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Oracle Open World -- Day Four



Dimensional Modeling in Oracle SQL Developer
This session started of with a fine review of basic data modeler concepts: fact tables, dimension tables, granularity, star schema, etc. After the review of concepts, the session jumped into some demonstrations of how to build relationships, tables, and so on using the data modeling tool within Oracle SQL Developer.

Database as a Service: Creating a Database Cloud Service Catalog
This was the sort of dry presentation that is usually scheduled for Thursday morning. In fact, it was pretty dry, service catalogs aren't the most exciting things. What resonated for me was how applicable this was to my organization, and how easy it is to build. As a DBA, how many times do we get asked "Can I have a database for this little project?" First we say, 'No', then we say 'it's expensive' and then, and the project manager gets involved, we say 'okay fine'.

Chances are, is someone asks for a database, they need a database. And instead of saying 'no' say, okay fine, what color do you want your database. This does the following things:

  1. Put the onus back on the project team to understand what they need
  2. provides better customer service
Yes, this was boring, but definitely something I'll be looking more at.

Exploring PL/SQL New Features and Best Practices
Sometime, I'll put together a tips and tricks for SQL Developer, but I found this trick in a presentation. Format your output, with an inline comment like so:
     select /*csv*/ * from EMP.   -- formats output into comma delimited format
     select /*insert*/ * from EMP.   -- formats output into SQL insert statements
     select /*xml*/ * from EMP.   -- formats output into xml format
     select /*html*/ * from EMP.   -- formats output into html format

After that, the presentation devolved into some tips that most should know: use bind variable, use collections. Reduce context switches, not just a good idea, it's the law! Oh, and PLS_INTEGER

A couple things I had forgotten about, inline subprograms in SQL and SAVE_EXCEPTIONS when processing collections.

Finally, some new stuff in 12c:

  • grant roles to code
  • invisible columns (not the best for security, but from an agile dev, that's awesome way to refactor database w/o refactoring database. 
  • PL/SQL in SQL, using the WITH clause
  • enhanced statistics, including session stats on global temporary tables
PeopleSoft Security Revealed
This session included a PeopleSoft security administrator's point of view regarding how to apply security at Cal State: East Bay. Some of these were basic concepts which should already be in place (they are at my employeer) and other concepts and processes we've moved well beyond.

And that closed out my Oracle Open World 2013.  Full recap coming next week. In the meantime, I have a flight to catch. 

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