4
Database Tools Overview

Oracle9i Personal Edition for Windows 98 includes various tools to perform database functions. This chapter describes the preferred tools to perform common database administration tasks.

This chapter contains these topics:

• Choosing a Database Tool

• Starting Database Tools

• Using SQL*Loader

• Using Windows Tools

Choosing a Database Tool

Database tools is a collective term for tools, utilities, and assistants that you can use to perform database administration tasks. Some database tools perform similar tasks, though no one database tool performs all database administration tasks. The following sections indicate which database tools can be used on particular operating systems and the preferred tools to use for common database administration tasks.

Database Tools and Operating System Compatibility

Table 4-1 lists database tools and the operating system(s) on which each can be used.

Table 4-1  Database Tools and Operating System Compatibility

D:\> exp system/manager full=y volsize=100m; 
LRM-00101: unknown parameter name 'volsize' 
EXP-00019: failed to process parameters, type 'EXP HELP=Y' for help 
EXP-00000: Export terminated unsuccessfully

Preferred Database Tools

This table lists common database administration tasks and the various database tools you can use to perform them. Oracle Corporation recommends you use the tools listed in the " Preferred Database Tools" column of the table Table 4-2. After choosing a tool to perform a task, go to "Starting Database Tools" for instructions on how to start the tool

Table 4-2  Preferred Database Tools

Starting Database Tools

This section describes how to start each of the database tools in the following categories:

• Starting Database Tools in Multiple Oracle Homes

• Starting Database Tools from the Start Menu

• Starting Database Tools from the Command Line

• Starting Windows 98 Tools

You will be referred back to this section for database tool startup procedures as you use this manual.

Starting Database Tools in Multiple Oracle Homes

If you have multiple Oracle homes on your computer from previous releases, then see Chapter 5, "Multiple Oracle Homes and Optimal Flexible Architecture" for a description of the differences between Oracle homes before and after Oracle9i Release 1 (9.0.1.1.0).

Starting Tools from Oracle8 Release 8.0.4 and Later 8.0.x Multiple Oracle Homes

If you are using multiple Oracle homes, then the command to start a tool from any home other than the first includes a HOME_NAME, where HOME_NAME indicates the name of that Oracle home. The first Oracle home created on your computer does not have HOME_NAME appended to the group. For example:

To start SQL*Plus from the first Oracle home, choose:

Start > Programs > Oracle > Application Development > SQL Plus

To start SQL*Plus from an additional Oracle home, choose:

Start > Programs > Oracle - HOME_NAME > Application Development > SQL Plus

Starting Tools from Oracle8i Release 8.1.3 and Later Multiple Oracle Homes

Beginning in Oracle8i Release 8.1.3, each Oracle home, including the first Oracle home you create on your computer, has a unique HOME_NAME. For example:

To start Oracle Administration Assistant from any Oracle home, choose:

Start > Programs > Oracle - HOME_NAME > Database Administration > Database Configuration Assistant, where HOME_NAME is the name of the Oracle home.

For example, either HOME1 or HOME2 in the following figure:

Text description of the illustration tools1.gif

Starting Database Tools from the Start Menu

Table 4-3 describes how to start assistants and other tools from the Start Menu. It also tells where to go for further information on using these products.

Table 4-3  Starting Database Tools from the Start Menu

Starting Database Tools

The following table describes how to start most tools, and where to go for further information on using these products:

Starting Database Tools from the Command Line

Table 4-4 describes how to start Oracle database tools from the command line, and where to go for further information on using these products.

Table 4-4  Starting Database Tools from the Command Line

C:\> exp username password

C:\> exp help=y

C:\> imp username password

C:\> imp help=y

C:\> mig

C:\> mig help=y

C:\> ocopy

C:\> oradim parameters

C:\> oradim -? | -h | -help

C:\> orapwd

C:\> rman parameters

C:\> sqlplus

C:\> tkprof

Starting Windows 98 Tools

This table describes how to start Windows 98 tool, and where to go for more information on using this product:

Using SQL*Loader

This section describes Windows 98-specific information for using SQL*Loader (SQLLDR).

Windows 98 Processing Options

These are the possible values for the Operating System Dependent (OSD) file processing specifications string option, referred to in the "SQL*Loader Control File Reference" chapter of Oracle9i Database Utilities.

Direct Path Option

SQL*Loader includes a direct path option that bypasses Oracle8i for Personal Edition redo log and data verification features, thereby decreasing loading time. Use the direct path option with data files known to be error free.

Control File Conventions

When preparing a SQL*Loader control file (.CTL), you must follow certain syntax and notational conventions. When specifying datatypes in the SQL*Loader control file, note that the default sizes of native datatypes are specific to Windows 98. You cannot override these defaults in the control file.

Using Windows Tools

The following Windows 98 tool can be used to administer an Oracle database:

• Registry

Registry

The Oracle database stores its configuration information in a structure known as the registry. You can view and modify this configuration information through the registry editor. The registry contains configuration information for your computer, and must not be accessible for editing by inexperienced users. Only experienced administrators should view and change this information.

The registry editor displays configuration information in a tree-like format consisting of four keys (or folders). These keys are shown in the tree view in the left-hand window. In the right-hand window, the parameters and values assigned to that key are displayed.

What Database Parameters Are Configured?

When you install products from your CD-ROM, configuration parameters are automatically entered in the registry. These parameters are read each time your Windows 98 computer is restarted and whenever an Oracle product is launched. These parameters include settings for:

• Oracle home directory

• Language

• Company name

• Oracle home subdirectories for individual products

• Individual products such as SQL*Plus

The following figure shows some of the Oracle database configuration parameters in the registry:

Text description of the illustration tools0.gif