ContentsSend Us Your CommentsPrefaceAudienceOrganizationRelated DocumentationConventionsDocumentation AccessibilityWhat's New in Object-Relational Features?Oracle 10g Release 1 (10.1) New in Object-Relational FeaturesOracle9i Release 2 (9.2) New in Object-Relational FeaturesOracle9i Release 1 (9.0.1) New in Object-Relational Features1 Introduction to Oracle ObjectsAbout Oracle ObjectsAdvantages of ObjectsKey Features of the Object-Relational ModelCore Database Key FeaturesObject TypesObjectsObject MethodsType InheritanceType EvolutionObject TablesRow Objects and Column ObjectsObject ViewsReferencesCollectionsLanguage Binding Features2 Basic Components of Oracle ObjectsSQL Object Types and ReferencesNull Objects and AttributesCharacter Length SemanticsConstraints for Object TablesIndexes for Object TablesTriggers for Object TablesRules for REF Columns and AttributesName ResolutionWhen Table Aliases Are RequiredRestriction on Using User-Defined Types with a Remote DatabaseObject MethodsMember MethodsMethods for Comparing ObjectsMap MethodsOrder MethodsGuidelines for Comparison MethodsComparison Methods in Type HierarchiesStatic MethodsConstructor MethodsExternal Implemented MethodsInheritance in SQL Object TypesTypes and SubtypesFINAL and NOT FINAL Types and MethodsCreating SubtypesNOT INSTANTIABLE Types and MethodsInheriting, Overloading, and Overriding MethodsOverloading MethodsRedefining MethodsRestrictions on Overriding MethodsDynamic Method DispatchSubstituting Types in a Type HierarchyColumn and Row SubstitutabilityUsing OBJECT_VALUE and OBJECT_ID with Substitutable RowsSubtypes Having Supertype AttributesREF Columns and AttributesCollection ElementsCreating Subtypes After Creating Substitutable ColumnsDropping Subtypes After Creating Substitutable ColumnsTurning Off Substitutability in a New TableConstraining SubstitutabilityModifying SubstitutabilityRestrictions on Modifying SubstitutabilityAssignments Across TypesObjects and REFs to ObjectsCollection AssignmentsComparisons of Objects, REF Variables, and CollectionsComparing Object InstancesComparing REF VariablesFunctions and Operators Useful with ObjectsCASTCURSORDEREFIS OF typeREFSYS_TYPEIDTABLE()TREATVALUE3 Support for Collection DatatypesCreating Collection DatatypesCreating an Instance of a VARRAY or Nested TableConstructor Methods for CollectionsVarraysNested TablesSpecifying a Tablespace When Storing a Nested TableVarray StorageIncreasing the Size and Precision of VARRAYs and Nested TablesIncreasing VARRAY Limit SizeCreating a Varray Containing LOB ReferencesMultilevel Collection TypesNested Table Storage Tables for Multilevel Collection TypesAssignment and Comparison of Multilevel CollectionsConstructors for Multilevel CollectionsOperations on Collection DatatypesQuerying CollectionsNesting Results of Collection QueriesUnnesting Results of Collection QueriesUnnesting Queries Containing Table Expression SubqueriesUnnesting Queries with Multilevel CollectionsPerforming DML Operations on CollectionsPerforming DML on Multilevel CollectionsCollections as Atomic Data ItemsPiecewise Operations on Nested TablesComparisons of CollectionsEqual and Not Equal ComparisonsIn ComparisonsSubset of Multiset ComparisonMember of a Nested Table ComparisonEmpty ComparisonSet ComparisonMultisets OperationsCARDINALITYCOLLECTMULTISET EXCEPTMULTISET INTERSECTIONMULTISET UNIONPOWERMULTISETPOWERMULTISET_BY_CARDINALITYSET4 Object Support in Oracle Programming EnvironmentsSQLPL/SQLOracle Call Interface (OCI)Associative Access in OCI ProgramsNavigational Access in OCI ProgramsObject CacheBuilding an OCI Program That Manipulates ObjectsDefining User-Defined Constructors in CPro*C/C++Associative Access in Pro*C/C++Navigational Access in Pro*C/C++Converting Between Oracle Types and C TypesOracle Type Translator (OTT)Oracle C++ Call Interface (OCCI)OCCI Associative Relational and Object InterfacesThe OCCI Navigational InterfaceOracle Objects For OLE (OO4O)Representing Objects in Visual Basic (OraObject)Representing REFs in Visual Basic (OraRef)Representing VARRAYs and Nested Tables in Visual Basic (OraCollection)Java: JDBC, Oracle SQLJ, JPublisher, and SQLJ Object TypesJDBC Access to Oracle Object DataSQLJ Access to Oracle Object DataChoosing a Data Mapping StrategyUsing JPublisher to Create Java Classes for JDBC and SQLJ ProgramsWhat JPublisher Produces for a User-Defined Object TypeJava Object StorageRepresenting SQLJ Types to the ServerCreating SQLJ Object TypesAdditional Notes About MappingEvolving SQLJ TypesConstraintsQuerying SQLJ ObjectsInserting Java ObjectsUpdating SQLJ ObjectsDefining User-Defined Constructors in JavaXML5 Applying an Object Model to Relational DataWhy Use Object ViewsDefining Object ViewsUsing Object Views in ApplicationsNesting Objects in Object ViewsIdentifying Null Objects in Object ViewsUsing Nested Tables and Varrays in Object ViewsSingle-Level Collections in Object ViewsMultilevel Collections in Object ViewsSpecifying Object Identifiers for Object ViewsCreating References to View ObjectsModelling Inverse Relationships with Object ViewsUpdating Object ViewsUpdating Nested Table Columns in ViewsUsing INSTEAD OF Triggers to Control Mutating and ValidationApplying the Object Model to Remote TablesDefining Complex Relationships in Object ViewsTables and Types to Demonstrate Circular View ReferencesCreating Object Views with Circular ReferencesObject View HierarchiesCreating an Object View HierarchyThe Flat ModelThe Horizontal ModelThe Vertical ModelQuerying a View in a HierarchyPrivileges for Operations on View Hierarchies6 Managing Oracle ObjectsPrivileges on Object Types and Their MethodsSystem Privileges for Object TypesSchema Object PrivilegesUsing Types in New Types or TablesExample: Privileges on Object TypesPrivileges on Type Access and Object AccessDependencies and Incomplete TypesCompleting Incomplete TypesManually Recompiling a TypeType Dependencies of Substitutable Tables and ColumnsThe FORCE OptionSynonyms for User-Defined TypesCreating a Type SynonymUsing a Type SynonymDescribing Schema Objects That Use SynonymsDependents of Type SynonymsRestriction on Replacing a Type SynonymDropping Type SynonymsRenaming Type SynonymsPublic Type Synonyms and Local Schema ObjectsPerformance TuningTools Providing Support for ObjectsUtilities Providing Support for Objects7 Advanced Topics for Oracle ObjectsStorage of ObjectsLeaf-Level AttributesHow Row Objects Are Split Across ColumnsHidden Columns for Tables with Column