PL/SQL enables the execution of shell commands through two built-in functions, namely OS_COMMAND and FILE_TYPE. These functions allow for seamless interaction between the Oracle database system and the operating system.
Without this software, executing shell commands or operating system processes is not possible. While there are several PL/SQL scripts available on the internet and Oracle forums, this project offers a ready-to-install package with all the necessary features.
There are three basic ways of executing shell commands within the Oracle engine. The first option is to code a native shared library and reference it in the Oracle database using the CREATE LIBRARY function. The second option is to use the Oracle-supplied package DBMS_SCHEDULER. However, this package lacks access to STDIN and STDOUT, making it unsuitable for some tasks. The third option, and the one chosen for this project, is to use the J2SE compliant Java Engine that has been included in Oracle since version 8i.
By leveraging the capabilities of the Java engine, developers can use the System.exec method to execute shell commands. They can also pass the contents of STDIN, STDOUT, or the OS return values back to the SQL engine using the JDBC API. Because Java is platform-independent, users only need one install script to run the software on any platform.
Overall, this software solution is compatible with Oracle 10.1 or higher and offers more seamless integration with operating systems and ordinary files. With this solution, developers have more control over database functionality and can optimize their workflows.
Version 0.6: N/A