Oracle SQL*Plus: The Definitive Guide, 2nd Edition

Acknowledgments from the First Edition

The first book that I ever wrote consumed so much energy that I promised myself, and my family, that I would never write another. That promise lasted about two months, when I became consumed with the idea of writing the book you are now reading. I owe a lot to my wife Donna, who understands my drive to write, and who bears a lot more of the load than she should have to while I hole up in my office and work. This book has been my excuse for avoiding just about every household chore imaginable, yet Donna has been very supportive during the endeavor.

My children have contributed to the development of this book. If nothing else, they burst into my office on a daily basis to distract me and to remind me that there are more important things in life than typing on a computer all day. They have also contributed time that I might otherwise have spent with them. My three-year-old son Jeff has grown up watching me write, and must think that all daddies come with a laptop computer attached. To my daughter Jenny, I want to say that I have enjoyed all our late-night excursions together to the local bookstore. I'm glad to see that you have developed the same love for books that I have. You may not always believe it, but you are my pride and joy. I see a lot of myself in you, and I'm glad you ended up as my daughter.

My profound thanks also go out to John-Paul Navarro and David Dreyer, who read each chapter as I wrote it. David Dreyer is an independent consultant ...