Hi. David

Also to note, that Oracle has come out with Release 2. The main improvement (in my opinion) is the ability to encrypt individual columns like for example the client's or staff's government ID number. This can be done on the fly as it were. You do not have to write it into your program to encrypt or decrypt it; it automatically decrypts it for you (if you have the rights.) If you set it up this way, not even the DBA can see this if he/she does not have permission to.

Also, I would recommend joining the Oracle Technology Network (OTN). Here is the link:

http://www.oracle.com/technology/index.html

This allows you to download the Oracle database and try it out. You can also browse through several technical articles as well as post some of your own questions to the experts there.

Regards,


>Thanks a lot. I'll read that now.
>I've come accross quite a lot of discussion online but no-one seems to agree on whether SQL server really matches Oracle at enterprise level. It seems that SQL server has nothing to compare with things like Oracle's real application clusters. Also there seems to be a general perception that sql server is not good for databases of over 1 terabyte and 250 users. Although a few sql server heads dispute this.
>There are very strong opinions on both sides. The view that I am currently taking is that, whilst sql server is very attractive (due to much lower licensing costs), it doesn't yet provide comparable functionality at enterprise level. That's not to say that it won't get there in the future. Oracle is also more widely used and proven at enterprise level. The old addage about no-one ever getting sacked for buying Dell springs to mind. Whatever I recommend I'm sticking my neck out. Oracle might be more expensive but sql server might loose me my head.