Re: LONG datatypes - what's the trick?

Paul,

Although books claim long datatypes are useful there are about a million-and-one things you CANNOT do with them!

• One long column allowed per table
• Cannot appear in integrity constraints
• Cannot be referenced in SQL functions
• Cannot be used in where, group by, order by etc
• Cannot appear in a PL/SQL unit.

I think you fall into the last category IF your code is part of a PL/SQL unit. If not, maybe one of the other ones apply.

Mark

Paul A. Horan wrote in message
<#648F1kZ#GA.320_at_nih2naaa.prod2.compuserve.com>...
>I have two tables, each defined with a primary key, and a single column of
>LONG datatype. These are simple long text columns, designed to store
>copious notes
>
>Why can't I say:
>UPDATE table2
> set table2.long_col =
> (Select table1.long_col
> where table1.primary_key = table2.primary_key )
> WHERE exists
> (Select 1
> from table1
> where table1.primary_key = table2.primary_key) ;
>
>The error message I'm getting is:
>ORA-00997: illegal use of LONG datatype
>
>
>Is this kind of update statement not allowed? What are my options here?
>
>Paul Horan
>
>
>
Received on Thu Mar 04 1999 - 10:00:36 CST