New Features for Administrators - Question 084

What does the Metadata Application Programming Interface (API) allow you to do?

A. Repair damaged data dictionary entries

B. Delete data dictionary information about database objects you no longer need

C. Extract data definition commands from the data dictionary in a variety of formats

D. Prepare pseudocode modules for conversion to Java or PL/SQL programs with a Metadata code generator

Answer: C

Explanation:

Oracle9i has introduced a new package called DBMS_METADATE that enables you to retrieve all the attributes of the database object from the data dictionary with one invocation. Also you can use other methods, available in earlier versions of Oracle for documenting the objects in an existing database: query the various tables in the data dictionary to obtain information about an object, export/import utilities, OCIDescribeAny interface.

Incorrect Answers

A: The Metadata Application Programming Interface (API) does not allow you to repair damaged data dictionary entries.

B: It is not used to delete data dictionary information about database objects you no longer need.

D: The Metadata Application Programming Interface (API) does not prepare pseudocode modules for conversion to Java or PL/SQL programs.

OCP Oracle9i Database: New Features for Administrators, Daniel Benjamin, p. 136-138 Chapter 3: Manageability Enhancements

Oracle 9i New Features, Robert Freeman, p. 44-46 Chapter 2: Oracle9i Architecture Changes