Re: SELECT FROM TABLE in PL/SQL procedure

>
> SQL> CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION MAPNAMES( T2INST IN T2 ) RETURN T1
> 2 AS
> 3 T1INST T1;
> 4 BEGIN
> 5 SELECT ID
> 6 BULK COLLECT INTO T1INST
> 7 FROM T
> 8 WHERE NAME IN
> 9 (SELECT UPPER(COLUMN_VALUE) FROM
> 10 -- THE( SELECT CAST( T2INST AS T2 ) FROM SYS.DUAL)
> 11 TABLE(CAST( T2INST AS T2 ))
> 12 );
> 13 RETURN T1INST;
> 14 END;
> 15 /

Once in a while I'd trip over this weird syntax: THE(SELECT CAST....) I am familiar with the CAST, and the TABLE syntax, but have no clue as of the THE and it seems between hard and impossible to find this word in any electronic reference.

If someone were so gentle to explain that to me, I'd appreciate it very much.

Rene

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