• Responsibilities

SQL Tools

• Objectives

• SQL Developer

• SQL Developer - Connection

• Viewing Table Information

• Using SQL, SQL Developer - Query

• SQL*Plus Login

• Direct Connection

• Using SQL*Plus

• Ending the Session

• SQL*Plus Commands

• SQL*Plus Environment

• SQL*Plus Prompt

• Finding Information about Tables

• Getting Help

• Using SQL Files

• iSQL*Plus, Entity Models

• The ORDERS Tables

• The FILM Tables

• Course Tables Handout

• SQL Statement Syntax

• SQL*Plus Commands

Day 2

What is PL/SQL?

• What is PL/SQL?

• Why Use PL/SQL?

• Block Structure

• Displaying a Message

• Sample Code

• Setting SERVER OUTPUT

• Update Example, Style Guide

Variables

• Variables

• Datatypes

• Setting Variables

• Constants

• Local and Global Variables

• %Type Variables

• Substitution Variables

• Comments with &

• Verify Option

• && Variables

• Define and Undefine

Day 3

SELECT Statement

• SELECT Statement

• Populating Variables

• %Rowtype Variables

• CHR Function

• Self Study

• PL/SQL Records

• Example Declarations

Conditional Statement

• IF Statement

• SELECT Statement

• Self Study

• Case Statement

Trapping Errors

• Exception

• Internal Errors

• Error Code and Message

• Using No Data Found

• User Exceptions

• Raise Application Error

• Trapping Non-defined Errors

• Using PRAGMA EXCEPTION_INIT

• Commit and Rollback

• Self Study

• Nested Blocks

• Workshop

Day 4

Iteration - Looping

• Loop Statement

• While Statement

• For Statement

• Goto Statement and Labels

Cursors

• Cursors

• Cursor Attributes

• Explicit Cursors

• Explicit Cursor Example

• Declaring the Cursor

• Declaring the Variable

• Open, Fetching the First Row

• Fetching the Next Row

• Exit When %Notfound

• Close

• For Loop I

• For Loop II

• Update Example

• FOR UPDATE

• FOR UPDATE OF

• WHERE CURRENT OF

• Commit with Cursors

• Validation Example I

• Validation Example II

• Cursor Parameters,

• Workshop

• Workshop Solution

Procedures, Functions and Packages

• Create Statement

• Parameters

• Procedure Body

• Showing Errors

• Describe a Procedure

• Calling Procedures

• Calling Procedures in SQL*Plus

• Using Output Parameters

• Calling with Output Parameters

• Creating Functions

• Example Function

• Showing Errors

• Describe a Function

• Calling Functions

• Calling Functions in SQL*Plus

• Modular Programming

• Example Procedure

• Calling Functions

• Calling Functions In An IF Statement

• Creating Packages

• Package Example

• Reasons for Packages

• Public and Private Sub-programs

• Showing Errors

• Describe a Package

• Calling Packages in SQL*Plus

• Calling Packages From Sub-Programs

• Dropping a Sub-Program

• Finding Sub-programs

• Creating a Debug Package

• Calling the Debug Package

• Positional and Named Notation

• Parameter Default Values

• Recompiling Procedures and Functions

• Workshop

Day 5

Triggers

• Creating Triggers

• Statement Triggers

• Row Level Triggers

• WHEN Restriction

• Selective Triggers - IF

• Showing Errors

• Commit in Triggers

• Restrictions

• Mutating Triggers

• Finding Triggers

• Dropping a Trigger

• Generating an Auto-number

• Disabling Triggers

• Enabling Triggers

• Trigger Names

Sample Data

• ORDER Tables

• FILM Tables

• EMPLOYEE Tables

Dynamic SQL

• SQL in PL/SQL

• Binding

• Dynamic SQL

• Native Dynamic SQL

• DDL and DML

• DBMS_SQL Package

• Dynamic SQL - SELECT

• Dynamic SQL - SELECT Procedure

Using Files

• Using Text Files

• UTL_FILE Package

• Write/Append Example

• Read Example

• Trigger Example

• DBMS_ALERT Packages

• DBMS_JOB Package

COLLECTIONS

• %Type Variables

• Record Variables

• Collection Types

• Index-By Tables

• Setting Values

• Nonexistent Elements

• Nested Tables

• Nested Table Initialisation

• Using the Constructor

• Adding to a Nested Table

• Varrays

• Varray Initialization

• Adding Elements to a Varray

• Multilevel Collections

• Bulk Bind

• Bulk Bind Example

• Transactional Issues

• BULK COLLECT Clause

• RETURNING INTO