| For Voyager Tasks
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If you wear a lot of hats in addition to Voyager System Administrator, it is asking a lot to expect you to be a shell programmer and a Perl programmer.
Most Voyager tasks can be done equally as well in one language as the other.
Bottom line: There is no need to learn both.
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| For Database Connectivity
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If you want to write programs that communicate with your Voyager database, that can retrieve and manipulate data for custom reports, then Perl has just the tools you need in the DBI and DBD::Oracle modules.
Warning! Steep learning curve ahead. In addition to learning Perl and understanding the DBI module, you also have to know SQL. There is an easier way: connecting to Voyager from your PC with MS Access via the Oracle ODBC driver.
Access also produces prettier reports.
Bottom line: The Perl way is probably more flexible, but there are easier alternatives.
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| For Dynamic Web Pages
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If you want to write programs that gather or distribute information dynamically on the web, then CGI programming with Perl is a solid choice. Perl is a CGI workhorse, and is used at thousands of sites both big and small.
Bottom line: Perl is a natural for this.
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| For Database Connectivity plus Dynamic Web Pages
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And if you want to write programs that mediates between an Oracle database and the web (see above) then Perl starts to look real good.
Bottom line: This is the best reason to learn Perl.
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