One such term I came across recently is ‘CRUD’. If you already know what it is, this post is not for you!!

For those who don’t, CRUD is a general terminology for Create, Read, Update and Delete.

These are some of the typical operations that one performs on a set of data in a Database or any other Persistent Storage.
Creation refers to creation of new records in the Database, typically the Database Insert Operation.
Read is the reading of the records from the Database. Typically the view operations.
Update would be the usual updation of some particular data in some existing records.
Delete would mean the data is no longer available in the Database. Better be careful here!!

Question: How is this relevant to Siebel or CRM which is the current theme on GeeksBlogging@dotCOM?

Answer: Lots!
We work with CRM systems all the time. Now, that means creation of huge chunks of data. If this is an indication, Siebel CRM system houses 4500 tables in its Database! Just imagine the kind of data that would be there in the system. I recall coming across the 50-100 GB Database sizes quite frequently.

With so much of data flowing around, all the operations on every record are equally important. A small goof-up could easily mess up thousands of records, just to start with, in a very small span of time.

[Update] I also came across an interesting differentiation from Graham. Let’s talk about VBCs and EBCs in Siebel. Following is the text from Graham himself:
“.. As long as the data is only being used to read then an EBC on a view will be a good solution, it has a “short” path to the database and so will give a good level of performance. However, updating or creating records through this route will not be supported by Oracle.

If a full CRUD solution is needed then you’ll be forced into the VBC route, as you then have the control (within script or any other technology you use to implement the background logic) in order to implemented your business rules and logic so that the database integrity is maintained.

This technical solution needs backed up by a careful functional analysis though. Why do the two BCs need combined? How will updates be handled? What are the relationships? Often exploring these sort of questions uncovers that a carefuyl structuring of the view and the applets within it are all that are really needed to solve the business requirement; remember that by creating an EBC or VBC to meet the requirement you are implying an ongoing maintenance cost for the life of the implementation, an operational cost that the business will not necessarily have considered when they wrote the requirement!
.. ”

Following alternative definitions for CRUD are available on Wikipedia:
ABCD: add, browse, change, delete
ACID: add, change, inquire, delete — though this can be confused with the transactional use of the acronym ACID.
BREAD: browse, read, edit, add, delete
VADE(R): view, add, delete, edit (and restore, for systems supporting transaction processing)
QDIM: query, delete, insert, modify
SAID: show, alter, insert, delete
VEDAS: view, edit, delete, add, search
SCUD: select, create, update, delete

Related posts:

1. Siebel – Admin Mode Flag
2. Siebel – Looping Multiple Records – III
3. Siebel – Looping multiple records – Query and Process
4. Siebel – Automating Merge Records by script – II
5. Siebel – Merge Records Functionality

I wanted to write an introductory article on Siebel EIM today, however,somehow, DUAL seemed to catch a bigger fantasy! In any case, proficiency in DB is just as much desired at times, as in Siebel Architecture. I tried a little dabbling around with this little table. I am summing up my findings here.

As I said before, the DUAL table is installed along with the Oracle Data Dictionary

After logging into Oracle, I described the table. I was using Oracle’s SQL Developer, so if you were expecting the SQL prompt here, I am sorry!

DESC DUAL

Output:

desc dual
Name                     Null?    Type
—————————— ——– ———————————————————————————————–
DUMMY                             VARCHAR2(1)

1 rows selected

Next statement, “SELECT *”..

SELECT * FROM DUAL

Output:

DUMMY
—————-
X

I tried the above from my own login without any Admin priviledges on the Oracle DB and it seemed to work just as fine.
DUAL table can be very useful with the many uses that it ca inherently be put to.

Finding out the System Date:

SELECT SYSDATE FROM DUAL

Output:

SYSDATE
—————–
10-AUG-09

A number of system variables may be found out from the system this way, using the DUAL Table.

It can also be useful, if in case you want to output a particualar value in the output of an SQL Statement. For example:

SELECT ‘GEEKSBLOGGINGAT.COM’ FROM DUAL

Output:

‘GEEKSBLOGGINGAT.COM’
————————————
GEEKSBLOGGINGAT.COM

The above functionalities are of immense use, especially in the case of Siebel EIM where we need to twist the outputs as per our Business Requirements. One of the places it can be used is to set up the Headers to the SQL Output, while spooling it to a TXT file.

Now, the catch. Try doing the above on other tables, it will still work. Surprised?? However, we generally use DUAL in normal practice so as not to touch the other tables and tamper them by mistake. Also, DUAL will return exactly one record, while the other tables are likely to return much larger number of records, which could possibly keep varying with time.

There is obviously much more to the DUAL table. It is already available in detail on the Oracle website for the more inquisitive. The above was only a brief introduction.

Related posts:

1. Oracle Siebel Certification needs hands on training – II
2. Oracle 11g Certification coming soon
3. Changes to the Oracle Homepage?
4. Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g released
5. Oracle buys IP Assets of Conformia

The beta period for the Certification, “1Z1-053 – Oracle Database 11g: Administration II” closed recently. This is a single exam requirement for ones holding the Oracle DB 11g Administrator Certified Associate (OCA), and gives them the opportunity to upgrade to the coveted OCP.

Processing is underway, and the Production version of the exam is expected around mid-September, as exam “1Z0-053″. Candidates may register for the live exam. The live exam will be available at Prometric testing centers worldwide with immediate scoring results. We will keep you updated on the developments as they come.

Cheers!

Related posts:

1. Oracle Siebel Certification needs hands on training
2. Oracle divorcing Prometric
3. Oracle Siebel Certification needs hands on training – II
4. Siebel 8 Certification Update
5. Oracle finalizes new Training Partner