class DBI::DBD::OCI8::Database

def prepare( statement )
  # convert ?-style parameters to :1, :2 etc.
  prep_statement = DBI::SQL::PreparedStatement.new(DummyQuoter.new, statement)
  if prep_statement.unbound.size > 0
    arr = (1..(prep_statement.unbound.size)).collect{|i| ":#{i}"}
    statement = prep_statement.bind( arr ) 
  end
  cursor = @handle.parse(statement)
  Statement.new(cursor)
rescue OCIException => err
  raise_dbierror(err)
end