PL/SQL Faq's

1. What is PL/SQL and what is it used for?
PL/SQL is Oracle's Procedural Language extension to SQL. PL/SQL's language syntax,
structure and data types are similar to that of ADA. The PL/SQL language includes object oriented programming techniques such as encapsulation, function overloading,
information hiding (all but inheritance). PL/SQL is commonly used to write data-centric
programs to manipulate data in an Oracle database.
2. Should one use PL/SQL or Java to code procedures and triggers?
Internally the Oracle database supports two procedural languages, namely PL/SQL and Java.
This leads to questions like "Which of the two is the best?" and "Will Oracle ever de support PL/SQL in favor of Java?”
Many Oracle applications are based on PL/SQL and it would be difficult of Oracle
to ever de support PL/SQL. In fact, all indications are that PL/SQL still has a bright future ahead of it. Many enhancements are still being made to PL/SQL. For example,
Oracle 9iDB supports native compilation of Pl/SQL code to binaries.
PL/SQL and Java appeal to different people in different job roles.
The following table briefly describes the difference between these two language environments:
PL/SQL:
Data centric and tightly integrated into the database
Proprietary to Oracle and difficult to port to other database systems
Data manipulation is slightly faster in PL/SQL than in Java
Easier to use than Java (depending on your background)
JAVA:
Open standard, not proprietary to Oracle
Incurs some data conversion overhead between the Database and Java type systems
Java is more difficult to use (depending on your background)
3. How can one see if somebody modified any code?
Code for stored procedures, functions and packages is stored in the Oracle Data Dictionary.
One can detect code changes by looking at the LAST_DDL_TIME column in the USER_OBJECTS dictionary view. Example:
SELECT OBJECT_NAME,
TO_CHAR(CREATED, 'DD-Mon-RR HH24:MI') CREATE_TIME,
TO_CHAR(LAST_DDL_TIME, 'DD-Mon-RR HH24:MI’) MOD_TIME,
STATUS
FROM USER_OBJECTS
WHERE LAST_DDL_TIME > '&CHECK_FROM_DATE';
4. How can one search PL/SQL code for a string/ key value?
The following query is handy if you want to know where a certain table, field or expression
is referenced in your PL/SQL source code.
SELECT TYPE, NAME, LINE
FROM USER_SOURCE
WHERE UPPER(TEXT) LIKE '%&KEYWORD%';
5. How can one keep a history of PL/SQL code changes?
One can build a history of PL/SQL code changes by setting up an AFTER CREATE schema
(or database) level trigger (available from Oracle 8.1.7). This way one can easily revert
to previous code should someone make any catastrophic changes. Look at this example:
CREATE TABLE SOURCE_HIST -- Create history table
AS SELECT SYSDATE CHANGE_DATE, USER_SOURCE.*
FROM USER_SOURCE WHERE 1=2;
CREATE OR REPLACE TRIGGER change_hist -- Store code in hist table
AFTER CREATE ON SCOTT.SCHEMA -- Change SCOTT to your schema name
DECLARE
BEGIN
if DICTIONARY_OBJ_TYPE in ('PROCEDURE', 'FUNCTION',
'PACKAGE', 'PACKAGE BODY', 'TYPE') then
-- Store old code in SOURCE_HIST table
INSERT INTO SOURCE_HIST
SELECT sysdate, user_source.* FROM USER_SOURCE
WHERE TYPE = DICTIONARY_OBJ_TYPE
AND NAME = DICTIONARY_OBJ_NAME;
end if;
EXCEPTION
WHEN OTHERS THEN
raise_application_error(-20000, SQLERRM);
END;
/
show errors
6. How can I protect my PL/SQL source code?
PL/SQL V2.2, available with Oracle7.2, implements a binary wrapper for PL/SQL programs to
protect the source code. This is done via a standalone utility that transforms the
PL/SQL source code into portable binary object code (somewhat larger than the original).
This way you can distribute software without having to worry about exposing your
proprietary algorithms and methods. SQL*Plus and SQL*DBA will still understand
and know how to execute such scripts. Just be careful, there is no "decode" command available.
The syntax is:
wrap iname=myscript.sql oname=xxxx.plb
7. Can one print to the screen from PL/SQL?
One can use the DBMS_OUTPUT package to write information to an output buffer.
This buffer can be displayed on the screen from SQL*Plus if you issue the
SET SERVEROUTPUT ON; command. For example:
set serveroutput on
begin
dbms_output.put_line('Look Ma, I can print from PL/SQL!!!');
end;
/
DBMS_OUTPUT is useful for debugging PL/SQL programs. However, if you print too much,
the output buffer will overflow. In that case, set the buffer size to a larger value,
eg.: set serveroutput on size 200000
If you forget to set serveroutput on type SET SERVEROUTPUT ON once you remember,
and then EXEC NULL;. If you haven't cleared the DBMS_OUTPUT buffer with the disable
or enable procedure, SQL*Plus will display the entire contents of the buffer when
it executes this dummy PL/SQL block.
8. Can one read/write files from PL/SQL?
Included in Oracle 7.3 is an UTL_FILE package that can read and write operating system files.
The directory you intend writing to has to be in your INIT.ORA file
(see UTL_FILE_DIR=... parameter). Before Oracle 7.3 the only means of writing a file was
to use DBMS_OUTPUT with the SQL*Plus SPOOL command.
Copy this example to get started:
DECLARE
fileHandler UTL_FILE.FILE_TYPE;
BEGIN
fileHandler := UTL_FILE.FOPEN('/tmp', 'myfile', 'w');
UTL_FILE.PUTF(fileHandler, 'Look ma, I''m writing to a file!!!\n');
UTL_FILE.FCLOSE(fileHandler);
EXCEPTION
WHEN utl_file.invalid_path THEN
raise_application_error(-20000, 'ERROR: Invalid path for file or path not in
INIT.ORA.');
END;
/
9. Can one call DDL statements from PL/SQL?
One can call DDL statements like CREATE, DROP, TRUNCATE, etc. from PL/SQL by using
the "EXECUTE IMMEDATE" statement. Users running Oracle versions below 8i can look at the
DBMS_SQL package (see FAQ about Dynamic SQL).
begin
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE 'CREATE TABLE X(A DATE)';
end;
NOTE: The DDL statement in quotes should not be terminated with a semicolon.
10. Can one use dynamic SQL statements from PL/SQL?
Starting from Oracle8i one can use the "EXECUTE IMMEDIATE" statement to execute dynamic SQL
and PL/SQL statements (statements created at run-time). Look at these examples.
Note that statements are NOT terminated by semicolons:
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE 'CREATE TABLE x (a NUMBER)';
-- Using bind variables...
sql_stmt := 'INSERT INTO dept VALUES (:1, :2, :3)';
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE sql_stmt USING dept_id, dept_name, location;
-- Returning a cursor...
sql_stmt := 'SELECT * FROM emp WHERE empno = :id';
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE sql_stmt INTO emp_rec USING emp_id;
One can also use the older DBMS_SQL package (V2.1 and above) to execute dynamic statements.
Look at these examples:
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE DYNSQL AS
cur integer;
rc integer;
BEGIN
cur := DBMS_SQL.OPEN_CURSOR;
DBMS_SQL.PARSE(cur, 'CREATE TABLE X (Y DATE)', DBMS_SQL.NATIVE);
rc := DBMS_SQL.EXECUTE(cur);
DBMS_SQL.CLOSE_CURSOR(cur);
END;
/
More complex DBMS_SQL example using bind variables:
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE DEPARTMENTS(NO IN DEPT.DEPTNO%TYPE) AS
v_cursor integer;
v_dname char(20);
v_rows integer;
BEGIN
v_cursor := DBMS_SQL.OPEN_CURSOR;
DBMS_SQL.PARSE(v_cursor, 'select dname from dept where deptno > :x', DBMS_SQL.V7);
DBMS_SQL.BIND_VARIABLE(v_cursor, ':x', no);
DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN_CHAR(v_cursor, 1, v_dname, 20);
v_rows := DBMS_SQL.EXECUTE(v_cursor);
loop
if DBMS_SQL.FETCH_ROWS(v_cursor) = 0 then
exit;
end if;
DBMS_SQL.COLUMN_VALUE_CHAR(v_cursor, 1, v_dname);
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Deptartment name: 'v_dname);
end loop;
DBMS_SQL.CLOSE_CURSOR(v_cursor);
EXCEPTION
when others then
DBMS_SQL.CLOSE_CURSOR(v_cursor);
raise_application_error(-20000, 'Unknown Exception Raised: 'sqlcode' '
sqlerrm);
END;
/
11. What is the difference between %TYPE and %ROWTYPE?
The %TYPE and %ROWTYPE constructs provide data independence, reduces maintenance costs,
and allows programs to adapt as the database changes to meet new business needs.
%ROWTYPE is used to declare a record with the same types as found in the specified
database table, view or cursor. Example:
DECLARE
v_EmpRecord emp%ROWTYPE;
%TYPE is used to declare a field with the same type as that of a specified table's column.
Example:
DECLARE
v_EmpNo emp.empno%TYPE;
12. What is the result of comparing NULL with NULL?
NULL is neither equal to NULL, nor it is not equal to NULL. Any comparison to NULL
is evaluated to NULL. Look at this code example to convince yourself.
declare
a number := NULL;
b number := NULL;
begin
if a=b then
dbms_output.put_line('True, NULL = NULL');
elsif a<>b then
dbms_output.put_line('False, NULL <> NULL');
else
dbms_output.put_line('Undefined NULL is neither = nor <> to NULL');
end if;
end;
13. How does one get the value of a sequence into a PL/SQL variable?
As you might know, one cannot use sequences directly from PL/SQL.
Oracle (for some silly reason) prohibits this:
i := sq_sequence.NEXTVAL;
However, one can use embedded SQL statements to obtain sequence values:
select sq_sequence.NEXTVAL into :i from dual;
Thanks to Ronald van Woensel
14. Can one execute an operating system command from PL/SQL?
There is no direct way to execute operating system commands from PL/SQL in Oracle7.
However, one can write an external program (using one of the precompiler languages,
OCI or Perl with Oracle access modules) to act as a listener on a database pipe
(SYS.DBMS_PIPE). Your PL/SQL program then put requests to run commands in the pipe,
the listener picks it up and run the requests. Results are passed back on a different
database pipe. For an Pro*C example, see chapter 8 of the Oracle Application Developers Guide.
In Oracle8 one can call external 3GL code in a dynamically linked library (DLL or shared object). One just write a library in C/ C++ to do whatever is required. Defining this C/C++ function to PL/SQL makes it executable. Look at this External Procedure example.
15. How does one loop through tables in PL/SQL?
Look at the following nested loop code example.
DECLARE
CURSOR dept_cur IS
SELECT deptno
FROM dept
ORDER BY deptno;
-- Employee cursor all employees for a dept number
CURSOR emp_cur (v_dept_no DEPT.DEPTNO%TYPE) IS
SELECT ename
FROM emp
WHERE deptno = v_dept_no;
BEGIN
FOR dept_rec IN dept_cur LOOP
dbms_output.put_line('Employees in Department 'TO_CHAR(dept_rec.deptno));
FOR emp_rec in emp_cur(dept_rec.deptno) LOOP
dbms_output.put_line('...Employee is 'emp_rec.ename);
END LOOP;
END LOOP;
END;
/
16. How often should one COMMIT in a PL/SQL loop? / What is the best commit strategy?
Contrary to popular believe, one should COMMIT less frequently within a PL/SQL loop
to prevent ORA-1555 (Snapshot too old) errors. The higher the frequency of commit,
the sooner the extents in the rollback segments will be cleared for new transactions,
causing ORA-1555 errors.
To fix this problem one can easily rewrite code like this:
FOR records IN my_cursor LOOP
...do some stuff...
COMMIT;
END LOOP;
... to ...
FOR records IN my_cursor LOOP
...do some stuff...
i := i+1;
IF mod(i, 10000) THEN -- Commit every 10000 records
COMMIT;
END IF;
END LOOP;
If you still get ORA-1555 errors, contact your DBA to increase the rollback segments.
NOTE: Although fetching across COMMITs work with Oracle, is not supported by the ANSI standard.
17. I can SELECT from SQL*Plus but not from PL/SQL. What is wrong?
PL/SQL respect object privileges given directly to the user, but does not observe
privileges given through roles. The consequence is that a SQL statement can work in SQL*Plus,
but will give an error in PL/SQL. Choose one of the following solutions:
Grant direct access on the tables to your user. Do not use roles!
GRANT select ON scott.emp TO my_user;
Define your procedures with invoker rights (Oracle 8i and higher);
Move all the tables to one user/schema.
18. What is a mutating and constraining table?
"Mutating" means "changing". A mutating table is a table that is currently being modified
by an update, delete, or insert statement. When a trigger tries to reference a table that is
in state of flux (being changed), it is considered "mutating" and raises an error
since Oracle should not return data that has not yet reached its final state. Another way this