Oracle SQL Tips
Altering a users password, making changes to a table
Alter (i.e. adding a column).
Commit Commit data to a database table.
Constraints Creating table constraints
Creates a table,view, index, sequence, user etc. in the
Create database.
Delete Delete a record from a table.
Drop Drop a table or viewfrom a database.
Insert Insert records into a table.
Modify Modify a column in a table.
Rename Renames a table.
Select
Column Alias Creates an alias for the database column.
Order By (Ascending & Descending) Orders data in ascending or descending order.
Count Counts the number of rows.
AVG Determines the average of a column.
SUM Determines the sum of a column.
MIN Identifies the minimum value in a column.
MAX Identifies the maximum value in a column.
Distinct Eliminates duplicate rows.
Math Operators Perform mathematical operations.
Logical Operators Apply logic to your search conditions.
Like / = Create specific search conditions.
A listing of popular commands and settings used in
SQL Plus SQL Plus.
Commands
Column Formatting for Displays
Describe Describe a database table.
Alter
Application:
Altering a users password, making changes to a table or column.
Change Password:
ALTER user username IDENTIFIED BY newpassword
Example
ALTER USER tony IDENTIFIED BY cereal
Adding a column:
ALTER TABLE tablename ADD column name datatype
Example:
ALTER TABLE project ADD names varchar2(25) Commit
Application:
Commit data to a database table.
Save inserted data
Commit Constraints
Application:
Allows for the creation of column constraints such as Primary and Foreign keys.
Create Primary Key
CONSTRAINT constraint name_pk PRIMARY KEY
Example
CONSTRAINT cd_cd_id_pk PRIMARY KEY (cd_id)
{NOTE: this is the format when using at the end of you column declarations in a CREATE Table statement)
Create a Foreign Key
CONSTRAINT constraint name_fk REFERENCES tablename(primary key)
Example
CONSTRAINT cd_cd_id_fk REFERENCES cd(cd_id)
{NOTE: this is the format when using at the end of you column declarations in a CREATE Table statement)
ADD a PRIMARY Key Constraint (after table created)
ALTER TABLE tablename
ADD CONSTRAINT constraint name PRIMARY KEY (column name)
Example
ALTER TABLE cd
ADD CONSTRAINT cd_cd_id_pk PRIMARY KEY(cd_id);
Add a FOREIGN KEY Constraint (after table created)
ALTER TABLE tablename
ADD CONSTRAINT constraint name REFERENCES table(column name)
Example
ALTER TABLE cd
ADD CONSTRAINT cd_cd_id_fk REFERENCES cd(cd_id); Create
Application:
Creates a table,view, index, sequence, user etc. in the database.
Create Table
CREATE TABLE tablename (data definition)
Example:
CREATE TABLE project ( name varchar2(25), activity varchar2(30))
Create View
CREATE VIEW viewname (column names)AS SELECT select statement
Example:
CREATE VIEW report (Names, Addresses) AS SELECT Select name, address FROM book Delete
Application:
Delete a record from a table.
Delete record
DELETE FROM tablename WHERE search condition
Example:
DELETE FROM project WHERE projid = 21 Drop
Application:
Drop a table or view from a database.
Drop Table
DROP TABLE tablename
Example
DROP TABLE projects
Drop View
DROP VIEW view name
Example
DROP VIEW lowscores Insert
Application:
Insert records into a table.
Insert record
INSERT INTO table (columns1, column2....) VALUES (value1, value2...)
Example
INSERT INTO project (name, activity) VALUES (building, construction)
Modify
Application:
Modify a column in a table.
Modify a column in a table
ALTER TABLE tablename MODIFY column name new data definition
Example:
ALTER project MODIFY (name varchar2(50))
Rename
Application:
Renames a table.
Rename table
RENAME oldtablename TO new tablename
Example:
RENAME projects99 TO projects2000 Various Select Statements
SELECT Statement
SELECT column1, column2... FROM table
Example
SELECT project_name FROM project
Column Alias
Creates an alias for the database column. SELECT column name "alias name" FROM table
Example
SELECT name "Our Team" FROM project
Order By
SELECT column FROM table ORDER BY column name
Example
SELECT name FROM project ORDER BY project_num
Order By (Ascending order)
SELECT name FROM project ORDER BY project_num ASC
Order By (Descending order)
SELECT name FROM project ORDER BY project_num DESC
COUNT
Returns an integer representing the number of counted rows.
Example
SELECT count(*) FROM projects
AVG
Returns the average value of a numberic column's returned values.
Example
SELECT avg(project_cost) FROM project
SUM
Sums a numeric column;'s returned values.
Example
SELECT sum(project_count) FROM project
MIN
Returns the minimum value of a numeric column's returned values.
Example
SELECT min(project_cost) FROM project
MAX
Returns the maximum value of a numeric column's return values.
Example
SELECT max(project_cost) FROM project
Distinct
Supresses duplicate values.
Example
SELECT DISTINCT project_date FROM project
Math Operators (+,-,*,/)
Performs basic calculations in a select statement
Example
SELECT total+5 FROM project
Logical Operators (AND, OR, NOT)
Allows you to apply multiple search criteria.
Example
SELECT project_name FROM projects WHERE project_date > '02-FEB-00' AND project_cost <
150.00
LIKE or =
These are applied to your search condition in the WHERE clause.
Example LIKE
Use when applying wildcards on VARCHAR2 datatypes. SELECT name FROM project WHERE name LIKE
'JONES%'
Example =
Use when knowing the exact search parameter in your WHERE cluase. SELECT cost FROM project WHERE
cost = 150.00 SQL Plus
Commands
Most of the commands listed here also require a FULL path name to carry out the desired task.
Save FILENAME
Saves a file.
Get FILENAME
Opens a file.
Start FILENAME
Executes a file.
@FILENAME
Executes a file.
Edit FILENAME
Opens a file for editing in Notepad.
Spool FILENAME
Spools out to a file.
Exit
Exits out of SQL Plus
Disc
Disconnects from the Database.
Connect
Connects to the database: CONNECT username/password@instance
Formatting Columns
Apply these techniques to alter the way your data is displayed in a columnar format.
Character and Date Columns
An, sets the display width of n
Examples
Create column headings
COLUMN name HEADING ‘Customer|Name’ FORMAT A70
COLUMN bact_balance JUSTIFY LEFT FORMAT $999,999,990.00
COLUMN inv_date FORMAT A9 NULL ‘No Invoice’
Display the current settings
COLUMN name
Clear Settings
COLUMN name CLEAR
Describe
Diplays table column names and datatypes. DESCR tablename
Example
DESCR project
