Preface

This document describes the features of Oracle Database for Windows software installed on Windows 2003, Windows 2000, and Windows XP Professional operating systems.

This guide describes Oracle Database Extensions for .NET, which provides a Common Language Runtime (CLR) host for Oracle Database and data access through Oracle Data Provider for .NET (ODP.NET) classes.

This preface contains these topics:

• Audience

• Documentation Accessibility

• Related Documents

• Passwords in Code Examples

• Conventions

Audience

Oracle Database Extensions for .NET Developer's Guide is intended for programmers who are developing applications to access an Oracle Database using Oracle Database Extensions for .NET. This documentation is also valuable to systems analysts, project managers, and others interested in the development of database applications.

To use this document, you must be familiar with Microsoft .NET Framework classes and ADO.NET and have a working knowledge of application programming using Microsoft C#, Visual Basic, or another .NET language.

Users should also be familiar with the use of Structured Query Language (SQL) to access information in relational database systems.

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.

Access to Oracle Support

Oracle customers have access to electronic support through My Oracle Support. For information, visit http://www.oracle.com/support/contact.html or visit http://www.oracle.com/accessibility/support.html if you are hearing impaired.

Related Documents

For more information, see these Oracle resources:

• Oracle Developer Tools for Visual Studio Help

• Oracle Data Provider for .NET Developer's Guide

• Oracle Database PL/SQL Packages and Types Reference

• Oracle Database SQL Reference

• Oracle Database Installation Guide for Windows

• Oracle Database Release Notes for Windows

• Oracle Database Platform Guide for Windows

• Oracle Database New Features

• Oracle Net Services Reference Guide

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.

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 already 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/

Passwords in Code Examples

For simplicity in demonstrating this product, code examples do not perform the password management techniques that a deployed system normally uses. In a production environment, follow the Oracle Database password management guidelines, and disable any sample accounts. See Oracle Database Security Guide for password management guidelines and other security recommendations.

Conventions

The following text conventions are used in this document: