Re: LONG datatypes - what's the trick?

That's the way it is. Oracle only partially supports long columns presumably because it was too much effort.. Annoying isn't it. You have to resort to hand crafted code using PL/SQL or ProC code etc.... Long is made redundant in 8 by the introduction of blobs. A quick scan of the manual tells me that they are better supported but I'm still not sure whether you can use them in the manner below.

"Paul A. Horan" wrote:

> I have two tables, each defined with a primary key, and a single column of
> LONG datatype. These are simple long text columns, designed to store
> copious notes
>
> Why can't I say:
> UPDATE table2
> set table2.long_col =
> (Select table1.long_col
> where table1.primary_key = table2.primary_key )
> WHERE exists
> (Select 1
> from table1
> where table1.primary_key = table2.primary_key) ;
>
> The error message I'm getting is:
> ORA-00997: illegal use of LONG datatype
>
> Is this kind of update statement not allowed? What are my options here?
>
> Paul Horan
Received on Thu Mar 04 1999 - 09:40:28 CST