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Introduction


This chapter introduces you to the Oracle Pro*Ada precompiler. It explains how Pro*Ada helps you to develop applications that manipulate Oracle data. The following topics are included in this chapter:


The Pro*Ada Precompiler

The Pro*Ada precompiler is an application programming tool that allows an Ada program to use embedded SQL language constructs. The precompiler accepts as input a source file that contains both SQL and Ada language constructs. The precompiler then produces an output file that can be compiled normally. The precompiler translates all SQL statements into calls to Oracle runtime library procedures. These procedures perform the Oracle operations requested.

The primary advantage of using a precompiler such as Pro*Ada is that you can develop an application that uses the features of both Ada and SQL. This allows you to develop an application that is more powerful and more flexible than an application based on either of these two languages alone. Ada provides the procedural language framework needed for your application. The embedded SQL statements allow direct access to Oracle. Although precompilation adds a step to the software development process, it greatly reduces the amount of time required to code the application program.


Advantages of Ada

One of the most important reasons to use the Ada language is that it has been designated by the U.S. Government Department of Defense as the standard language that must be used by all embedded system suppliers. Ada was specified by the U.S. Government as a powerful, general-purpose language that encourages consistent software development practices. Some of the characteristics of Ada are:


The SQL Language

Structured Query Language (SQL) is the standard language for accessing data in an Oracle Server database. Embedded SQL allows your program to perform the following functions:


Pro*Ada Features

The Pro*Ada precompiler provides many features that facilitate the Ada software development process. Pro*Ada precompiler features include the following:


Special Terms

In the description of the Pro*Ada Precompiler in the following chapters, there are a few special terms that you should know. These terms are best illustrated by considering a SQL query. For example:

SELECT course_name, instructor 
    INTO :C_NAME, :INST INDICATOR :INST_IV FROM courses
    WHERE quarter = 'SPRING' AND dept = :DEPTNO;

This SQL statement contains the following parts:

These terms are defined more precisely[*], "An Overview of Embedded SQL."




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