Oracle Database Documentation Roadmap
This section explains how this manual should be read and where it fits into the Oracle Database documentation set as a whole.
To a new user, the Oracle Database documentation library can seem daunting. Not only are there are over 175 manuals, but many of these manuals are several hundred pages long. However, the documentation is designed with specific access paths to ensure that users are able to find the information they need as efficiently as possible.
The documentation set is divided into three layers or groups: basic, intermediate, and advanced. Users begin with the manuals in the basic group (Oracle Database 2 Day DBA, Oracle Database 2 Day Developer's Guide, or this manual), proceed to the manuals in the intermediate group (the 2 Day + series), and finally to the advanced manuals, which include the remainder of the documentation set.
Basic Group
Technical users who are new to Oracle Database begin by reading one or more manuals in the basic group from cover to cover. Each manual in this group is designed to be read in two days. In addition to this manual, the basic group includes:
- Oracle Database 2 Day DBA
This manual is a task-based DBA quick start that teaches you how to perform day-to-day database administrative tasks. It teaches you how to perform all common administrative tasks needed to keep the database operational, including how to perform basic troubleshooting and performance monitoring activities.
- Oracle Database 2 Day Developer's Guide
This manual is a task-based database developer quick start guide that explains how to use the basic features of Oracle Database through SQL and PL/SQL.
The manuals in the basic group are closely related, which is reflected in the number of cross-references. For example, Oracle Database Concepts frequently sends users to a 2 Day manual to learn how to perform a task based on a concept. The 2 Day manuals frequently references Oracle Database Concepts for conceptual background about a task.
Intermediate Group
The next step up from the basic group is the intermediate group. The manuals in this group are prefixed with the word 2 Day + because they expand on and assume information contained in the 2 Day manuals. These manuals cover topics in more depth than was possible in the basic manuals, or cover topics of special interest. As shown in Table 1-1, the 2 Day + manuals are divided into manuals for DBAs and developers.
Table 1-1 Intermediate Group: 2 Day + Guides
Advanced Group
The next step up from the intermediate group is the advanced group. These manuals are intended for expert users who require more detailed information about a particular topic than can be provided by the 2 Day + manuals. Essential reference manuals in the advanced group include:
- Oracle Database SQL Language Reference
This manual is the definitive source of information about Oracle SQL.
- Oracle Database Reference
The manual is the definitive source of information about initialization parameters, data dictionary views, and dynamic performance views.
The advanced guides are too numerous to list in this section. Table 1-2 lists guides that are used by the majority of expert DBAs and developers at one time or another.
Other advanced guides required by a particular user depend on the area of responsibility of this user. For example, a security officer will naturally refer to the Oracle Database Security Guide.
