The Global Paleomagnetic Database: Design, Installation and Use with ORACLE

Summary.- I. Database Design.- 1. Relational Databases.- 2. Choice of Database Management System.- 3. Design of the Global Paleomagnetic Database.- 3.1. ORACLE Design.- 3.2. Compact Database — ABASE.- 4. Aspects of Data Entry.- II. Oracle Hardware and Software.- 1. Sytem Hardware and Software Recommendation for ORACLE.- 1.1. For a Fully IBM Compatible Personal Computer (PC).- 1.2. For an Apple Macintosh PC.- 1.3. Recommendations.- 2. ORACLE RDBMS Software Used By the GPMDB.- 2.1. A Brief Description of the ORACLE RDBMS.- 2.2. SQL*Plus under MS-DOS.- 2.3. SQL*Forms under MS-DOS.- 2.4. SQL*Menu under MS-DOS.- 2.5. The.CRT File.- III. Database Installation and Maintenance.- 1. The Role of the Database Administrator.- 2. Preparing Your PC for the Installation of ORACLE RDBMS.- 2.1. ORACLE RDBMS for MS-DOS and Extended Memory.- 2.2. Setting up MS-DOS for ORACLE.- 3. Installing the ORACLE RDBMS.- 3.1. ORACLE Directory Structure.- 3.2. Installing the ORACLE RDBMS for MS-DOS.- 3.3. Step by Step ORACLE RDBMS Installation Instructions.- 4. System Preparation and Loading the Global Paleomagnetic Database.- 4.1. System Preparation.- 4.2. Installing the Global Paleomagnetic Database.- 4.3. Loading the Custombuilt Files.- 5. Database Administrative Tasks.- 5.1. Starting the ORACLE RDBMS.- 5.2. Stopping the ORACLE RDBMS.- 5.3. Changing the System Default Passwords.- 5.4. Setting up UserIDs and Passwords.- 5.5. Setting up User Access to SQL*Menu.- 5.6. Checking Database Storage.- 5.7. Expanding the Database.- 6. Backing Up and Restoring Your Database.- 6.1. The Export Utility.- 6.2. The Import Utility.- 7. Factors Affecting ORACLE Performance.- 7.1. PC System.- 7.2. Fragmentation.- 7.3. Protected Versus Real Mode ORACLE Performance.- 7.4. ORACLE Performance Tuning.- IV. Database Queries with SQL*Menu and SQL*Forms.- 1. SQL*Menu with the Global Paleomagnetic Database.- 1.1. Starting SQL*Menu.- 1.2. The Main Menu for the GPMDB.- 2. Running SQL*Forms (RUNFORM).- 2.1. Elements of a Form.- 2.2. Custombuilt Form — PALEOMAG.- 3. SQL*Forms Designer (SQLFORMS).- 4. ORACLE for Macintosh with HyperCard.- V. Database Queries With SQL*Plus.- 1. The ORACLE Database System.- 1.1. Starting ORACLE.- 1.2. Stopping ORACLE.- 1.3. ORACLE Userid and Password.- 2. Introduction to SQL*Plus.- 2.1. Logging Into and Out Of SQL*Plus.- 2.2. Entering SQL Commands.- 2.3. Selecting Data from a Table — The Select Statement.- 2.4. Selecting Specific Rows — The Where Clause.- 2.5. The SQL Buffer.- 2.6. The SQL*Plus Line Editor.- 2.7. Ordering the Rows from a Query — The Order By Clause.- 2.8. Selecting Unique Rows — The Distinct Operator.- 2.9. Views.- 3. Developing More Complex SQL Commands.- 3.1. The Data Dictionary.- 3.2. Determining Table Definitions — The Describe Command.- 3.3. Selecting Data from More than One Table — Table Joins.- 3.4. Abbreviating a Table Name — Table Aliases.- 3.5. Using More than One Selection Criterion — The And Operator.- 3.6. Substitution Variables — & Variablename.- 3.7. Warning — Beware of Traps for the Unwary.- 4. SQL*Plus Commands.- 4.1. Entering SQL*Plus Commands.- 4.2. SQL*Plus Command Summary.- 4.3. SQL*Plus Command Files.- 5. More Advanced SQL Queries.- 5.1. Multiple Table Joins.- 5.2. Group Functions.- 5.3. Summarising Several Groups of Rows.- 5.4. Subqueries — The In Clause.- 5.5. The Outer Join.- 5.6. Join Versus Subquery.- 5.7. Optimising SQL Queries.- 6. Using SQL*Plus Commands to Operate on Your Own Data.- 6.1. Creating, Dropping and Altering Tables.- 6.2. Changing Data in Your Tables.- 6.3. Creating and Dropping Views.- 6.4. Tables versus Views.- 6.5. Renaming Tables and Views.- 6.6. Creating and Dropping Synonyms.- 6.7. Granting and Revoking Privileges.- References.- Acknowledgements.- Appendices.- Appendix 1 — Table and View Descripions.- 1.1. List of Tables and Views in the GPMDB.- 1.2. Description of Tables in the GPMDB.- 1.3. List of the Views in the GPMDB.- 1.4. Description of Tables in the Compact Database — ABASE.- Appendix 2 — View Code.- 1. SQL Statements Used to Create the GPMDB Views.- 1.1. View ALLCAGE.- 1.2. View PRICAGE.- 1.3. View RSLTALL.- 1.4. View RSLTPRI.- Appendix 3 — Custombuilt .SQL Command File Code.