How to format datetime & date in Sql Server

SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 100) – mon dd yyyy hh:mmAM (or PM)
                                      – Oct  2 2008 11:01AM          
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 101) – mm/dd/yyyy - 10/02/2008                  
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 102) – yyyy.mm.dd – 2008.10.02           
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 103) – dd/mm/yyyy
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 104) – dd.mm.yyyy
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 105) – dd-mm-yyyy
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 106) – dd mon yyyy
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 107) – mon dd, yyyy
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 108) – hh:mm:ss
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 109) – mon dd yyyy hh:mm:ss:mmmAM (or PM)
                                      – Oct  2 2008 11:02:44:013AM   
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 110) – mm-dd-yyyy
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 111) – yyyy/mm/dd
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 112) – yyyymmdd
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 113) – dd mon yyyy hh:mm:ss:mmm
                                      – 02 Oct 2008 11:02:07:577     
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 114) – hh:mm:ss:mmm(24h)
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 120) – yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss(24h)
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 121) – yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss.mmm
SELECT convert(varchar, getdate(), 126) – yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss.mmm
                                      – 2008-10-02T10:52:47.513
– SQL create different date styles with t-sql string functions
SELECT replace(convert(varchar, getdate(), 111), ‘/’, ‘ ‘) – yyyy mm dd
SELECT convert(varchar(7), getdate(), 126)                 – yyyy-mm
SELECT right(convert(varchar, getdate(), 106), 8)          – mon yyyy

Type of Exception in Pl / Sql

CURSOR_ALREADY_OPEN ~ You tried to OPEN a cursor that was already OPEN. You must CLOSE a cursor before you try to OPEN or re-OPEN it. 

DUP_VAL_ON_INDEX ~ Your INSERT or UPDATE statement attempted to store duplicate values in a column or columns in a row which is restricted by a unique index.

INVALID_CURSOR  ~ You made reference to a cursor that did not exist. This usually happens when you try to FETCH from a cursor or CLOSE a cursor before that cursor is OPENed.

INVALID_NUMBER ~ PL/SQL executes a SQL statement that cannot convert a character string successfully to a number. This exception is different from the VALUE_ERROR exception, as it is raised only from within a SQL statement.

LOGIN_DENIED ~  Your program tried to log onto the Oracle RDBMS with an invalid username-password combination. This exception is usually encountered when you embed PL/SQL in a 3GL language.

NO_DATA_FOUND ~ This exception is raised in three different scenarios:
(1) You executed a SELECT INTO statement (implicit cursor) that returned no rows.
(2) You referenced an uninitialized row in a local PL/SQL table.       
(3) You read past end of file with UTL_FILE package.

NOT_LOGGED_ON  ~ Your program tried to execute a call to the database (usually with a DML statement) before it had logged into the Oracle RDBMS.

PROGRAM_ERROR ~ PL/SQL encounters an internal problem. The message text usually also tells you to "Contact Oracle Support."

STORAGE_ERROR ~ Your program ran out of memory or memory was in some way corrupted.

TIMEOUT_ON_RESOURCE ~ A timeout occurred in the RDBMS while waiting for a resource.

TOO_MANY_ROWS ~ A SELECT INTO statement returned more than one row. A SELECT INTO can return only one row; if your SQL statement returns more than one row you should place the SELECT statement in an explicit CURSOR declaration and FETCH from that cursor one row at a time.

TRANSACTION_BACKED_OUT ~ The remote part of a transaction is rolled back, either with an explicit ROLLBACK command or as the result of some other action.

VALUE_ERROR ~ PL/SQL raises the VALUE_ERROR whenever it encounters an error having to do with the conversion, truncation, or invalid constraining of numeric and character data. This is a very general and common exception. If this same type of error is encountered in a SQL DML statement within a PL/SQL block, then the INVALID_NUMBER exception is raised.

ZERO_DIVIDE ~ Your program tried to divide by zero.

Managing Backup & Recovery

What are the different methods of backing up oracle database ?
- Logical Backups
- Cold Backups
- Hot Backups (Archive log)

What is a logical backup ?
Logical backup involves reading a set of databse records and writing them into a file. Export utility is used for taking backup and Import utility is used to recover from backup.

What is cold backup ? What are the elements of it ?
Cold backup is taking backup of all physical files after normal shutdown of database. We need to take.
- All Data files.
- All Control files.
- All on-line redo log files.
- The init.ora file (Optional)

What are the different kind of export backups ?
Full back - Complete database
Incremental - Only affected tables from last incremental date/full backup date.
Cumulative backup - Only affected table from the last cumulative date/full backup date.

What is hot backup and how it can be taken ?
Taking backup of archive log files when database is open. For this the ARCHIVELOG mode should be enabled. The following files need to be backed up.
All data files. All Archive log, redo log files. All control files.

What is the use of FILE option in EXP command ?
To give the export file name.

What is the use of COMPRESS option in EXP command ?
Flag to indicate whether export should compress fragmented segments into single extents.

What is the use of GRANT option in EXP command ?
A flag to indicate whether grants on databse objects will be exported or not. Value is 'Y' or 'N'.

What is the use of INDEXES option in EXP command ?
A flag to indicate whether indexes on tables will be exported.

What is the use of ROWS option in EXP command ?
Flag to indicate whether table rows should be exported. If 'N' only DDL statements for the databse objects will be created.

What is the use of CONSTRAINTS option in EXP command ?
A flag to indicate whether constraints on table need to be exported.

What is the use of FULL option in EXP command ?
A flag to indicate whether full databse export should be performed.

What is the use of OWNER option in EXP command ?
List of table accounts should be exported.

What is the use of TABLES option in EXP command ?
List of tables should be exported.

What is the use of RECORD LENGTH option in EXP command ?
Record length in bytes.

What is the use of INCTYPE option in EXP command ?
Type export should be performed COMPLETE,CUMULATIVE,INCREMENTAL.

What is the use of RECORD option in EXP command ?
For Incremental exports, the flag indirects whether a record will be stores data dictionary tables recording the export.

What is the use of PARFILE option in EXP command ?
Name of the parameter file to be passed for export.

What is the use of PARFILE option in EXP command ?
Name of the parameter file to be passed for export.

What is the use of ANALYSE ( Ver 7) option in EXP command ?
A flag to indicate whether statistical information about the exported objects should be written to export dump file.