Guide to Oracle 10g Chapter 2: Creating and Modifying Database Tables

Guide to Oracle 10g

Database Objects

An Oracle database consists of multiple user accounts Each user account owns database

objects

Tables Views Stored programs Etc.

Guide to Oracle 10g 2

Database Queries
Query: command to perform operation on database object
Create

Modify
View Delete

Structured Query Language (SQL)

Standard query language for

relational databases

Guide to Oracle 10g

SQL Command Types

Data Definition Language (DDL)

Used to create and modify the structure of database objects Used to insert, update, delete, and view database data

Data Manipulation Language (DML)

Guide to Oracle 10g

DDL Commands

Used to create and modify the structure of database objects

CREATE ALTER DROP

DDL commands execute as soon as they are issued, and do not need to be explicitly saved
Guide to Oracle 10g 5

DML Commands

Used to insert, view, and modify database data

INSERT UPDATE DELETE SELECT

DML commands need to be explicitly saved or rolled back

COMMIT ROLLBACK
Guide to Oracle 10g 6

User Accounts

Each Oracle database user has a user

schema

Area in the database where the users database objects are stored Identified by a unique username and protected by a password

Each user schema is granted specific privileges

Guide to Oracle 10g 7

Types of Database Privileges

System Privileges

Control the operations that the user can perform within the database

Connecting to the database (Create Session), creating new tables, shutting down the database, etc.

Object Privileges

Granted on individual database objects Controls operations that a user can perform on a specific object (insert data, delete data, etc.) When you create an object in your user schema, you can then grant object privileges on that object to other database users
Guide to Oracle 10g 8

Break Time: SQL Plus

Oracle SQL command line utility for issuing SQL commands Starting SQL Plus

LOGON to YOUR Oracle Account

Guide to Oracle 10g 9

How to Access Your Oracle Account

1. Click the START button, point to Programs 2. Select Oracle Oracle10g, then 3. Click Application Development, then 4. Select SQL PLUS

User Name: Password: Host string:

Guide to Oracle 10g

10

Creating New User Accounts

Done by DBA Syntax:

CREATE username IDENTIFIED BY password;

Guide to Oracle 10g

11

Oracle Naming Standard

Oracle database objects must adhere to the Oracle Naming Standard

1 to 30 characters long Must begin with a character Can contain characters, numbers, and the symbols $, _, and #

Guide to Oracle 10g

12

Defining Database Tables

To create a table, you must specify:
Table name Field names Field data types

Field sizes
Constraints
Guide to Oracle 10g 13

Table and Field Names

Must follow the Oracle Naming Standard Each table in a user schema must have a unique name within that user schema Each field in a table must have a unique name within that table
Guide to Oracle 10g 14

Creating a Table
CREATE TABLE tablename (fieldname1 data_type, (fieldname2 data_type, )

Guide to Oracle 10g

15

Oracle Data Types

Data type: specifies type of data stored in a field
Date, character, number. LONG, RAW, LONG RAW, BLOB

Uses
Error checking
Efficient use of storage space
Guide to Oracle 10g 16

Oracle Character Data Types

VARCHAR2
columnname VARCHAR2(max_size)
Variable-length character strings Max_size can be between 1 and 4,000 characters Must specify the size No trailing blank spaces are added If more than max_size data is inserted, an error occurs. Example declaration: student_name VARCHAR2(30)
Guide to Oracle 10g 17

Character Data Types

CHAR

columnname CHAR(max_size)
Fixed-length character data Max_size can be between 1 and 2000 characters Max_size is optional. Default is 1. Adds trailing blank spaces to pad width If more than max_size data is inserted, an error occurs. Example declaration: student_gender CHAR(2)
Guide to Oracle 10g 18

Character Subtypes

Examples: VARCHAR2(5) CHAR(5) Smith or Smi Smith or Smi

Guide to Oracle 10g

19

Question: Which query will possibly

generate student information?
s_last VARCHAR2(15);
SELECT s_last, s_first, s_address FROM student WHERE s_last = Smith;

s_last CHAR(15);
SELECT s_last, s_first, s_address FROM student WHERE s_last = Smith;

What data type should be used if there is any chance that all column spaces will NOT be filled? Answer: VARCHAR2
Guide to Oracle 10g 20

Character Data Types

3. NVARCHAR2 and NCHAR

Analogous to VARCHAR2 and CHAR but use Unicode rather than ASCII Used to hold character data in languages other than English (Japanese).

Guide to Oracle 10g

21

Number Data Type

NUMBER
stores negative, positive, fixed, and floating point numbers values between 10-130 and 10126

General declaration format:

variable_name NUMBER(precision, scale)

Guide to Oracle 10g

22

NUMBER Data Types

Number type (integer, fixed point, floating point) specified by precision and scale Precision: total number of digits on either side of the decimal point. It does not include the decimal point itself or any commas or any formatting symbols. Scale: number of digits to right of decimal point

Guide to Oracle 10g

23

Integer Numbers
Whole number with no digits to right of decimal point Precision is maximum width Scale is omitted Sample declaration:
s_age NUMBER (2)
Guide to Oracle 10g 24

Fixed Point Numbers

Contain a specific number of decimal places Precision is maximum width Scale is number of decimal places Sample declaration: item_price NUMBER(5, 2)

259.99

33.89 (decimal point is not included)

Guide to Oracle 10g

25

Floating Point Numbers

Contain a variable number of decimal places Precision and scale are omitted Sample declaration:
s_GPA NUMBER

Guide to Oracle 10g

26

Date Data Type

DATE
Stores dates from 1/1/4712 BC to 12/31/4712 AD Stores both a date and time component

Default date format: DD-MON-YY HH:MI:SS AM

example: 05-JUN-03 12:00:00 AM

Sample declaration:
s_dob DATE
Guide to Oracle 10g 27

Specifying Date and Time Values

If no time value is given when a new date is inserted, default value is 12:00:00 AM If no date value is given when a new time is inserted, default date is first day of current month

Guide to Oracle 10g

28

TIMESTAMP Data Type

The same as Date DT, but it stores also fractional seconds. Field Timestamp(Fr_Se_Precision) E.g: ship_dt Timestamp(2) Fractional Seconds Precision default value is 6 (If omitted).

Guide to Oracle 10g

29

Interval Year to Month Data Type

Field Interval Year(Y_Pr) To Month. Y_Pr: Year Precision(Default: 6). E.g: elapsed Interval Year(2) To Month. Possible Values: +02-11 :add 2 years and 11 months to a known date. -11-4:subtract 11 years and 4 months.
Guide to Oracle 10g 30

Interval Day to Second Data Type

Field Interval Day(D_Pr) To Second(Fr_Se_pr). D_Pr: Day Precision(Default : 2). Fr_Se_Pr: Fractional Seconds Precision (Default : 6). Possible value: -04 03:20:32.00 (Days Hours:Minutes:Seconds.Fractions)
Guide to Oracle 10g 31

Large Object (LOB) Data Types

Binary Large Object (BLOB)

Stores up to 4 GB of binary data Stores up to 4 GB of character data Stores a reference to a binary file maintained in the operating system Character LOB that supports 16-bit character code
Guide to Oracle 10g 32

Character Large Object (CLOB)

BFILE

NCLOB

6. Large Object (LOB) Data Types

Ex: f_image BLOB;

Guide to Oracle 10g 33

Declaring LOB Data Fields

Item size is not specified

Examples: item_image BLOB item_image BFILE

Guide to Oracle 10g

34

Creating a Database Table

Syntax:
CREATE TABLE table_name ( fieldname1 datatype, fieldname2 datatype, );

Example:
CREATE TABLE my_students ( s_id NUMBER(6), s_name VARCHAR2(30), s_dob DATE, s_class CHAR(2));
Guide to Oracle 10g 35

Constraints

Rules that restrict the values that can be inserted into a field Types of constraints

Integrity: define primary and foreign keys Value: specify values or ranges of values
that can be inserted

Guide to Oracle 10g

36

Constraint Levels

Table constraint

Restricts the value of a field with respect to all other table records Example: primary key value must be unique for each record Restricts values in a specific column Example: values in an S_GENDER field must be M or F
Guide to Oracle 10g 37

Column constraint

Constraint Names
Internal name used by DBMS to identify the constraint Each constraint name in a user schema must be unique If you do not name a constraint, the system will automatically generate an unintuitive name starts with SYS_Cn. n is a numeric value.
Guide to Oracle 10g 38

Constraint Names
Constraint naming convention:
tablename_fieldname_constraintID

Constraint ID values:
Primary key: pk Foreign key: fk Check condition: cc Not NULL: nn Unique: uk

Example constraint name:

my_students_s_id_pk
Guide to Oracle 10g 39

Constraint Names
10g too

Guide to Oracle 10g

40

Primary Key Constraints

Table-level Defining a primary key:
CONSTRAINT constraint_name PRIMARY KEY

Example:
s_id NUMBER(6) CONSTRAINT student_s_id_pk PRIMARY KEY

Guide to Oracle 10g

41

Primary Key Constraints

Can be defined when field is declared

Guide to Oracle 10g

42

Primary Key Constraints

Can also be defined after all table field definitions are completed

Guide to Oracle 10g

43

Composite Primary Keys

Syntax:
CONSTRAINT constraint_name PRIMARY KEY (field1, field2)

Must be defined after fields that compose key are defined

Guide to Oracle 10g

44

Foreign Key Constraints

Table-level Can only be defined after field is defined as a primary key in another table Syntax:
CONSTRAINT constraint_name REFERENCES primary_key_table_name (field_name)

Guide to Oracle 10g

45

Foreign Key Constraints

Can be defined when field is declared

NOTE: faculty TABLE MUST EXIST BEFORE my_students.

Guide to Oracle 10g

46

Foreign Key Constraints

Can also be defined after all table field definitions are completed

Guide to Oracle 10g

47

Value Constraints
Column-level Restricts data values that can be inserted in a field In general, avoid value constraints because they make the database very inflexible

Guide to Oracle 10g

48

Types of Value Constraints

Check condition: restricts to specific values
Example: s_gender (M or F)
CONSTRAINT my_students_s_gender_cc CHECK (s_gender = M) OR (s_gender = F)

Not NULL: specifies that a field cannot be NULL

Example:
CONSTRAINT my_students_s_dob_nn NOT NULL
Guide to Oracle 10g 49

Types of Value Constraints

Default: specifies a default value that is inserted automatically unless the user insert an other value
Example: Must be created in the column declaration, NOT a
separate command beginning with CONSTRAINT. s_state CHAR(2) DEFAULT WI

Unique
Table constraint Specifies that a non-primary key field must have a unique value
CONSTRAINT consultant_c_email_uk UNIQUE (c_email)
(Primary key constrain does not allow NULL, but this does)
Guide to Oracle 10g 50

SQL*Plus
Oracle SQL command line utility for issuing SQL commands Starting SQL*Plus

Guide to Oracle 10g

51

Using SQL*Plus
All commands must be terminated with a semicolon (;) Use a text editor and copy and paste commands Character data is case sensitive and must be in single quotes
M Sarah

Commands are NOT case sensitive.

Guide to Oracle 10g 52

Exiting SQL*Plus
Type exit at SQL> prompt
or

Click Close button on SQL*Plus window

Guide to Oracle 10g

53

Oracle Help Resources

Ora.hlp file Oracle Technology Network (OTN)
http://otn.oracle.com

Guide to Oracle 10g

54

Create a Table

Guide to Oracle 10g

55

Using Notepad

Useful to use Notepad to edit sql commands

Commands can be edited without retyping Commands can be saved Saving multiple sql commands in a file creates a script

Guide to Oracle 10g 56

Study

Can you create TABLE student now?

Guide to Oracle 10g

57

Table Creation Sequence

When creating tables with foreign key references, create referenced tables first
Always create tables without foreign keys before those with foreign keys
Guide to Oracle 10g 58

Viewing Table Information

Viewing a tables structure
DESCRIBE table_name;

Guide to Oracle 10g

59

Oracle Data Dictionary

Contains tables that describe the database structure Is in the SYSTEM user schema Is automatically updated as users create and modify tables Cannot be updated directly Contains views that allow users to retrieve information about the database structure View: is a db object that the DBMS bases on an actual db
table and which enables the DBMS to present the table data in a different format based on user needs. It can serve to hide some table columns in which the user has no interest or doesnt have privileges to view.
Guide to Oracle 10g 60

Data Dictionary Views

Views present data in different formats depending on the privileges of the user

USER: shows all objects belonging to the current user ALL: shows all objects belonging to the current user, as well as objects current user has privileges to manipulate DBA: allows users with DBA privileges to view objects of all database users
Guide to Oracle 10g 61

Querying the Data Dictionary Views

Syntax: SELECT view_columnname1, view_columnname2, FROM prefix_object;

Try: DESCRIBE user_tables; to see the details of that table.

Guide to Oracle 10g

62

Viewing Information About Tables

General command: SELECT view_columnname1, view_columnname2, FROM prefix_object; view_columnname1, view_columnname2, are the name of the fields you want to retrieve from the view. prefix: either USER, ALL or DBA. object: the type of the DB object you are examining. See next slide for these objects. Ex: select table_name from user_tables;

Table_name is a field name in the table user_tables. User_tables is a table saves the names of all the table you (user) create. Guide to Oracle 10g

63

Database Objects with Data Dictionary View

Object Name OBJECTS Object Type All database objects

TABLES
INDEXES VIEWS

Database tables
Table indexes created to improve query performance Database views

SEQUENCES
USERS

Sequences created to automatically generate surrogate key values

Database users

CONSTRAINTS
CONS_COLUMNS IND_COLUMNS TAB_COLUMNS

Table constraints
Table columns that have constraints Indexed columns All table Guide tocolumns Oracle 10g
64

Viewing Constraints on One Table

Try: DESCRIBE user_constraints; to see the details of that table.

Guide to Oracle 10g

65

Modifying Tables
Unrestricted actions: some specifications
can always be modified. Renaming tables Adding new columns Increasing column sizes Dropping columns Dropping constraints

Guide to Oracle 10g

66

Modifying Tables
Restricted actions:specifications modified only in
certain situations Dropping tables
Only allowed if table does not contain any fields that are referenced as foreign keys, or if foreign key constraints are dropped

Changing a columns data specification

Only allowed if existing data is compatible with new data specification

Decreasing column sizes

Only allowed if column does not contain any data

Adding constraints
Only allowed if existing data meets requirements of new Guide to Oracle 10g constraint
67

Deleting and Renaming Tables

To delete:

DROP TABLE [tablename] Use with caution. It is a restricted actions, can not be dropped if it
contains a foreign key. Delete the constraint and then drop the table or use cascade.

To delete foreign key constraints, add CASCADE CONSTRAINTS

To rename:

RENAME old_tablename TO new_tablename DBMS automatically transfers to the new table integrity constraints, indexes, and privileges that referenced the old table. Views and stored program units that reference the old table name become Invalid.
Guide to Oracle 10g 68

Altering Tables

Adding a new field:

ALTER TABLE tablename ADD (fieldname field_specification);

Guide to Oracle 10g

69

Altering Tables

Modifying an existing field:

ALTER TABLE tablename MODIFY (fieldname new_field_specification);

Can

only change data type to compatible data type (i.e. varchar2 to char)
Guide to Oracle 10g 70

Altering Tables

Deleting an existing field:

ALTER TABLE tablename DROP COLUMN fieldname;

ALTER TABLE faculty ADD (faculty_rank VARCHAR2(4));

Guide to Oracle 10g 71

Renaming a Column

To rename a field

ALTER TABLE tablename RENAME COLUMN old_fieldname TO new_fieldname;

Ex: ALTER TABLE faculty RENAME COLUMN faculty_rank to f_rank;

Guide to Oracle 10g 72

Adding and Deleting Constraints

Add a constraint:
ALTER TABLE tablename ADD CONSTRAINT constraint_name constraint_definition;

Remove a constraint:
ALTER TABLE tablename DROP CONSTRAINT constraint_name;
Examples: ALTER TABLE faculty ADD CONSTRAINT faculty_f_pin_uk UNIQUE (f_pin); ALTER TABLE faculty DROP CONSTRAINT faculty_f_pin_uk;
Guide to Oracle 10g 73

Enabling and Disabling Constraints

When modifying a database it can be useful to disable constraints Constraints are enabled by default To disable a constraint:
ALTER TABLE tablename DISABLE CONSTRAINT constraint_name;

To enable a constraint:
ALTER TABLE tablename ENABLE CONSTRAINT constraint_name;

1. ALTER TABLE faculty DISABLE CONSTRAINT faculty_loc_id_fk; 2. ALTER TABLE faculty ENABLE CONSTRAINT faculty_loc_id_fk;

3. DROP TABLE faculty CASCADE CONSTRAINTS; 4. EXIT;

74

Guide to Oracle 10g

Deleting Tables

Syntax to delete table if no table fields are referenced as foreign keys:

DROP TABLE tablename;

Syntax to delete table and constraints if table contains fields that are referenced as foreign keys:
DROP TABLE tablename CASCADE CONSTRAINTS;
Guide to Oracle 10g 75

Summary

SQL commands include:

Data description language (DDL) commands: create, modify, Deleted database objects Data manipulation language (DML) commands: insert, update, delete, view database data specify the table name, the name of each data field, and the data type and size of each data field

To create a table:

Data types ensure correct data values Constraints restrict values of database fields SQL*Plus commands are not case sensitive
Guide to Oracle 10g 76

Summary

(cont.)

Errors include line number, position, error code Use DESCRIBE command to display a tables fieldnames and data types Tables can be modified or deleted but some changes are restricted
Guide to Oracle 10g 77

End Of Chapter 2

Guide to Oracle 10g

78