Re: Question on Package Variables

On Thu, 24 Jan 2008, sybrandb_at_gmail.com wrote:
> On Jan 24, 2:37 pm, Galen Boyer <galen_bo..._at_yahoo.com> wrote:

>> CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE p_tst
>> IS
>>        v_var int := 1;
>> END;
>> /
>>
>> SQLPLUS> select p_tst.v_var from dual;
>>
>> The above fails with an error of p_tst not a function (or something
>> to that affect).
>>
>> Is this based on the variable only being available in the PLSQL
>> engine and not available in SQL or something else?
>>
>> --
>> Galen Boyer

I understand that. Wasn't asking that.

> Functions are thingies that return something, until Bill Gates misused
> the procedure concept in T-SQL to return a cursor as if it where a
> function result.
> Procedures don't return anything except for OUT parameters.
> Programming Fundamentals 101, lesson 1.

Thanks. Wasn't asking that and wasn't asking for a patronizing response.

> Secondly:
> You can't access PL/sql variables outside pl/sql even if they are in a
> package spec.

I understand that. Was just wondering if there was a why.

> You'll need a (guess what) *function* to return them.

I understand that. Wasn't asking that nor for a patronizing response.

> So the proper method to use PL/sql flags (or anything similar) is
> create or replace package util is flag number;
>
> procedure set_flag(i in number);
> function get_flag returns number;
>
> end;
> /

Yep, I understand that. Wasn't asking.

> create or replace package body util is
>
> procedure set_flag(i in number) is
> begin
> flag := i;
> end;
>
> function get_flag returns number is
> begin
> return i;
> end;
>
> end;
> /
>
> Would that be in any Steven Feuerstein book. I bet it is!!!

Not sure.

-- 
Galen Boyer