Can stored functions update a database?

From: Charles A. Christiansen, Jr. <charles_at_iconstructs.com>
Date: 1998/01/27
Message-ID: <34ce18b8.5128354_at_rosebud.bitwise.net>#1/1

Hi all,

I'm learning PL/SQL right now, and I'm a bit confused about something that seems to be a feature of Oracle and/or the PL/SQL language.

If I create a standalone function that includes SQL UPDATE, INSERT, or DELETE statements and try to run it, I get an error ORA-06571: "Cannot execute function. Function is not guaranteed to not update database". If I include such a function in a package, I have to include the WNDS Restrict_References pragma, which also prevents me from updating the database.

Is there any way to write a function that CAN update the database? Are there similar update restrictions on procedures?

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Charles A. Christiansen, Jr.
Programmer / Analyst
Interactive Constructs, Inc. Received on Tue Jan 27 1998 - 00:00:00 CET