What is cx_Oracle? cx_Oracle is a Python extension module that allows access to Oracle and conforms to the Python database API 2.0 specifications with a few exceptions. Where do I get it? http://starship.python.net/crew/atuining http://www.computronix.com/utilities.shtml (it may be a few days before the second site is updated) What's new? 1) Added support for connecting with SYSDBA and SYSOPER access which is needed for connecting as sys in Oracle 9i. 2) Only check the dictionary size if the variable is not NULL; otherwise, an error takes place which is not caught or cleared; this eliminates a spurious "Objects/dictobject.c:1258: bad argument to internal function" in Python 2.3. 3) Add support for session pooling. This is only support for Oracle 9i but is amazingly fast -- about 100 times faster than connecting. 4) Add support for statement caching when pooling sessions, this reduces the parse time considerably. Unfortunately, the Oracle OCI does not allow this to be easily turned on for normal sessions. 5) Add method trim() on CLOB and BLOB variables for trimming the size. 6) Add support for externally identified users; to use this feature leave the username and password fields empty when connecting. 7) Add method cancel() on connection objects to cancel long running queries. Note that this only works on non-Windows platforms. 8) Add method callfunc() on cursor objects to allow calling a function without using an anonymous PL/SQL block. 9) Added documentation on objects that were not documented. At this point all objects, methods and constants in cx_Oracle have been documented. 10) Added support for timestamp columns in Oracle 9i. 11) Added module level method makedsn() which creates a data source name given the host, port and SID. 12) Added constant "buildtime" which is the time when the module was built as an additional means of identifying the build that is in use. 13) Binding a value that is incompatible to the previous value that was bound (data types do not match or array size is larger) will now result in a new bind taking place. This is more consistent with the DB API although it does imply a performance penalty when used. -- Anthony Tuininga anthony@computronix.com Computronix Distinctive Software. Real People. Suite 200, 10216 - 124 Street NW Edmonton, AB, Canada T5N 4A3 Phone: (780) 454-3700 Fax: (780) 454-3838 http://www.computronix.com