Hello. Wonder what is the path for going to certification as a data warehousing expert?
Applications or DBA?

Thanks

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I think data warehousing would involve more DBA material than Applications. For that kind of intensive database work you'll probably need plenty of PL/SQL development AND DBA expertise.

If I'm not mistaken, the Applications path involves the use of Oracle Forms and other Oracle tools to develop the front-end application. I don't know how useful this is in creating a data warehouse; the real work in creating this kind of environment is in creating, planning, deploying, and tuning the database. Also, I believe that Oracle offers advanced classes in creating these types of environments.

Hope this helps!

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Thanks zebra.
I am greatly enlightened by your words.
I am going to take the test for OCA. Wonder is there any good web sites or books to recommend?

Again, thank you very much.

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The OCA certification is a good start, but you might want to think about going all the way for OCP certificaion as an Oracle 8i DBA. That's what I'm working on now. While the OCA cert is obtained by passing one test, the OCP cert encompasses five tests, and qualifies you as a full-fledged DBA. Then you find yourself in the real world...

I started by reading the Oracle Concepts book from the generic online Oracle documentation. This information is downloadable for free from Oracle.com. Then I started going through the Oracle 8i DBA Handbook from Oracle Press, and I am also using the CBTs from NetG. You can get copies of these on eBay. Finally, I'm seriously considering using the cert21 or the Self Test practice exams to get prepared for the real thing.

Good luck!

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One thing I forgot to mention: the Oracle 8 or 8i PL/SQL programming book has more than enough information to pass the Intro to PL/SQL exam. I read about half of the book and breezed right through it. However, I've had a few years of experience with SQL programming, so that might have been the difference.

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Be careful though. SQL is not quite as simplke as it might seem at first. I am not sure how detailed the exam is though. Still, I would imagine that you would have to know it quite thoroughly to pass.

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Good point. If you don't have experience with SQL you should work with the common DML and DDL statements; INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, SELECT, CREATE, ALTER, and DROP. There are a lot of good intro to SQL books out there; I mention the Oracle book because it goes way beyond what was covered in my exam.

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Thanks for the heads-up. I was thinking about trying for this exam later, but wasn't sure how much experience was needed. I have five years experience using SQL, but most of it is fairly simple stuff, and I know some queries can get quite complicated. I have only recently found out just how complicated.

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Heard from my friend that single-row and other multiple row functions will be tested too...
But the whole list of functions available to Oracle sure looks intimidating to me...

anyway, how long have you guys worked as a DBA? i am really a new kid on the block..so dunno much on Oracle.. any suggestions to better inprove myself?

A million thanks.

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I've been working mostly with SQL Server for the past few years; the last time I worked extensively with Oracle was around '98. I was part of a team developing an enterprise-level loan application system for our company.

First tip: practice with SQL. There aren't a lot of commands, but the ones that are there are complicated. Also, get used to entering SQL commands to do administrative tasks, such as checking on available disk space, getting user information, database structures, etc. SQL is one of those "minutes to learn, lifetime to master" kind of things, and the more you use it, the more comfortable you become when new things are thrown at you.

As for the list of functions, as I remember there were a set series of functions that I had to remember for the exam. These included the simpler ones, like UPPER() for example. One of the practice tests will give you an idea of which functions you really need to concentrate on.

The most complicated command in SQL is the SELECT command, because so much of what goes into creating a SELECT command is based on mathematical set theory. Learn the SELECT, and practice with it.

If you have little or no experience with SQL, get a beginners primer on SQL and go through it. Most of these books use Microsoft Access or SQL Server in their examples, because these DBMS are more accessible and cheaper than Oracle. SQL is SQL is SQL; the language is the same in all DBMS, but the particular flavor of SQL that a database uses is unique. Oracle uses PL/SQL, SQL Server uses T-SQL, etc.

Sorry about the long reply. I'm trying to think of all the information that you need to know.

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