Preface

The Oracle Spatial Cartridge User's Guide and Reference provides user and reference information for Spatial Cartridge, and extensions to Oracle8 Enterprise Edition.

Spatial Cartridge requires Oracle8 Enterprise Edition. Oracle8 and Oracle8 Enterprise Edition have the same basic features. However, several advanced features, such as data cartridges, are available only with the Enterprise Edition, and some of these features are optional. For example, to use Oracle8 table partitioning, you must have the Enterprise Edition and the Partitioning Option.

For information about the differences between Oracle8 and the Oracle8 Enterprise Edition and the features and options that are available to you, see Getting to Know Oracle8.

Note : Spatial Cartridge release 8.0.3 introduced two distinct algorithms for building a spatial index: fixed-size tiling and variable-sized tiling. Based on testing and customer feedback, for release 8.0.4, Oracle recommends using only fixed-size tiling on production systems. Variable-sized tiling, while it has theoretical advantages in some situations, is included primarily for experimentation purposes. In the future, Oracle may issue a technical bulletin further refining the usage of variable-sized tiling.

Intended Audience

This manual is intended for anyone who needs to store spatial data in a relational database.

Structure

This manual contains eight chapters, several appendixes, and a glossary:

Chapter 1	Introduces spatial data concepts.
Chapter 2	Explains spatial data loading.
Chapter 3	Explains methods for querying a spatial database.
Chapter 4	Explains how to use partitioned point data.
Chapter 5	Provides the syntax and semantics for the administrative functions and procedures.
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 window functions and procedures.
Chapter 9	Provides the syntax and semantics for functions and procedures relevant only to using partitioned point data.
Appendix A	Describes sample SQL scripts and tuning tips.
Appendix B	Describes the Spatial Cartridge data dictionary.
Appendix C	Provides a list of error messages and conditions.
Glossary	Provides definitions of terms used in this manual.

Related Documents

For more information, see the following manuals:

• Getting to Know Oracle8
• Oracle8 Administrator's Guide
• Oracle8 Error Messages
• Oracle8 Utilities

For additional information about Spatial Cartridge, including a demo, several white papers, and other assorted collateral, visit the official Spatial Cartridge web site: http://www.oracle.com/st/cartridges/spatial/

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 manual:

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 type in 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.

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