Re: How do I copy LONG columns between tables?

Stefan,

You can use varchar2 if the data in the long field will be less than 2000 characters. (On Oracle 8, you can go to 4000 char.)

I have also done something like this in the past to copy long columns between tables. I haven't written pl/sql for a while, so I've put comments where I forget the syntax:

declare

cursor cur_elements1 is
select id_, elt_
from elements1;

var_id_ elements1.id_%type;
var_elt_ elements1.elt_%type;

begin

• loop for number of records in cursor
• open the cursor
• fetch from the cursor into the variables
• then insert into your second table using the variables

insert into elements2(id_, elt_)
values (var_id_, var_elt_);

• end loop when all records processed --close the cursor

end;

-Darren

"Stefan Larsson" <d95stela+news_at_dtek.chalmers.se> wrote in message news:slrn91ssp5.srr.d95stela+news_at_licia.dtek.chalmers.se...
> Hi!
>
> I have run across a few problems when using the LONG datatype in
> Oracle 7.3.4.
>
> I have two tables:
>
> CREATE TABLE Elements1
> id_ INTEGER,
> elt_ LONG
> );
>
> and Elements2 which looks exactly the same.
>
> Oracle won't let me copy data between the tables with
> statements like
>
> INSERT INTO Elements2
> SELECT id_, elt_ FROM Elements1;
>
> because the LONG datatype is not allowed in insert select lists,
> in fact, the LONG datatype seems to be disallowed almost everywhere.
>
> What solutions exists? Should I use a table with varchar entries instead?
>
> /stefan
Received on Fri Nov 24 2000 - 08:28:57 CST