SQL Built−ins Pocket Reference

[attachment=17932]

Introduction
The Oracle PL/SQL Built−ins Pocket Reference is a quick reference guide to the many built−in packages and
functions provided by Oracle Corporation. It contains a concise description of the syntax for the following:
· Built−in packages
· Built−in functions
· RESTRICT REFERENCES pragmas for the built−in packages
· Nonprogram elements (e.g., constants, exceptions, etc.) defined in the built−in packages
Although we don't include every single package and function in this pocket reference, we've included all the
built−ins that most PL/SQL developers will ever need to use.
NOTE: Where a package, program, or function is supported only for a particular version of
Oracle (e.g., Oracle8), we indicate this in the text.
The purpose of this pocket reference is to help PL/SQL users find the syntax of specific built−in headers. It is
not a self−contained user guide; basic knowledge of PL/SQL and its built−ins is required. For more
information, see the following books:



1.3 Built−in Packages
PL/SQL packages allow you to collect related program elements and control access to those elements. Oracle
provides a rich set of built−in packages that extend the functionality of PL/SQL in many important ways.
Many of the built−ins allow you access to features that would otherwise be unavailable to you. You will find
these packages helpful in developing applications, managing server−side resources, and performing many
other operations.
The built−in packages are listed in this section in alphabetical order. For each package, we've shown the
header (calling sequence) for each of the programs defined in the package, and provided a brief description of
the program operation.
There are two default packages that deserve special mention. The STANDARD package contains many of the
basic elements of the PL/SQL language (datatypes, functions, even basic operations like + and −). We
describe the STANDARD functions later, in the Section 1.4, "Built−in Functions" section.
The DBMS_STANDARD package, described in this section, contains kernel extensions to the STANDARD
package.



DBMS_APPLICATION_INFO
DBMS_APPLICATION_INFO allows applications to register their current execution status into several of the
Oracle V$ virtual tables.
PROCEDURE DBMS_APPLICATION_INFO.READ_CLIENT_INFO
(client_info OUT VARCHAR2);
Returns the currently registered client_info for the session.
PROCEDURE DBMS_APPLICATION_INFO.READ_MODULE
(module_name OUT VARCHAR2
,action_name OUT VARCHAR2);