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| Preface |

## Conventions Used in This Book

The following conventions are used in this book:

Italic

  is used for file and directory names.

`Constant width`

  is used for code examples.

`Constant width bold`

  In some code examples, highlights the statements being discussed.

Constant width italic

  In some code examples, indicates an element (e.g., a filename) that you supply.

UPPERCASE

  In code examples, indicates PL/SQL keywords.

lowercase

  In code examples, indicates user-defined items such as variables, parameters, etc.

punctuation

  In code examples, enter exactly as shown.

indentation

  In code examples, helps to show structure but is not required.

--

  In code examples, a double hyphen begins a single-line comment, which extends to the end of a line.

`/*` and `*/`

  In code examples, these characters delimit a multiline comment, which can extend from one line to another.

`.`

  In code examples and related discussions, a dot qualifies a reference by separating an object name from a component name. For example, dot notation is used to select fields in a record and to specify declarations within a package.

`< >`

  In syntax descriptions, angle brackets enclose the name of a syntactic element.

`[ ]`

  In syntax descriptions, square brackets enclose optional items.

`...`

  In syntax descriptions, an ellipsis shows that statements or clauses irrelevant to the discussion were left out.

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