Preface

The Oracle8i Spatial User's Guide and Reference provides user and reference information for the Spatial product, and extensions to Oracle8i Enterprise Edition.

Spatial requires Oracle8i Enterprise Edition. Oracle8i and Oracle8i Enterprise Edition have the same basic features. However, several advanced features, such as extended data types, are available only with the Enterprise Edition, and some of these features are optional. For example, to use Oracle8i table partitioning, you must have the Enterprise Edition and the Partitioning Option.

For information about the differences between Oracle8i and Oracle8i Enterprise Edition and the features and options that are available to you, see Getting to Know Oracle8i.

Intended Audience

This guide is intended for anyone who needs to store spatial data in an Oracle database.

Structure

This guide is divided into two parts. Part I deals with the new object-relational storage model, and Part II describes the relational storage model. The following table lists the elements in this book:

Chapter 1	Introduces spatial data concepts.
Part I	The following chapters describe the object-relational spatial model:
Chapter 2	Explains the object-relational schema.
Chapter 3	Explains loading and indexing spatial data.
Chapter 4	Explains methods for querying a spatial database.
Chapter 5	Provides the syntax and semantics for the indexing functions.
Chapter 6	Provides the syntax and semantics for the tuning functions and procedures.
Chapter 7	Provides the syntax and semantics for the geometric functions and procedures.
Chapter 8	Provides the syntax and semantics for the migration functions.
Chapter 9	Provides the syntax and semantics for operators used with the spatial object data type.
Part II	The following chapters describe the relational spatial model:
Chapter 10	Explains the relational schema.
Chapter 11	Explains spatial data loading.
Chapter 12	Explains methods for querying a spatial database.
Chapter 13	Provides the syntax and semantics for the administrative functions and procedures.
Chapter 14	Provides the syntax and semantics for the tuning functions and procedures.
Chapter 15	Provides the syntax and semantics for the geometric functions and procedures.
Chapter 16	Provides the syntax and semantics for the window functions and procedures.
Appendix A	Describes sample SQL scripts and tuning tips.
Appendix B	Describes installation, compatibility, and migration issues.
Appendix C	Describes how to use partitioned point data.
Glossary	Provides definitions of terms used in this guide.

Conventions

In examples, an implied carriage return occurs at the end of each line, unless otherwise noted. You must press the Return key at the end of a line of input.

The following conventions are used in this guide:

Convention	Meaning
. . .	Vertical ellipsis points in an example mean that information not directly related to the example has been omitted.
. . .	Horizontal ellipsis points in statements or commands mean that parts of the statement or command not directly related to the example have been omitted
boldface text	Boldface text indicates a term defined in the text, the glossary, or in both locations.
< >	Angle brackets enclose user-supplied names.
[ ]	Brackets enclose optional clauses from which you can choose one or none.
%	The percent sign represents the system prompt on a UNIX system.

Preface

Intended Audience

Structure

Related Documents

Conventions