Acknowledgments

I have now been writing about Oracle related topics for over 6 years. What started out as something to help utilize my time while on United Airline, has turned into a rather substantial second job. I again want to thank those who have not only contributed to my work in this book but have made a positive difference in my career and life.

A special thanks goes out to my wife of 23 years, Gail Hackett, and my family. Her patience, love, and understanding have allowed me to take on opportunities such as writing and the travel that comes with my work. I want to thank Elizabeth (Libby), Emily, and Thomas, my children, for giving me the foundation that continues to fuel my success.

I want to make sure to thank the people who help make my writing a success. First and foremost, a thank you very much to Debbie Smith, who ensures my English is correct in all that I write. She is the polish on my writing endeavors. Tim Gorman has to be the most Oracle-knowledgeable person I know. His advice and wisdom has definitely enhanced most every Oracle project I have undertaken. Other technical advice has been gleaned from (not in any particular order): Bradley Brown, Gary Dodge, Daniel Fink, Dave Oldroyd, Guy Harrison, Rich Niemiec, Eyal Aronoff, Swamy Kanathur, Robert Nightengale, Marlene Theriault, Paul Masterson, and D. Scott Wheeler. Thank you for your technical assistance on this project and through the years.

I want to thank those managers who have helped mold my career into the success that I continue to enjoy today: Karl Lenk (Sperry-Rand, Inc.), Gary Dodge (Oracle Corp.), Deb Jenson (Platinum Technology, Inc. and Quest Software, Inc.), and Mike Coffman (Quest Software, Inc.).

Thanks to those editors who trusted me through the years to produce quality manuscript: Michelle Newcomb, Farion Grove, Angela Kozlowski, Heidi Frost, and Rosemarie Graham, as well as their staffs.

I want to thank Mike Swing, Dave Oldroyd, and Jaren Jones of the TruTek company (www.trutek.com) for generating the illustrations for chapters 8, 9, 10 and 11. Their assistance is always appreciated. Dave Oldroyd did an exceptional job in providing the Java, web pages, and XML examples (chapters 10 and 11), an essential part of this book. Jaren Jones created the PL/SQL web examples.

I want to thank Allen Sofley of Quest Software for assisting with material for chapter 16: Using TOAD in the Development Arena.

I want to thank Mark Kieselburg of Quest Software for creating the illustrations for chapter 12: Using Portal v3.0 Web Development Software.

Thank you to all the people listed below, who have made a positive difference in my life and career: Tom Villhauer, Bert Spencer, Bill Schulz, Bob Emly, Bob Kenward, Bradley Brown, Brian Hengen, Buff Emslie, Carol Thompson, Cathy (CW) Fountain, Cathy (CL) Langhurst, Chauncey Kupferschmidt, Cheryl McCarthy, Cindy Swartz, Colette Simpson, Colin Blignault, Conny Vandeweyer, Craig Mullins, Dan Wulfman, Dave Brainard, David Letsch, David Metcalf, David Pearson, David Wagner, Deb Goodnow, Dee Pollock, Derek Ashmore, Don Bishop, Donald Hotka, Don Kerker, Don Schroeder, Dorothy Campbell, Doug Evers, Doug Garn, Doug Tracy, Dwight Miller, Elsie Bishop, Floyd Sturgeon, Gayln Underwood, Gloria Brenneman, Gniadeks, Greg Goodnow, Greg Slaymaker, Haydn Pinnell, Heath Race, Heidi Yocki, Jacqueline Fry, Jane Hambright, Janet Jones, Jay Johnson, Jason Dean, Jeff Sheppard, Jeri McGinnis, Jerry Fox, Jerry Matza, Jerry Meyers, Jerry Wegner, Jim “Toadman” McDaniel, Jim and Mary Sanders, Joe Smith, John Koszarek, John Windchitl, Jon Styre, Julie Nelson, Karen Wicker, Kathie Danielson, Kathleen Morehouse, Kathy Metcalf, Kelsey Thompson, Kevin McGinnis, Kevin Schell, Larry Kleinmeyer, Laurie Nelson, Leyria Walters, Linda Litton, Linda McMahon, Lu Johnson, Lynette Kleinmeyer, Marita Welch, Mark and Ann Sierzant, Mark Harry, Martin N. Greenfield, Martin Rapetti, Mary Bricker, Mary Kenyon, Melvin Morehouse, Michel Clerin, Michelle Campbell, Mike Curtis, Mike Hotz, Mike Metcalf, Mike Nelson, Mike Sanchez, Nancy Taslitz, Neil Bauman, Nicole Tokarski, Ofelia Albrecht, Pat McMahon, Patricia Hemphill, Penny Loupakos, Ramsina Lazari, Randy Spiese, Richard Neimiec, Rick Born, Rick Magnuson, Robert Hotz, Robert Nightingale, Robert Thompson, Robyn Cincinnati, Ron Danielson, Ron Hahn, Ron Innis, Ron Mattia, Ron Smith, Rudy Neimiec, Russ Greene, Sarah Hackett, Scott Bickel, Scott Kane, Sean McGrath, Sharon Reynolds, Sheri Ballard, Shona Freese, Simone Abawat, Steve Albrecht, Steve Black, Steve Healy, Steve Jaschen, Steve Renneer, Svet Bricker, Ted Cohen, Tom Bickel, Troy Amyett, Valda-Jean Robison, Vinny Smith, Walt Bricker, Wass Pogerelov, Wayne Smith, Dean Miller, Candy Hall, Michelly Newcomb, Howard Jones, Tricia Liebig, Sossity Smith, and Patrick McGrath.

And finally, thank you very much to my parents, Philip and Dorothy Hotka; my in-laws, Dean and Marian Hackett; my siblings, Mike Hotka and Janice Hotka; and to my grandmothers, Mamie and Gladys, who will always have a special place in my heart.