NAME
    Oracle::Schema - Perl class for Oracle Schema Information and Management

SYNOPSIS
      use Oracle::Schema;

      my %cfg = ('conn_string'=>'usr/pwd@db');
      my $os = Oracle::Schema->new;
      # or combine the two together
      my $os = Oracle::Schema->new('cs'=>'usr/pwd@db');
      $os->display_objects; 

DESCRIPTION
    This class includes methods to query (find, retrieve, and compare)
    objects in an Oracle schema and to manage (create, drop, update, merge,
    and move) Oracle objects.

  new (cs=>'usr/pwd@db',tn=>'my_table')

    Input variables:

      $cs  - Oracle connection string in usr/pwd@db
      $tn  - Oracle table name without schema

    Variables used or routines called:

      None

    How to use:

       my $obj = new Oracle::Schema;      # or
       my $obj = Oracle::Schema->new;     # or
       my $cs  = 'usr/pwd@db';
       my $tn  = 'my_table'; 
       my $obj = Oracle::Schema->new(cs=>$cs,tn=>$tn); # or
       my $obj = Oracle::Schema->new('cs',$cs, 'tn',$tn); 

    Return: new empty or initialized Oracle::Schema object.

    This method constructs a Perl object and capture any parameters if
    specified. It creates and defaults the following variables:

      $self->{conn_string} = "";       # or $self->{cs}
      $self->{table_name}  = "";       # or $self->{tn}  

METHODS
    The following are the common methods, routines, and functions defined in
    this class.

  Exported Tag: All

    The *:all* tag includes all the methods or sub-rountines defined in this
    class.

      use Oracle::Schema qw(:all);

    It includes the following sub-routines:

  Table Methods

    The *:table* tag includes sub-rountines for creating, checking and
    manipulating tables.

      use Oracle::DML::Common qw(:table);

    It includes the following sub-routines:

   get_table_definition($dbh,$tn,$cns,$otp)

    Input variables:

      $dbh - database handler, required.
      $tn  - table/object name, required.
             schema.table_name is allowed.
      $cns - column names separated by comma.
             Default is null, i.e., to get all the columns.
             If specified, only get definition for those specified.
      $otp - output array type:
             AR|ARRAY        - returns ($cns,$df1,$cmt)
             AH1|ARRAY_HASH1 - returns ($cns,$df2,$cmt)
             HH|HASH         - returns ($cns,$df3,$cmt)
             AH2|ARRAY_HASH2 - returns ($cns,$df4,$cmt)

    Variables used or routines called:

      echoMSG - display messages.

    How to use:

      ($cns,$df1,$cmt) = $self->getTableDef($dbh,$table_name,'','array');
      ($cns,$df2,$cmt) = $self->getTableDef($dbh,$table_name,'','ah1');
      ($cns,$df3,$cmt) = $self->getTableDef($dbh,$table_name,'','hash');
      ($cns,$df4,$cmt) = $self->getTableDef($dbh,$table_name,'','ah2');

    Return:

      $cns - a list of column names separated by comma.
      $df1 - column definiton array ref in [$seq][$cnn].
        where $seq is column sequence number, $cnn is array
        index number corresponding to column names:
              0 - cname,
              1 - coltype,
              2 - width,
              3 - scale,
              4 - precision,
              5 - nulls,
              6 - colno,
              7 - character_set_name.
      $df2 - column definiton array ref in [$seq]{$itm}.
        where $seq is column number (colno) and $itm are:
              col - column name
              seq - column sequence number
              typ - column data type
              wid - column width
              max - max width
              min - min width
              dec - number of decimals
              req - requirement: null or not null
              dft - date format
              dsp - description or comments
      $df3 - {$cn}{$itm} when $otp = 'HASH'
        where $cn is column name in lower case and
              $itm are the same as the above
      $df4 - [$seq]{$itm} when $otp = 'AH2'
        where $seq is the column number, and $itm are:
              cname     - column name (col)
              coltype   - column data type (typ)
              width     - column width (wid)
              scale     - column scale (dec)
              precision - column precision (wid for N)
              nulls     - null or not null (req)
              colno     - column sequence number (seq)
              character_set_name - character set name
      $cmt - {$cn}: contains comments for each column 

HISTORY
    * Version 0.01
        This version is to set the framework and move the
        get_table_definition from Oracle:;DML::Common.

    * Version 0.02
        Added table tag for export.

SEE ALSO (some of docs that I check often)
        Data::Describe, Oracle::Loader, CGI::Getopt, File::Xcopy,
        perltoot(1), perlobj(1), perlbot(1), perlsub(1), perldata(1),
        perlsub(1), perlmod(1), perlmodlib(1), perlref(1), perlreftut(1).

AUTHOR
        Copyright (c) 2005 Hanming Tu. All rights reserved.

        This package is free software and is provided "as is" without
        express or implied warranty. It may be used, redistributed and/or
        modified under the terms of the Perl Artistic License (see
        http://www.perl.com/perl/misc/Artistic.html)