Preface

This guide describes database features that support application development using SecureFiles and Large Object (LOB) datatypes. The information in this guide applies to all platforms ,and does not include system-specific information.

Audience

Oracle Database SecureFiles and Large Objects Developer's Guide is intended for programmers who develop new applications that use LOBs, and those who have previously implemented this technology and now want to take advantage of new features.

Efficient and secure storage of multimedia and unstructured data is increasingly important, and this guide is a key resource for this topic within the Oracle Application Developers documentation set.

Feature Coverage and Availability

Oracle Database SecureFiles and Large Objects Developer's Guide contains information that describes the SecureFiles LOB and BasicFiles LOBLOB features and functionality of Oracle Database 11g Release 2 (11.2).

Prerequisites for Using LOBs

Oracle Database includes all necessary resources for using LOBs in an application; however, there are some restrictions, described in "LOB Rules and Restrictions" and "Restrictions for LOBs in Partitioned Index-Organized Tables".

Documentation Accessibility

Our goal is to make Oracle products, services, and supporting documentation accessible to all users, including users that are disabled. To that end, our documentation includes features that make information available to users of assistive technology. This documentation is available in HTML format, and contains markup to facilitate access by the disabled community. Accessibility standards will continue to evolve over time, and Oracle is actively engaged with other market-leading technology vendors to address technical obstacles so that our documentation can be accessible to all of our customers. For more information, visit the Oracle Accessibility Program Web site at http://www.oracle.com/accessibility/.

Accessibility of Code Examples in Documentation

Screen readers may not always correctly read the code examples in this document. The conventions for writing code require that closing braces should appear on an otherwise empty line; however, some screen readers may not always read a line of text that consists solely of a bracket or brace.

Accessibility of Links to External Web Sites in Documentation

This documentation may contain links to Web sites of other companies or organizations that Oracle does not own or control. Oracle neither evaluates nor makes any representations regarding the accessibility of these Web sites.

Deaf/Hard of Hearing Access to Oracle Support Services

To reach Oracle Support Services, use a telecommunications relay service (TRS) to call Oracle Support at 1.800.223.1711. An Oracle Support Services engineer will handle technical issues and provide customer support according to the Oracle service request process. Information about TRS is available at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/trs.html, and a list of phone numbers is available at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/trsphonebk.html.

Related Documents

For more information, see the following manuals:

• Oracle Database 2 Day Developer's Guide is the entry point to the Oracle Database library for application developers. It explains general concepts behind development with Oracle Database, introduces basic features of SQL and PL/SQL, and provides references to in-depth information elsewhere in the Oracle Database library.

• Oracle Database Advanced Application Developer's Guide explains topics that experienced application developers reference repeatedly.

• Oracle Database PL/SQL Language Reference presents PL/SQL, the Oracle procedural extension of SQL, an advanced fourth-generation programming language. Explains the concepts behind PL/SQL and illustrates every facet of the language.

• Oracle Database PL/SQL Packages and Types Reference provides a complete description of PL/SQL packages and defined types supplied with Oracle Database. Packages are listed alphabetically with syntax, procedures and functions, and parameters described for each package.

• Oracle Call Interface Programmer's Guide describes Oracle Call Interface (OCI). You can use OCI to build third-generation language (3GL) applications in C or C++ that access Oracle Server.

• Oracle C++ Call Interface Programmer's Guide

• Pro*C/C++ Programmer's Guide: Oracle also provides the Pro* series of precompilers, which allow you to embed SQL and PL/SQL in your application programs.

• Pro*COBOL Programmer's Guide: The Pro*COBOL precompiler enables you to embed SQL and PL/SQL in your COBOL programs for access to Oracle Server.

• Programmer's Guide to the Oracle Precompilers and Pro*Fortran Supplement to the Oracle Precompilers Guide: Use these manuals for Fortran precompiler programming to access Oracle Server.

• Java: Oracle Database offers the opportunity of working with Java in the database. The Oracle Java documentation set includes the following:

  • Oracle Database JDBC Developer's Guide and Reference

  • Oracle Database Java Developer's Guide

  • Oracle Database JPublisher User's Guide

Oracle Database error message documentation is only available in HTML. If you only have access to the Oracle Documentation CD, you can browse the error messages by range. Once you find the specific range, use your browser to locate the specific message. When connected to the Internet, you can search for a specific error message using the error message search feature of the Oracle online documentation.

Many of the examples in this book use the sample schemas, which are installed by default when you select the Basic Installation option with an Oracle Database installation. Refer to Oracle Database Sample Schemas for information on how these schemas were created and how you can use them yourself.

Oracle Multimedia

You can access the Oracle development environment for multimedia technology in following ways:

• To build self-contained applications that integrate with the database, you can learn about how to use the Oracle extensibility framework in Oracle Database Data Cartridge Developer's Guide

• To use Oracle Multimedia applications, refer to the following:

  • Oracle Multimedia Reference.

  • Oracle Multimedia User's Guide

Basic References

• For SQL information, see the Oracle Database SQL Language Reference and Oracle Database Administrator's Guide

• For information about using LOBs with Oracle XML DB, refer to Oracle XML DB Developer's Guide

• For information about Oracle XML SQL with LOB data, refer to Oracle Database Advanced Replication

• For basic Oracle concepts, see Oracle Database Concepts.

• For information on using Oracle Data Pump, SQL*Loader, and other database utilities, see Oracle Database Utilities

To download free release notes, installation documentation, white papers, or other collateral, please visit the Oracle Technology Network (OTN). You must register online before using OTN; registration is free and can be done at:

http://www.oracle.com/technology/membership/

If you have a username and password for OTN, then you can go directly to the documentation section of the OTN Web site at:

http://www.oracle.com/technology/documentation/

Conventions

The following text conventions are used in this document: