Re: How to search for pattern on LONG columns

From: Donald Bowles <dbowles_at_praca.ksc.nasa.gov>
Date: 1998/01/16
Message-ID: <69nhal$sos@niven.ksc.nasa.gov>#1/1

You can search for pattern matching using the package DBMS_SQL. Two procedures in this package are used to parse the LONG column; DEFINE_COLUMN_LONG and COLUMN_VALUE_LONG. The first procedure defines an output variable for your LONG column for your dynamic cursor. The latter procedure (normally used inside a loop) is used to pass "chunks" of data from the output variable to a local variable (typically a VARCHAR2). The local variable can then checked for any string patterns.

See the Oracle Press book PL/SQL Programming by Scott Urman for more details.

Regards,

Don

Poorna Prakash wrote in message <34BE3B2D.25BA_at_sabre.com>...
>It appears impossible to me, to search for a pattern on a column whose
>datatype happens to be LONG. If someone could help me, suggest a way by
>which, I could convert LONG columns to VARCHAR2, or any other method by
>which you could approach this problem, I would greatly appreciate.
>
>Thanks much.
>
>Prakash
Received on Fri Jan 16 1998 - 00:00:00 CST