How to Move data between tables (newbie question)

I have just moved out of Transact SQL on Sybase to PL/SQL on Oracle. I am having a difficult time finding a simple way to copy the data from one table to another. In Sybase, we had a SELECT INTO statement that let us pick which columns from one table we wanted to copy to another. I know SELECT ... INTO ... in Oracle is not the same, however, isn't there an easier way to do this than declaring a hundred variables, selecting into them, then inserting them into another table on a row by row basis with a loop?

And under the wandering thoughts category...

Have you ever wondered... if SQL is supposed non database specific query language, why does every database (Sybase, Oracle, SQLServer, Informix) have it's own version of SQL? Usually only a few simple selects will work on all database. Makes the crossover a very frustrating process!

Thanks for the help,

Dan Nobra
dnobra_at_txpetrochem.com

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Share what you know. Learn what you don't. Received on Thu Jun 24 1999 - 09:26:45 CDT