Re: Newbie question

George wrote:

> Wonderful! Thanks
>
> Now this opens a whole new can of worms for me.
>
> The first one to come to mind is the select * statement. I am assuming that
> this can be a lengthy operation if the table has many fields and modifying
> the table later would rise cause to modify all procedures that contain a
> select * from the modified table.
>
> Also how then does the procedure return records to the client, or does it
> not? I then surmize that using procedures to return records to the client is
> might not be the prefered method but rather a view?
>
> "DA Morgan" <damorgan_at_exesolutions.com> wrote in message
> news:3E15BA0A.EC90F173_at_exesolutions.com...
> > George wrote:
> >
> > > I am coming from a SQL Server background so be gentle...
> > >
> > > I am trying to get this simple procedure worked out and it compiles
> invalid.
> > > What am I doing wrong
> > >
> > > BEGIN
> > > SELECT SSN FROM STUDENT;
> > > END;
> >
> > You must SELECT into something.
> >
> > PL/SQL is a server language not a client language.
> >
> > So you SELECT statement slelects the value into nothingness.
> >
> > Try this:
> >
> > DECLARE
> >
> > x student.ssn%TYPE;
> >
> > BEGIN
> > SELECT ssn
> > INTO x
> > FROM student;
> > END;
> > /
> >
> > Daniel Morgan
> >

We don't run an Oracle tutorial service here on the usenet. You need to go to your local bookstore or take a class.

Ed gave you a good answer for returning multiple rows inside a procedure but not necessarily for returning them to a front-end program. You need to use http://tahiti.oracle.com to look up your questions before coming here for tips when you get stuck. To get you started on this one look up "REF CURSOR".

Daniel Morgan Received on Fri Jan 03 2003 - 18:43:15 CST