Oracle Advanced Techniques

Achieving PL/SQL Excellence
Oracle PL/SQL
Advanced Techniques
Oracle7 thru Oracle8i
Steven Feuerstein
www.StevenFeuerstein.com
www.Quest.com
www.OReilly.com
and contributions most excellent from Bill Pribyl and Dick Bolz
07/27/08 Copyright
PL/SQL Advanced Techniques - page 1
Objective & Outline
◆ Objective
– Expand your knowledge and awareness of important and new
features of the PL/SQL language.
◆ Outline
– Building with Packages (Oracle7+)
– PL/SQL Collections (Oracle7 and Oracle8+)
– Cursor Variables (Oracle7 and Oracle8+)
– Dynamic SQL: DBMS_SQL and Native Dynamic SQL (8i)
– Calling Java from PL/SQL (Oracle8i) and C (Oracle8)
– Oracle Advanced Queuing with DBMS_AQ (Oracle8)
– Managing Large Objects with DBMS_LOB (Oracle8)
– Other Oracle8i New Features
» Autonomous Transactions (Oracle8i)
» Invoker Rights Model (Oracle8i)
» Row Level Security: DBMS_RLS
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Software Used in Training
◆ PL/Vision: a library of packages installed on top of PL/SQL.
– PL/Vision Lite - use it, copy, change it for free -- unless you build
software to be sold commercially.
– Active PL/SQL Knowledge Base: contains PL/Vision Professional, the
fully supported and enhanced version.
◆ Demonstration scripts executed in the training can be

found on the RevealNet PL/SQL Pipeline:
– http://www.revealnet.com/Pipelines/PLSQL/index.htm
– Archives surfboard, Miscellaneous, PL/SQL Seminar Files plsql_ides.txt
– See filedesc.doc for a listing of many of the files.
◆ The PL/SQL IDE (Integrated Development Environment).

– You no longer have to use SQL*Plus and a crude editor! Choose from
among the many listed in plsql_ides.txt.
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Building with
PL/SQL Packages
◆ Overview
◆ Initialization section
◆ Overloading
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What is a Package?
◆ A collection of code elements, from procedures and
functions to TYPE, variable and cursor declarations.
– Single-most important structure within PL/SQL, and almost
certainly one of the most under-utilized.
– Conceptually very simple, it can take some time to fully grasp the
implications and potential of the package.
◆ The method of choice by Oracle and other software
developers for extending the PL/SQL language.
– You will find packages in the database, in Oracle Developer/2000,
in Oracle Application Server.
◆ Let’s review some of the benefits of packages.
tmr.pkg
dbparm.pkg
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When to Build a Package
◆ Join physically logically-related code. custrules.pkg
insga.pkg
– Can lead to performance improvements.
– Puts more structure and organization in your body of code.
◆ Improve transaction integrity by hiding data structures

behind the package interface.
– Instead of writing SQL directly in your programs, you call the
packaged procedures and functions instead.
te_employee.pks
te_employee.pkb
◆ Construct very flexible and usable utilities for developers.

– There's a big difference between a bunch of separate programs and
a coherent, package-based "component".
watch.pkg
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Package Initialization
◆ The initialization section is a block of code at the end of
the package body that is executed once per session, the
first time any package element is referenced.
– The PL/SQL runtime engine determines when and if this code
should be run.
Program references Does the yes Run initialization

package element package have an code.
the first time in init section?
each session.
no Complete request
for packaged
element.
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Package Initialization Structure
◆ The initialization section:
– Is defined after and outside of any PACKAGE BODY pkg
programs in the package. IS
PROCEDURE proc IS
– Is not required. In fact, most BEGIN
packages you build won't have one. END;
– Can have its own exception handling FUNCTION func RETURN

section. BEGIN
END;
BEGIN
◆ Useful for: END pkg;
– Performing complex setting of
default or initial values. BEGIN after/outside
– Setting up package data which does of any program
defined in the pkg.
not change for the duration of a
session.
– Confirming that package is properly
instantiated.
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Configure Session with Init. Section
PACKAGE BODY sessinit IS
◆ An unusual package! /* No declared package elements at all! */
– Specification contains BEGIN
only variables. /* Get user preferences for this user. */
SELECT lov_flag, tb_flag, defprinter
– Body contains only INTO show_lov, show_toolbar, printer
initialization section. FROM user_config
WHERE user_id = USER;
PACKAGE sessinit
IS EXCEPTION
show_lov CHAR(1); WHEN NO_DATA_FOUND
show_toolbar CHAR(1); THEN
printer VARCHAR2(60); /* No record for this user. */
END sessinit; show_lov := 'Y';
show_toolbar := 'Y';
printer := 'lpt1';
◆ Also a package with
WHEN OTHERS
many design flaws... THEN
RAISE_APPLICATION_ERROR
init.pkg (-20000,
init.tst 'No profile for ' || USER);
END sessinit;
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Populate Collections
◆ The PL/Vision Date package, PLVdate, employs several
PL/SQL tables to convert strings and to perform date
arithmetic.
– This increases the flexibility of the date conversion process.
– The datemgr.pkg file demonstrates the basic technique (and the
reliance on an initialization section) used to achieve this flexibility.
BEGIN
fmts(1) := 'DD-MON-RR';
fmts(2) := 'DD-MON-YYYY';
fmts(3) := 'DD-MON'; Initialization section
fmts(4) := 'MM/DD'; populates a
... PL/SQL table.
fmts(9) := 'MM/DD/YYYY';
fmts(10) := 'MMDDYYYY';
fmts(11) := 'YYYYMMDD';
fmts(12) := 'RRMMDD';
datemgr.pkg
fmt_count := 12;
dates.sql
END dt;
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Program Overloading
◆ When you overload programs, you give
two or more programs the same name.
– You can overload modules in any declaration
section and in packages.
myproc
◆ Overloading is a critical feature when building myproc

comprehensive programmatic interfaces
(APIs) or components using packages. myproc
– If you want others to use your code, you need to
make that code as smart and as easy to use as
possible.
– Overloading transfers the "need to know" from the
user to the overloaded program.
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Overloading in PL/SQL Built-ins
◆ PL/SQL uses overloading in many common functions.
– You just probably never gave it a thought, and took functions like
TO_CHAR and TO_DATE totally for granted.
– But Oracle couldn't offer that level of convenience without
overloading.
date_string := TO_CHAR (SYSDATE, 'MMDDYY');
number_string := TO_CHAR (10000);
Without overloading, you would have to deal with something

like this:
date_string :=
TO_CHAR_FROM_DATE (SYSDATE, 'MMDDYY');
number_string :=
TO_CHAR_FROM_NUMBER (10000);
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How Overloading Works
◆ For two or more modules to be overloaded, the compiler must be
able to distinguish between the two calls at compile-time. There
are two different "compile times":
– 1. When you compile the package or block containing the
overloaded code.
– 2. When you compile programs that use the overloaded code.
◆ Distinguishing characteristics:
– The formal parameters of overloaded modules must differ in number,
order or datatype family (CHAR vs. VARCHAR2 is not different enough).
– The programs are of different types: procedure and function.
◆ Undistinguishing characteristics:
– Functions differ only in their RETURN datatype.
– Arguments differ only in their mode (IN, OUT, IN OUT).
– Their formal parameters differ only in datatype and the datatypes are in
the same family.
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Examples of Invalid Overloadings
PACKAGE too_similar
IS Parameter
PROCEDURE calc (reg_in IN CHAR); data types
PROCEDURE calc (reg_in IN VARCHAR2); cause conflict.
END too_many_cals;
which one? too_similar.calc ('123');
PACKAGE only_returns
IS Only difference
FUNCTION func1 (val IN VARCHAR2) RETURN DATE; is function
FUNCTION func1 (val IN VARCHAR2) RETURN VARCHAR2;
END only_returns; RETURN type.
which one? DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (only_returns.func1 (v_value));
PACKAGE param_modes
IS Only difference
PROCEDURE proc1 (val IN VARCHAR2);
is parameter
PROCEDURE proc1 (val IN OUT VARCHAR2);
END param_modes; mode.
which one? param_modes.proc1 (v_value);
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Overload Wherever Possible
◆ Supporting Many Data Combinations
– Apply the same action to different kinds or combinations of data. In
this case, the overloading does not provide a single name for
different activities, so much as providing different ways of
requesting the same activity.
– The DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE procedure illustrates this technique --
and the PL/Vision p.l substitute does an even better job.
◆ Fitting the Program to the User
– To make your code as useful as possible, you may construct different
versions of the “same” program which correspond to different
patterns of use.
◆ Overloading by Type, not Value

– A less common application of overloading. You use the type of data
and not its value to determine which of the overloaded programs
should be executed.
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A "Classic" Overloaded Package
◆ Many different datatype combinations, allowing the user to pass data to
the "display engine" without writing "pre-processing" code.
PACKAGE p
IS
PROCEDURE l
(date_in IN DATE,
mask_in IN VARCHAR2 := ‘Month DD, YYYY - HH:MI:SS PM');
PROCEDURE l (number_in IN NUMBER);
PROCEDURE l (char_in IN VARCHAR2);
PROCEDURE l (char_in IN VARCHAR2, number_in IN NUMBER);
PROCEDURE l
(char_in IN VARCHAR2, date_in IN DATE,
mask_in IN VARCHAR2 := 'Month DD, YYYY - HH:MI:SS PM');
PROCEDURE l (boolean_in IN BOOLEAN);

p.sps
p.spb
PROCEDURE l (char_in IN VARCHAR2, boolean_in IN BOOLEAN);
END p;
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Advantage of Extended Overloading
• Minimal overloading means lots of •Extended overloadings are
extra coding... more likely to meet user needs.
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE p.l ('So what is different?');
('So what is different?');
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE p.l (SYSDATE);

(TO_CHAR (SYSDATE,
'MM/DD/YY HH:MI:SS'));
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE p.l (SQLERRM, SQLCODE);

(SQLERRM || ': ' ||
TO_CHAR (SQLCODE));
IF print_report_fl p.l (print_report_fl);

THEN
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE ('TRUE');
ELSE
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE ('FALSE');
END IF;
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Fitting the Program to the User
Writing "unnecessary" code? Time to overload!
◆ A single piece of functionality, such as "display data" or "create
a file", can be applied or needed under very different
circumstances.
◆ If you take these different circumstances into account when you
design your package specification, the user of your package can
benefit from writing less code.
– Your code is a a more natural "fit" under a variety of
requirements.
◆ In my experience, few developers are considerate enough of
their users to try to anticipate their needs.
– If you want to write software that is admired,
appreciated...and taken completely for granted, think about
the way it will be used.
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Creating a File for a Quick Touch
◆ Suppose a developer needs to create a file to be used as a "flag" in the
operating system.
– She doesn't care what's in it. It just needs to be present.
– Here is the code required by UTL_FILE:
DECLARE
fid UTL_FILE.FILE_TYPE;
BEGIN
fid := UTL_FILE.FOPEN ('tmp/flags', 'exists.flg', 'W');
UTL_FILE.PUT_LINE (fid, 'blah');
UTL_FILE.FCLOSE (fid);
END;
◆ In other words, you have to declare the record to hold the file handle, even
though you are simply going to close the file immediately after opening it.
◆ Of course, sometimes you will want to create a file and then perform
additional operations, so this is just the way it has to be, right? WRONG!
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Procedure and Function Overloaded
◆ Why not overload a "create file" program so that you can pick
the one that most closely fits your situation?
◆ Consider the PLVfile package of PL/Vision.
Overloading of FCreate Use as Function
PACKAGE PLVfile DECLARE
IS fid UTL_FILE.FILE_TYPE;
/* Procedure */ BEGIN
PROCEDURE fcreate fid := PLVfile.fcreate
(file_in IN VARCHAR2, ('temp.ini', v_user);
line_in IN VARCHAR2 := NULL); PLVfile.put_line
(fid, TO_CHAR (SYSDATE));
/* Function */
FUNCTION fcreate Use as Procedure
(file_in IN VARCHAR2,
line_in IN VARCHAR2 := NULL) BEGIN
RETURN UTL_FILE.FILE_TYPE; PLVfile.fcreate ('exists.flg');
END;
END PLVfile;
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"By-Type" Overloading
◆ In some situations, the user does not need to pass data,
but the type of data.
– For example, when you use DBMS_SQL to set up a dynamic
query, you must call the DEFINE_COLUMN procedure to define
the datatype of the Nth column in the cursor.
◆ There are three ways to accomplish this:
– Don't overload. Define a different program name for each
datatype.
– Pass a string “name” of the datatype.
– Pass a piece of data of the right type.
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Options for Specifying Column Type
◆ Don't even bother overloading... So many program
BEGIN names to remember!
DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_INTEGER_COLUMN (cur, 1);
DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_VARCHAR2_COLUMN (cur, 2, 30);
◆ Pass a literal value...

Nasty
BEGIN hard-coding...
DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN (cur, 1, 'NUMBER');
DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN (cur, 2, 'STRING', 30);
Lotsa typing,
◆ Pass a named constant... lotsa names...
BEGIN
DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN (cur, 1, DBMS_SQL.NUMBER_TYPE);
DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN (cur, 2, DBMS_SQL.VARCHAR2_TYPE, 30);
◆ Now let's look at two examples of overloading by datatype...
– DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN
– PLVgen.func
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Defining Dynamic SQL Columns
◆ The DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN procedure defines the
datatype of a column.
– To make it easier to accomplish this task, you only need to pass a
value -- any value -- of the correct type.
– The three code blocks below are equivalent, from the perspective
of DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN.
BEGIN
DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN (cur, 1, 1);
DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN (cur, 2, 'a', 30);
BEGIN
DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN (cur, 1, DBMS_UTILITY.GET_TIME);
DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN (cur, 2, USER, 30);
BEGIN
DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN (cur, 1, v_empno);
DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN (cur, 2, v_ename, 30);
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Generating Functions by Value
◆ In PLVgen, the user indicates the type of function to be generated
by providing a value.
– The particular value itself is of no importance. Any number, any
date, any string, any Boolean will do.
PACKAGE PLVgen
IS
PROCEDURE func (name_in IN VARCHAR2, type_in IN VARCHAR2);
PROCEDURE func (name_in IN VARCHAR2, type_in IN NUMBER);
PROCEDURE func (name_in IN VARCHAR2, type_in IN DATE);
SQL> exec plvgen.func A date function, please!

('last_date', SYSDATE)
SQL> exec plvgen.func A number function, please!

('total_salary', 1)
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The Frustrations of Overloading
◆ Watch out! An overloading can compile successfully, but
you might later found out that you cannot actually call any
of the overloaded programs.
PACKAGE profits
IS
PROCEDURE calc (comp_id_IN IN NUMBER);
PROCEDURE calc (comp_id_IN IN company.comp_id%TYPE);

END;
◆ In the above example, I rely on an anchored type (%TYPE) to

establish the datatype of the second calc’s parameter.
– When I compile profits, PL/SQL does not sense a conflict with above
overloading even though comp_id is a numeric column.
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Quiz! Nuances of Overloading
PACKAGE sales
IS
PROCEDURE calc_total (zone_in IN VARCHAR2);
PROCEDURE calc_total (reg_in IN VARCHAR2);
END sales;
◆ Can I overload two programs which have parameters
that differ only by name, like calc_totals shown above?
– If not, why not?
– If so, how would you do it? (Don't peek at the next page!)
BEGIN
sales.calc_total ('NORTHWEST');
sales.pkg
?
sales.calc_total ('ZONE2');
END;
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Using Named Notation
<formal parameter name> => <expression>
◆ Explicit association between the formal parameter (the

"name") with the actual parameter (the "value").
◆ Advantages of named notation include:
– Code is more "self-documenting". This is especially useful when
working with infrequently used built-in programs.
– You can skip over (not specify values for) any IN parameters that
have default values. That way you don't have to know and pass
default values.
DBMS_JOB.submit ( namednot.sql
job => v_jobno,
what => 'DBMS_DDL.ANALYZE_OBJECT ' ||
'(''TABLE'',''LOAD1'',''TENK''' ||
',''ESTIMATE'',null,estimate_percent=>50);',
next_date => TRUNC (SYSDATE + 1),
interval => 'TRUNC(SYSDATE+1)');
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PL/SQL
Collections
◆ Collections are single-dimensioned lists of information.
◆ Three types of collections:
– Index-by tables (Oracle7 only, originally called PL/SQL tables)
– Nested tables (Oracle8 and above)
– Variable arrays (VARRAYs, Oracle8 and above)
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When to Use Collections
◆ Maintain any kind of list of related information for use in
your programs.
◆ Emulate bi-directional cursors, which are otherwise not

supported in PL/SQL
◆ Cache data in session-level memory for faster access.
◆ Build hash tables (custom indexing structures).
◆ Improve query performance by avoiding joins.
◆ Avoid mutating table errors in database triggers.
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Index-By Tables
TYPE <table_type> IS TABLE OF <datatype>
INDEX BY BINARY_INTEGER;
DECLARE
TYPE inmem_emp_t IS TABLE OF emp%ROWTYPE
emp_copy inmem_emp_t;
◆ Characteristics of an index-by table:

– Unbounded
» Practically speaking. Valid row numbers range: -2,147,483,647 to 2,147,483,647
» You will not actually create tables this large. Instead, this broad range allows you
to employ the row number as an intelligent key.
– Sparse
» Data does not have to be stored in consecutive rows of information.
– Homogeneous
» Data in each row has the same structure.
– Available only in PL/SQL
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Index_by Tables
TYPE PACKAGE BODY family IS
declaration
TYPE child_list_type IS
TABLE OF VARCHAR2 (30)
Variable
declaration children child_list_type;
children (6810) := ‘Adam Russell;

children (6904) := 'Lisa Nadezhka'; children
children
6306 ‘Barbara Anne’

6306 ‘Barbara Anne’ Component
6412 ‘Gary Richard’
6412 ‘Gary Richard’ Selection
6810 ‘Adam Russell’
6904 ‘Lisa Marie’
kid := children (4); 6904 ‘Lisa Nadezhka’
Error: datemgr.pkg
NO_DATA_FOUND
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Nested Tables
[CREATE OR REPLACE] TYPE <table_type> IS
TABLE OF <datatype> [NOT NULL];
DECLARE
TYPE when_t IS TABLE OF DATE;
birthdays when_t;
◆ Nested table characteristics

– Homogeneous
» Each row contains the same structure of data.
– Unbounded, but only with explicit EXTEND requests
» Practically speaking. Valid row numbers range: 1 to 2,147,483,647
– Initially dense, but can become sparse if you DELETE inner rows
– Available both in PL/SQL and SQL (as a column in a table)
– The order of elements is not preserved in the database
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Nested Tables
CREATE OR REPLACE
TYPE child_table_type IS TABLE OF VARCHAR2 (30);
CREATE TABLE db_family (surname VARCHAR2 (30),

kids child_table_type)
NESTED TABLE kids STORE AS kids_ntab;
For ORACLE's use only
db_family
Barbara Anne
surname kids Gary Richard
BOLZ Lisa Marie
BOND
Eric Thomas
Max Richard
ntdemo.sql
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Variable Arrays
[CREATE OR REPLACE] TYPE <table_type> IS
VARRAY (N) OF <datatype> [NOT NULL];
DECLARE
TYPE numbers_t IS VARRAY (10) OF NUMBER;
salaries numbers_t;
◆ Characteristics of variable arrays:

– Homogeneous
» Each row contains the same structure of data.
– Bounded
» Upper limit established when the TYPE is defined. Maximum value: 2,147,483,647
– Dense
» Never any gaps between defined rows, can be EXTENDed or TRIMmed.
– Available both in PL/SQL and SQL (as a column in a table)
» And the order of elements are preserved in the database.
– Variable arrays are actually stored in the DB table
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Variable Arrays
CREATE OR REPLACE
TYPE child_va_type IS VARRAY (8) OF VARCHAR2 (30);
CREATE TABLE db_family (surname VARCHAR2 (30), kids child_va_type);
db_family
surname kids
1 Barbara Anne
BOLZ 2 Gary Richard
3 Lisa Marie
1 Eric Thomas
BOND
2 Max Richard
vademo.sql
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Defining Collections
◆ First, you define the TYPE of the collection.
– For index-by tables, this can only occur in a PL/SQL declaration
section. Best option: package specification.
– For nested tables and VARRAYs, you can define the TYPE in the
database with a CREATE statement, or in a PL/SQL declaration
section.
◆ Then you declare an instance of that type, a collection, from
the TYPE.
– You can declare multiple collections from that TYPE.
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE tabtypes
IS
TYPE integer_ibt IS TABLE OF INTEGER INDEX BY BINARY_INTEGER;
TYPE integer_nt IS TABLE OF INTEGER;
TYPE integer_vat IS VARRAY(10) OF INTEGER;
...
END tabtypes;
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Obtaining Collection Information
SELECT A.attr_name || ' - ' || A.attr_type_name Attributes
FROM all_coll_types T, all_type_attrs A
WHERE T.owner = USER
AND T.owner = A.owner
AND T.type_name IN ('NAMES_VT', 'TMRS_VT')
AND T.elem_type_name = A.type_name;
◆ ALL_COLL_TYPES
– The types you have created (or have access to) in the database
◆ ALL_TYPE_ATTRS
– Attributes of the data type used in the TYPE definition.
– The code used to define the collection TYPE
◆ There is no information in the data dictionary available for

index-by tables.
colldd.sql
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Initializing Collections
◆ Before you can use a collection, it must be initialized.
– Index-by tables are initialized automatically, empty when declared.
– Nested tables and VARRAYs are atomically null. You must initialize
them explicitly with a constructor.
DECLARE
TYPE numbers_t IS VARRAY (10) OF NUMBER; TYPE defined in
salaries numbers_t := numbers_t (100, 200, 300); PL/SQL
BEGIN
CREATE TYPE numbers_t IS VARRAY (10) OF NUMBER;

/
DECLARE -- Initialize the collection.
TYPE defined in
salaries numbers_t := numbers_t (100, 200, 300); the database
BEGIN
CREATE TABLE employee_denorm (

employee_id INTEGER, Collection used
salary_history numbers_t); in a table
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Collections of Composites
◆ Starting with Oracle 7.3, the “homogeneous” contents of an
index-by table's row can be a record .
– Can easily create an index-by table with the same structure as a
database table by declaring a record with %ROWTYPE.
◆ Starting with Oracle8, the datatype for any of the collection types
can also be an object.
– But you cannot have nested composite datatypes.
DECLARE
TYPE comp_rectype IS RECORD
(comp_id company.company_id%TYPE, total_rev NUMBER);
TYPE comp_tabtype IS TABLE OF comp_rectype

Here we have a three
comp_tab comp_tabtype; step process. Again,
BEGIN consider putting
comp_tab(1).comp_id := 1005; TYPEs in database or
packages.
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Sparse is Nice
◆ The sparse characteristic of index-by tables and nested
tables can be put to good use.
– In an index-by table, a row exists in the table only when a value is
assigned to that row. In this way, it is very similar to a database
table.
◆ Rows do not have to be defined sequentially.
– You should not fill sequentially, unless the order in which items are
selected is of importance.
– Instead, consider using the row value as "smart data" for your
application (primary key, order by date, etc.).
◆ Especially handy when caching data from relational tables in
user memory.
– In almost every case, your collections will contain a row's worth of
information.
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Transferring DB Table to Collection
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE psemp
IS
◆ This package moves the
TYPE emp_tabtype IS entire contents of the emp
TABLE OF emp%ROWTYPE
table into its corresponding
collection.
emp_tab emp_tabtype;
END; ◆ Some questions:
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY psemp
– Why would I put this
IS collection table in a
BEGIN package?
FOR rec IN (SELECT * FROM emp)
LOOP
– When is the collection
emp_tab (rec.empno) := rec; loaded with the data?
END LOOP; – What rows in that collection
END;
are utilized?
Initialization psemp.pkg
section of psemp.tst
package
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Collection Gotchas
CREATE TYPE names_t IS TABLE OF VARCHAR2(30);
/
DECLARE Error -6533!
greedy_ceos names_t := names_t ();
BEGIN You've got to
greedy_ceos(1) := 'Hamilton, Jordan'; EXTEND first!
END;
/
◆ EXTEND before assigning a value to a row.

– Not necessary for index-by tables, but you must do it for VARRAYs
and nested tables.
◆ For index-by tables, you must reference existing rows or a
NO_DATA_FOUND exception is raised.
– Use the EXISTS method to determine if a row existed.
– For VARRAYs and nested tables, once extended, the row exists,
even if you haven't assigned a value explicitly.
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Handling Collection Gotchas
BEGIN
-- Extend by 10 since I know I will need that many.
-- Set the value of each new row to the contents of the first row.
salaries.EXTEND (10, salaries(salaries.FIRST));
◆ You can EXTEND one or more rows.
– Assign a default value with a second, optional argument.
– Pre-extending a large number of rows in advance can
improve performance. preextend.tst
◆ Include a handler for NO_DATA_FOUND or use the EXISTS

method to avoid these exceptions.
BEGIN
IF salaries.EXISTS (v_employee_id)
THEN
-- We are OK.
ELSE
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE ('Data for employee not available.');
END IF;
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Collection Methods
◆ Obtain information about the collection
– COUNT returns number of rows currently defined in the table.
– EXISTS returns TRUE if the specified row is defined.
– FIRST/LAST return lowest/highest numbers of defined rows.
– NEXT/PRIOR return the closest defined row after/before the specified
row.
– LIMIT tells you the max. number of elements allowed in a VARRAY.
◆ Modify the contents of the collection

– DELETE deletes one or more rows from the index-by table.
– EXTEND adds rows to a nested table or VARRAY.
– TRIM removes rows from a VARRAY.
◆ The built-in package plitblm (PL/sql Index-TaBLe Methods)

defines these methods.
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The DELETE Method
◆ You can delete one or more rows from a collection using
DELETE:
BEGIN
-- Delete all rows
myCollection.DELETE;
-- Delete one (the last) row

myCollection.DELETE (myCollection.LAST);
-- Delete a range of rows

myCollection.DELETE (1400, 17255);
END;
DELETE releases memory, but you may also want to call

DBMS_SESSION.FREE_UNUSED_USER_MEMORY.
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Navigating Through Collections
◆ Use FIRST and NEXT to move from beginning to end.
◆ Use LAST and PRIOR to move from end to beginning.
rowind PLS_INTEGER :=
birthdays.FIRST; -- birthdays.LAST
BEGIN
LOOP
EXIT WHEN rowind IS NULL;
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE
(birthdays(rowind).best_present);
rowind := birthdays.NEXT (rowind); -- birthdays.PRIOR

END LOOP;
END;
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Using Collections Inside SQL
◆ Nested tables and VARRAYs can be defined as columns of a
table and referenced directly within SQL.
◆ You can also apply SQL operations to the contents of
nested tables and VARRAYs with these operators:
– THE - Maps a single column value in a single row to a virtual
database table
– CAST - Maps a collection of one type to a collection of another type
– MULTISET - Maps a database table to a collection
– TABLE - Maps a collection to a database table
◆ Index-by tables are programmatic constructs only.

– You cannot make a direct reference to an index-by table in SQL.
– Instead, so do indirectly with a PL/SQL function.
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Using Collections inside SQL
SELECT column_value
FROM TABLE (SELECT children FROM db_family
WHERE surname = 'BOLZ');
db_family
Barbara Anne
surname children Gary Richard column_value
BOLZ Lisa Marie Barbara Anne
Gary Richard
BOND Lisa Marie
Eric Thomas
Max Richard
UPDATE TABLE
(SELECT children FROM db_family WHERE SURNAME = 'BOLZ)
SET column_value = 'Lisa Nadezhka'
WHERE column_value = 'Lisa Marie');
db_family
Barbara Anne
surname children Gary Richard
BOLZ Lisa Nadezhka
...
07/27/08 Copyright
Using the THE Operator
◆ Use THE to manipulate (retrieve, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE)
contents of a nested table in a database table.
– Can only use with nested tables, not VARRAYs or index-by tables.
– Only accessible from within SQL statements in PL/SQL.
CREATE TYPE action_list_t IS TABLE OF VARCHAR2(100);
/
CREATE TABLE inflation_beater (
focus_area VARCHAR2(100),
activities action_list_t)
NESTED TABLE activities STORE AS activities_tab;
SELECT VALUE (act)

FROM THE (SELECT activities FROM inflation_beater
WHERE focus_area = 'FORTUNE 100') act;
UPDATE THE (SELECT activities FROM inflation_beater

WHERE focus_area = 'FORTUNE 100')
SET COLUMN_VALUE = 'DISBAND OSHA' the.sql
WHERE COLUMN_VALUE = 'SIDESTEP OSHA';
07/27/08 Copyright
Using the TABLE and CAST Operators
◆ Use CAST to convert a collection from one type to another,
TABLE to convert a TYPE into a database table.
– Cannot use with index-by tables.
– Useful when you would like to apply SQL operations against a
PL/SQL collection (ie, one not stored in a database table).
DECLARE
nyc_devolution cutbacks_for_taxcuts :=
cutbacks_for_taxcuts ('Stop rat extermination programs',
'Fire building inspectors',
'Close public hospitals');
BEGIN
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (
'How to Make the NYC Rich Much, Much Richer:');
FOR rec IN (SELECT COLUMN_VALUE ohmy
FROM TABLE (CAST (nyc_devolution AS cutbacks_for_taxcuts)))
LOOP
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (rec.ohmy);
END LOOP; cast.sql
END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Using the MULTISET Operator
◆ MULTISET is the inverse of TABLE, converting a set of data
(table, view, query) into a VARRAY or nested table.
– Cannot use with index-by tables.
– You can use MULTISET to emulate or transform relational joins into
collections, with potential client-server performance impact.
DECLARE
CURSOR bird_curs IS
SELECT b.genus, b.species,
CAST(MULTISET(SELECT bh.country FROM bird_habitats bh
WHERE bh.genus = b.genus
AND bh.species = b.species)
AS country_tab_t)
FROM birds b; Retrieves all detail
bird_row bird_curs%ROWTYPE; information for the
BEGIN master in one trip.
OPEN bird_curs;
FETCH bird_curs into bird_row;
END; multiset.sql
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Referencing IB Tables inside SQL
◆ You can't directly reference an index-by table's contents
inside SQL.
◆ Instead, call functions that retrieve the table's data, but hide
the index-by table structure.
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE ibtab IS
FUNCTION rowval (indx IN PLS_INTEGER) RETURN DATE; Make accessible
PRAGMA RESTRICT_REFERENCES (rowval, WNPS, WNDS); in SQL for
END; Oracle8 and
below.
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY ibtab IS
TYPE date_tab IS TABLE OF DATE INDEX BY BINARY_INTEGER;
hiredates date_tab;
FUNCTION rowval (indx IN PLS_INTEGER) RETURN DATE

IS BEGIN
RETURN hiredates (indx);
END; ibtab_in_sql.sql
END;
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Examples of Collections in Action
◆ Emulation of bi-directional cursor operations
◆ Avoid mutating table problems in database

triggers.
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Bi-Directional Cursor Emulation
◆ Oracle does not yet support the ability to move back and
forth (and at random) through a cursor's result set.
– A talked-about feature for Oracle9i -- nope, didn't make it!
◆ Instead, deposit your data in a collection and then provide
programs to access that data in the necessary fashion.
◆ This is particularly useful (read: efficient) when you need to
perform multiple passes against the data.
Notice that the
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE bidir collection itself is
IS hidden.
/* Iterate through rows in the result set */
PROCEDURE setRow (nth IN PLS_INTEGER);
FUNCTION getRow RETURN employee_plus%ROWTYPE;
PROCEDURE nextRow; bidir.pkg
bidir.tst
PROCEDURE prevRow;
END;
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The Mutating Table Problem
◆ Database triggers can be attached to the SQL statement
and/or the individual row operations on a table.
Statement Level
UPDATE emp SET sal = 1000
UPDATE row 1
Row Level UPDATE row N
◆ Row level triggers cannot query from or

change the contents of the table to which Note: in Oracle8i, you
can use autonomous
it is attached; it is "mutating". transactions to relax
restrictions
◆ So what are you supposed to do when a associated with
queries.
row-level operation needs to "touch" that
table? mutating.sql
07/27/08 Copyright
A Solution Based on Index-by Tables
◆ Since you cannot perform the processing desired in the
row-level trigger, you need to defer the action until you get
to the statement level.
◆ If you are going to defer the work, you have to remember
what you needed to do.
– an index-by table is an ideal repository for this reminder list.
Work List
Writes to list (PL/SQL Table)
1st row trigger fires
Writes to list
Nth row trigger fires
Process data
in the list.
Statement Trigger
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An Example: Ranking Salespeople
◆ A table holds the rankings based on the amount of annual
sales of salespeople within a department.
– As the sales amount is updated in this table, the rankings must also
change to show the new standings for that department only.
Department ID Salesperson ID Sales Amount Rank

1055 64333 74055.88 3
1055 65709 144533.91 1
1055 65706 109000.25 2
1047 70904 65011.25 6
◆ "Deferred work" is not only necessary, but preferable.

– By storing the salesperson’s department ids as they change, we then
know which departments to re-rank.
– We might update more than one department within a statement so we
must be able to retain multiple department numbers.
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Trigger Logic Required
Row Level Trigger
Doesn't fire unless
CREATE OR REPLACE TRIGGER Rank_Sales_Rtrg the sales_amt
AFTER insert OR update OF sales_amt is actually changed.
ON rank_sales FOR EACH ROW
WHEN (OLD.sales_amt != NEW.sales_amt)
BEGIN
rank.add_dept (:new.dept_id);
END;
Statement Level Trigger

CREATE OR REPLACE TRIGGER Rank_Sales_Strg
AFTER INSERT OR UPDATE OR DELETE
ON rank_sales
BEGIN All details of the
rank.rank_depts; ranking are hidden
END; in the package body.
ranking.pkg
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The Ranking Package
PACKAGE rank
IS
PROCEDURE add_dept (dept_id_in IN INTEGER);
PROCEDURE rank_depts;
END rank;
PACKAGE BODY rank Table holds indicator

IS that department
in_process BOOLEAN := FALSE; needs re-ranking.
TYPE dept_tabtype IS TABLE OF BOOLEAN INDEX BY BINARY_INTEGER;

dept_tab dept_tabtype;
PROCEDURE add_dept (dept_id_in IN INTEGER) IS

BEGIN
IF NOT in_process
THEN Create row to indicate
dept_tab (dept_id_in) := TRUE; department to be ranked.
END IF;
END add_dept
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The Ranking Package, Continued
PROCEDURE rank_depts
IS
v_deptid PLS_INTEGER := dept_tab.FIRST;
BEGIN
Avoid recursive
IF NOT in_process execution of logic
THEN
in_process := TRUE;
LOOP
EXIT WHEN v_deptid IS NULL;
perform_ranking (v_deptid);
v_deptid := dept_tab.NEXT (v_deptid);
END LOOP;
END IF; Row number is
department number.
in_process := FALSE;
dept_tab.DELETE;
END rank_dept;
Clean up for
END rank; next time.
07/27/08 Copyright
Which Collection Type Should I Use?
◆ Index-by tables
– Need to use in both Oracle7 and Oracle8 applications
– Want to take advantage of sparse nature for "intelligent keys".
◆ Nested tables
– You want to store large amounts of persistent data in a column.
– You want to use inside SQL.
◆ VARRAYs
– You want to preserve the order in which elements are stored.
– Set of data is relatively small (avoid row chaining).
– You want to use inside SQL.
– You don't want to have to worry about sparseness.
07/27/08 Copyright
Tips for Using Collections
◆ Wrap access to your collections.
– In many cases, you will want to avoid direct access to (assigning
and retrieving) rows in your collections.
– This will give you the flexibility to change your implementation.
– You can also hide complex rules for setting the row number.
◆ Get creative!
– Don't always fill and use the index-by table sequentially.
– If you can somehow translate your application data to an integer, it
can be used as a row number, and therefore offers indexed access.
– Julian date formats and DBMS_UTILITY.GET_HASH_VALUE offer
two different methods.
07/27/08 Copyright
Cursor Variables
07/27/08 Copyright
Architecture of Cursor Variables
With Hard-Coded Cursors With Cursor Variables
Hard-Coded Cursor Cursor

Cursor PGA Variable Variable
Shared
Result Cursor
Set Global Object
Result
Set
Area
◆ A cursor variable points to an underlying cursor object in the

database.
– The cursor object in turns points to (and keeps its place in) a result set.
◆ The cursor variable can be passed between programs (even
between, say, a Java servlet and a PL/SQL stored procedure).
– Static SQL only -- until Oracle8i.
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Benefits of Cursor Variables
◆ Share cursor management between programs, even across
the client-server divide.
– You don't have to pass the result sets of a cursor in order to allow
the client-side program to have direct access to the data in the
result set.
– Oracle Developer 2.1 utilizes cursor variables when you choose to
construct a "base table block" around stored procedures instead
of a database table.
◆ Share the same code across multiple, different queries.
– Since the cursor name is no longer hard-coded, you can use a
single block of code (say, a reporting program) against different
queries.
– We will try out this technique at the end of the section.
07/27/08 Copyright
Cursor Variable Example
DECLARE Declare a variable
TYPE company_curtype cursor TYPE.
IS
REF CURSOR RETURN company%ROWTYPE;
Declare cursor variable
based on that type.
company_curvar company_curtype;
Declare a record
company_rec company_curvar%ROWTYPE; from cursor variable.
BEGIN
OPEN cursor variable,
specifying the query.
OPEN company_curvar FOR
SELECT * FROM company;
FETCH from the
cursor variable.
FETCH company_curvar INTO company_rec;
Close the
cursor variable.
CLOSE company_curvar;
END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Explicit Cursors and Cursor Variables
◆ Both hard-coded cursors and cursor variables work with
static SQL.
– The SQL is fixed at compile-time.
– The difference is that with cursor variables, you get to decide which
static query is opened.
◆ Many cursor operations are the same:
– Close a variable cursor with the same syntax as that for static
cursors.
– Use cursor attributes (%ISOPEN, %FOUND, %NOTFOUND,
%ROWCOUNT) with cursor variables (as of Release 2.3).
– Fetch data from the cursor result set through a cursor variable with
the same syntax as that of static cursors.
◆ Let’s focus on the new and different capabilities of cursor
variables.
07/27/08 Copyright
Declaring Cursor Types and Variables
◆ Cursors are declared in two steps, just like programmer-
defined records and PL/SQL tables.
– 1. Define a cursor TYPE -- either "weak" or "strong".
– 2. Define a cursor variable.
Declare a WEAK
DECLARE referenced cursor TYPE.
TYPE weak_curtype IS REF CURSOR;
TYPE comp_curtype IS REF CURSOR RETURN company%ROWTYPE;
curcmp_new comp_curtype; Declare a STRONG

referenced cursor TYPE.
cur_any weak_curtype;
BEGIN
Declare cursor variables
from the TYPEs.
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Strong vs. Weak Cursor Types
◆ A strong (or constrained) cursor type has a defined
return data specification.
– Can only reference cursor objects which return the same data
specification, which can be any single SQL datatype or any
previously defined record structure.
– Datatype mismatches are identified at compile time.
TYPE cur_typ_name IS REF CURSOR [ RETURN return_type ];
TYPE cur_typ_name IS REF CURSOR RETURN emp%ROWTYPE; /* Strong */
◆ The weak (or unconstrained) cursor type does not have a

RETURN clause.
– It can reference any cursor object, be opened FOR any query.
– Datatype mismatches can only be identified at runtime.
TYPE cur_typ_name IS REF CURSOR; /* Weak */
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Opening with the Cursor Variable
OPEN cursor_name FOR select_statement;
◆ When you open a cursor variable (whether of the weak

or strong variety), you must provide the SQL query that
identifies the result set.
– If the variable has not yet been assigned to cursor object, the
OPEN FOR statement implicitly creates an object for the
variable.
– If the variable is already pointing to a cursor object, the OPEN
FOR reuses the existing object and attaches the new query to
that cursor object.
◆ Remember, the cursor object is nothing more than a
memory location.
– It is maintained independently of the query itself.
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Opening with Strong Cursor Types
DECLARE
TYPE emp_curtype IS REF CURSOR RETURN emp%ROWTYPE;
emp_curvar emp_curtype; Match Needed
BEGIN
OPEN emp_curvar FOR SELECT * from emp;
...
END;
◆ STRONG cursor data specifications must match or be

compatible with the structure of the SELECT statement.
– You can establish the return type based on a database table, a
cursor or a programmer-defined record.
07/27/08 Copyright
Opening with Weak Cursor Types
PACKAGE pkg IS REF TYPE placed in
TYPE cv_type IS REF CURSOR; package so that it
END; is "globally" available.
FUNCTION open_emp_or_dept (get_type_in IN VARCHAR2)

RETURN pkg.cv_type
IS
retval pkg.cv_type;
BEGIN
IF get_type_in = ‘EMP’
THEN Either query will "do".
OPEN retval FOR SELECT * FROM emp; Verification will take
ELSIF get_type_in = ‘DEPT’ place at the FETCH.
THEN
OPEN retval FOR SELECT * FROM dept;
END IF;
RETURN retval;
END;
◆ A weak cursor TYPE doesn't define the RETURN structure; you can
associate any SELECT statement with a weak cursor variable.
07/27/08 Copyright
Fetching from the Cursor Variable
FETCH cursor_var_name INTO record_name;
FETCH cursor_var_name INTO var_name, var_name, ...;
◆ Fetching with cursor variables follows the same rules as
those with static cursors.
◆ The INTO structure must match in number and datatype to:
– FOR STRONG cursor types, it match the cursor type data
specification.
– FOR WEAK cursor types, it match the OPEN FOR statement
structure.
◆ Compatibility checks are performed prior to fetching row.
– The ROWTYPE_MISMATCH exception is raised on failure.
– Fetching can continue with a different INTO clause.
mismatch.sql
07/27/08 Copyright
When to Use Cursor Variables
◆ Make it easier for calling programs (especially non-PL/SQL
programs) to manipulate result sets.
– JDBC recognizes cursor variables.
◆ Define a base table block in Forms Builder (formerly Oracle

Forms) on stored procedures rather than a table directly.
◆ Use a single block of code to manipulate multiple queries.
– With explicit cursors, you have to repeat the code for each cursor,
since cursor names are "hard coded".
– You could use dynamic SQL to achieve this effect, but static cursors
are more efficient than dynamic SQL and cursor variables are less
complicated than DBMS_SQL.
hccursor.sql
07/27/08 Copyright
Consolidating Different Cursors
◆ The following package specification hides the SQL behind a single open
function.
– It also creates the data structures you will need to call the function.
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE allcurs

IS
bydept CONSTANT INTEGER := 1;
bysal CONSTANT INTEGER := 2;
TYPE int_rt IS RECORD (key INTEGER);
TYPE cv_t IS REF CURSOR RETURN int_rt;
FUNCTION open (type_in IN INTEGER) RETURN cv_t;

END;
/
allcurrs.pkg
allcurs.tst
explcv.sql
07/27/08 Copyright
Consolidating Different Cursors
◆ The open function simply opens FOR a different SELECT based on the
criteria passed to it.
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY allcurs

IS
FUNCTION open (type_in IN INTEGER) RETURN cv_t
IS
retval cv_t;
BEGIN
IF type_in = bydept
THEN
OPEN retval FOR SELECT empno FROM emp ORDER BY deptno;
ELSIF type_in = bysal
THEN
OPEN retval FOR SELECT empno FROM emp ORDER BY SAL;
END IF;
RETURN retval;
END;
END;
/
07/27/08 Copyright
Hiding SQL Variations in Resulting Code
◆ The following block demonstrates that you can alter which SQL
statement to query -- in this case, change the ORDER BY clause --
without having to change the code you write.
DECLARE
cv allcurs.cv_t;
v_empno emp.empno%TYPE;
BEGIN
cv := allcurs.open (&1);
LOOP
FETCH cv INTO v_empno; "Report processor"
EXIT WHEN cv%NOTFOUND; is independent of
p.l (v_empno); the particular SELECT
END LOOP;
CLOSE cv;
END;
/
07/27/08 Copyright
Cursor Variables
Let's
summarize
◆ Flexibility
– Choose which static SQL statement is executed at run-time.
◆ Strong and Weak Types

– Create REF CURSORs for specific queries, or a more general,
unconstrained type.
◆ Hide Variations in Underlying SQL
– You no longer have to repeat the same code for different cursors.
◆ Improve Client-Side Access to Data

– At least in Oracle Developer 2.1, you can build screens that access
data using a cursor variable-based procedural API.
07/27/08 Copyright
Dynamic SQL
◆ Dynamic SQL and dynamic PL/SQL:

– The DBMS_SQL package
– Native dynamic SQL in Oracle8i
07/27/08 Copyright
Dynamic SQL and PL/SQL Execution
◆ "Dynamic SQL" mean that you construct the SQL statement
or PL/SQL block at runtime and then execute it.
– Available in PL/SQL since Release 2.1 and DBMS_SQL.
– Also supported with "native dynamic SQL" in Oracle8i.
What can you do with Dynamic SQL?

◆ Build ad-hoc query and update applications.
– Very common requirement on the Web.
◆ Execute DDL inside PL/SQL programs.

– Construct powerful DBA utilities; you no longer have to write SQL
to generate SQL to get your job done.
◆ Execute dynamically-constructed PL/SQL programs.
– One example: implement indirect referencing in PL/SQL.
07/27/08 Copyright
Four Methods of Dynamic SQL
◆ Method 1: non-queries without host variables, executed a single time.
◆ Method 2: non-queries with a fixed number of host variables, execute
one or more times.
◆ Method 3: queries with a fixed number of items in the SELECT list and a
fixed number of host variables.
◆ Method 4: queries with a variable number of items in the SELECT list
and/or non-queries with a variable number of host variables.
◆ These methods are in increasing order of complexity. If you can

recognize the types, you can more quickly figure out how to code your
solution.
– Different methods require the use of different programs in DBMS_SQL.
– NDS does not support method 4.
07/27/08 Copyright
Native Dynamic SQL
◆ Prior to Oracle8i, you would use the DBMS_SQL built-in
package to execute dynamic SQL.
– But this package is very complex, difficult to use, and relatively slow
(performance did improve significantly as of Oracle8).
◆ The new "native dynamic SQL" or NDS of Oracle8i offers

two native statements in the PL/SQL language to implement
most of your dynamic SQL requirements:
– EXECUTE IMMEDIATE <sql string>, used for DDL, DML and single
row fetches.
– OPEN FOR <sql string>, used for multi-row queries.
07/27/08 Copyright
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE sql-string
[INTO {define_variable[, define_variables]... | record }]
[USING {IN | OUT | IN OUT] bind argument

[, {IN | OUT | IN OUT] bind argument]...];
◆ Use this statement to execute any dynamic SQL statement

(including a PL/SQL block) except for multi-row queries.
◆ The INTO clause allows you to pass values from the select
list of a single row query into local variables, including
objects, collections and records.
◆ The USING clause allows you to specify bind arguments or
variables to be passed into the SQL string before execution.
07/27/08 Copyright
COUNT(*) For Any Table
◆ Here's a handy and simple utility based on NDS:
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION tabCount (

tab IN VARCHAR2, whr IN VARCHAR2 := NULL, sch IN VARCHAR2 := NULL)
RETURN INTEGER
IS Specify schema, table and
retval INTEGER;
WHERE clause...
BEGIN
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE
'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM ' || NVL (sch, USER) ||
'.' || tab || ' WHERE ' || NVL (whr, '1=1')
INTO retval;
RETURN retval;
END;
IF tabCount ('citizens', 'insured = ''NO''') > 40,000,000

THEN
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE ( tabcount81.sf
compare with:
'Not the best health care system in the world... tabcount.sf
and not much of a democracy either!');
END IF;
07/27/08 Copyright
Other Execute Immediate Examples
◆ Perform an update...
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE updnumval (
tab_in IN VARCHAR2, col_in IN VARCHAR2,
start_in IN DATE, end_in IN DATE, Pass in bind
val_in IN NUMBER) IS
variables with
BEGIN
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE USING clause.
'UPDATE ' || tab_in ||
' SET ' || col_in || ' = :val
WHERE hiredate BETWEEN :lodate AND :hidate'
USING val_in, start_in, end_in;
END;
◆ Execute a stored procedure...

PROCEDURE runprog (pkg_in IN VARCHAR2, name_in IN VARCHAR2) IS
v_str VARCHAR2 (100);
BEGIN
v_str := 'BEGIN ' || pkg_in || '.' || name_in || '; END;';
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE v_str;
EXCEPTION
WHEN OTHERS THEN
pl ('Compile Error "' || SQLERRM || '" on: ' || v_str); END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Using Objects and Collections in NDS
◆ One of the key advantages to NDS over DBMS_SQL is that it
works with Oracle8 datatypes, including objects and
collections.
– No special syntax needed...
– In the following example, the USING clause allows me to pass an
object and nested table to an INSERT statement with a variable table
name.
PROCEDURE add_profit_source (
hosp_name IN VARCHAR2,
pers IN Person,
cond IN preexisting_conditions)
IS
BEGIN
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE
'INSERT INTO ' || tabname (hosp_name) ||
' VALUES (:revenue_generator, :revenue_inhibitors)'
USING pers, cond;
health$.pkg
END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Multiple Row Queries and NDS
◆ Oracle extends the cursor variable feature of Oracle7 to
support multi-row dynamic queries.
– Here is a simple utility the displays the values of any date, number or
string column in any table.
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE showcol (
tab IN VARCHAR2, col IN VARCHAR2, whr IN VARCHAR2 := NULL)
IS
TYPE cv_type IS REF CURSOR;
cv cv_type;
val VARCHAR2(32767);
BEGIN
OPEN cv FOR 'SELECT ' || col || ' FROM ' || tab ||
' WHERE ' || NVL (whr, '1 = 1');
LOOP
FETCH cv INTO val; Familiar cursor
EXIT WHEN cv%NOTFOUND; variable syntax!
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (val);
END LOOP;
CLOSE cv; showcol.sp
END; Copyright
07/27/08 ndsutil.pkg
Some Fine Print for NDS
◆ You cannot pass schema elements (table names, column
names, etc.) through the USING clause.
◆ You cannot pass the NULL literal directly in the USING
clause. Instead, pass a variable with a NULL value.
◆ The USING clause for a query can only have IN bind
arguments.
◆ You can have duplicate placeholders (for bind arguments).
– If dynamic SQL, then you provide a value for each placeholder (by
position).
– If dynamic PL/SQL, provide a value for each distinct placeholder (by
name).
str2list.pkg
07/27/08 Copyright
Dynamic SQL using DBMS_SQL
◆ Prior to Oracle8i, the only way to perform dynamic SQL was
with the DBMS_SQL package.
◆ DBMS_SQL is a very large and complex package, with many
rules to follow and lots of code to write.
◆ Supports all four methods of dynamic SQL, in particular
method 4.
◆ The overhead for using DBMS_SQL has decreased
significantly in Oracle8 and again in Oracle8i.
◆ You should only use DBMS_SQL when you cannot use NDS.
07/27/08 Copyright
Learning Through Examples
◆ DDL
– Create an index from within PL/SQL
◆ DML
– Update rows in a table
◆ DML with binding
– Update rows using bind variables
◆ Queries
– Method 3 and a dynamic WHERE clause
◆ PL/SQL Version of "SELECT *"
– Example of Method 4
◆ PL/SQL
– Create a generic calculation program
07/27/08 Copyright
DDL with Dynamic SQL
PROCEDURE create_index
(index_in IN VARCHAR2, tab_in IN VARCHAR2, col_in IN VARCHAR2)
IS
cur INTEGER := DBMS_SQL.OPEN_CURSOR;
fdbk INTEGER;
DDL_statement VARCHAR2(200)
:= 'CREATE INDEX ' || index_in || ' ON ' || tab_in ||
' ( ' || col_in || ')';
BEGIN
DBMS_SQL.PARSE (cur, DDL_statement, DBMS_SQL.NATIVE);
fdbk := DBMS_SQL.EXECUTE (cur);
DBMS_SQL.CLOSE_CURSOR (cur);
END;
◆ Creates an index on any column(s) in any table in
your schema.
creind.sp – Open a cursor, which will be used to execute the DDL
statement.
– Construct the DDL statement as a string.
– Parse and execute that DDL statement.
07/27/08 Copyright
Updates with Dynamic SQL
◆ Update numeric column for specified employees.
col_in IN VARCHAR2,
ename_in IN emp.ename%TYPE,
val_in IN NUMBER)
IS
cur PLS_INTEGER := DBMS_SQL.OPEN_CURSOR;
fdbk PLS_INTEGER;
BEGIN
DBMS_SQL.PARSE (cur,
'UPDATE emp SET ' || col_in || ' = ' || val_in ||
' WHERE ename LIKE UPPER (''' || ename_in || ''')',
DBMS_SQL.NATIVE);
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE ('Rows updated: ' || TO_CHAR (fdbk));
updnval1.sp
END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Updates with Bind Variables
◆ Update salaries for date range using binding.
col_in IN VARCHAR2,
start_in IN DATE, end_in IN DATE, val_in IN NUMBER)
IS
fdbk PLS_INTEGER;
BEGIN
DBMS_SQL.PARSE (cur, 'UPDATE emp SET ' ||
col_in || ' = ' || val_in ||
' WHERE hiredate BETWEEN :lodate AND :hidate', updnval2.sp
DBMS_SQL.NATIVE); updnval3.sp
DBMS_SQL.BIND_VARIABLE (cur, 'lodate', start_in);

DBMS_SQL.BIND_VARIABLE (cur, 'hidate', end_in);
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE ('Rows updated: ' || TO_CHAR (fdbk));

END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Processing Flow for a Dynamic Query
Allocate cursor memory Fill cursor with data

(OPEN_CURSOR) (EXECUTE)
Make sure SELECT is Fill buffer with data

well formed (FETCH_ROWS)
(PARSE) (EXECUTE_AND_FETCH)
Bind any variables

Retrieve the data
(BIND_VARIABLE)
(COLUMN_VALUE)
(BIND_ARRAY)
Give cursor structure

Release cursor memory
(DEFINE_COLUMN)
(CLOSE_CURSOR)
(DEFINE_ARRAY)
07/27/08 Copyright
Queries with Dynamic SQL
◆ Show employees using a dynamic WHERE clause...
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE showemps (where_in IN VARCHAR2 := NULL)
IS
cur INTEGER := DBMS_SQL.OPEN_CURSOR;
rec emp%ROWTYPE; fdbk INTEGER;
BEGIN
DBMS_SQL.PARSE (cur, 'SELECT empno, ename FROM emp ' ||
' WHERE ' || NVL (where_in, '1=1'), DBMS_SQL.NATIVE);
DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN (cur, 1, 1);

DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN (cur, 2, 'a', 60); showemps.sp
showemp2.sp
showemps.tst
LOOP
EXIT WHEN DBMS_SQL.FETCH_ROWS (cur) = 0;
DBMS_SQL.COLUMN_VALUE (cur, 1, rec.empno);
DBMS_SQL.COLUMN_VALUE (cur, 2, rec.ename);
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (TO_CHAR (rec.empno) || '=' || rec.ename);
END LOOP;
END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Dynamic SELECT * FROM Any Table
◆ Method 4 example: the number of columns queried changes with each
table.
– The resulting code is much more complicated. Very simplified
pseudo-code
BEGIN
FOR each-column-in-table LOOP
add-column-to-select-list;
END LOOP;
DBMS_SQL.PARSE (cur, select_string, DBMS_SQL.NATIVE);

DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN (cur, nth_col, datatype);
END LOOP;
LOOP
fetch-a-row;
DBMS_SQL.COLUMN_VALUE (cur, nth_col, val);
intab.sp END LOOP;
END LOOP;
END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Using EXECUTE_AND_FETCH
FUNCTION execute_and_fetch
(cursor_in IN INTEGER,
exact_match IN BOOLEAN DEFAULT FALSE)
RETURN INTEGER;
numrows := DBMS_SQL.EXECUTE_AND_FETCH (cur);
numrows := DBMS_SQL.EXECUTE_AND_FETCH (cur, TRUE);
◆ Makes it easy to execute and fetch a single row from a

query.
– Very similar to the implicit SELECT cursor in native PL/SQL, which returns a
single row, raises NO_DATA_FOUND or raises the TOO_MANY_ROWS
exception.
– If exact_match is TRUE, then EXECUTE_AND_FETCH will raise the
TOO_MANY_ROWS exception if more than one row is fetched by the
SELECT.
– Even if the exception is raised, the first row will still be fetched and
available.
07/27/08 Copyright
Dynamic Formula Execution
◆ Suppose I am building a user interface that allows a user to
select a formula for execution, and enter the arguments.
– Using static PL/SQL, I would have to modify my screen every time a
new formula was added.
– With DBMS_SQL, a single function will do the trick.
FUNCTION dyncalc (
oper_in IN VARCHAR2,
nargs_in IN INTEGER := 0,
arg1_in IN VARCHAR2 := NULL, arg2_in IN VARCHAR2 := NULL,
arg9_in IN VARCHAR2 := NULL, arg10_in IN VARCHAR2 := NULL
)
RETURN VARCHAR2;
dyncalc.sf
dyncalc.pkg
07/27/08 Copyright
More on Dynamic PL/SQL
BEGIN
cur := open_and_parse
('BEGIN get_max_sal (:deptin, :salout); END;');
DBMS_SQL.BIND_VARIABLE (cur, ‘deptin’, v_deptin);

DBMS_SQL.BIND_VARIABLE (cur, ‘salout’, my_salary);
DBMS_SQL.VARIABLE_VALUE (cur, ‘salout’, my_salary);

END;
◆ Use BIND_VARIABLE to bind any placeholders in the string -- even
OUT arguments which are not being bound to any values.
◆ Use VARIABLE_VALUE to extract a value from any variable you have
bound.
◆ You must have a BEGIN-END around the code.
◆ Possibilities inherent in dynamic PL/SQL are mind-boggling!
dynplsql.sql
dynplsql.sp
07/27/08 Copyright dynplsql.tst
Indirect Referencing with Dyn PL/SQL
◆ Oracle Forms offers support for indirect referencing with the
NAME_IN and COPY built-ins.
◆ PL/SQL does not support indirect referencing, but you can
accomplish much of the same thing with dynamic PL/SQL
execution. Here is an example of a "PL/SQL NAME_IN":
FUNCTION valbyname (nm IN VARCHAR2) RETURN VARCHAR2 IS
v_cur PLS_INTEGER := DBMS_SQL.OPEN_CURSOR;
fdbk PLS_INTEGER;
retval PLV.dbmaxvc2;
BEGIN
DBMS_SQL.PARSE (v_cur,
dynvar.pkg 'BEGIN :val := ' || nm || '; END;',
dynvar.tst
DBMS_SQL.NATIVE);
DBMS_SQL.BIND_VARIABLE (v_cur, 'val', 'a', 2000);
fdbk := DBMS_SQL.EXECUTE (v_cur);
DBMS_SQL.VARIABLE_VALUE (v_cur, 'val', retval);
DBMS_SQL.CLOSE_CURSOR (v_cur);
RETURN retval;
END;
07/27/08 Copyright
DBMS_SQL Status Built-ins
◆ The package offers a set of modules to return information about the last-
operated cursor in your session.
– Call these immediately after your usage to make sure they refer to your
cursor.
◆ IS_OPEN
– Is the cursor already open?
◆ LAST_ERROR_POSITION
– Returns relative column position in cursor of text causing error condition.
◆ LAST_ROW_COUNT
– Returns the cumulative count of rows fetched from the cursor.
◆ LAST_ROW_ID
– Returns the ROWID of last row processed.
◆ LAST_SQL_FUNCTION_CODE
– Returns SQL function code of cursor.
07/27/08 Copyright
Working with LONG Values
◆ DBMS_SQL provides special procedures so that you can
extract values from a LONG column in a table.
– DBMS_SQL.DEFINE_COLUMN_LONG
– DBMS_SQL.COLUMN_VALUE_LONG
◆ First, you define the column as a LONG,

◆ Then you retrieve the column using the special
COLUMN_VALUE_LONG variant.
– Transfer the LONG contents into an index-by table so that you can
transfer a value of more than 32K bytes into your PL/SQL program.
dumplong.pkg
dumplong.tst
07/27/08 Copyright
New DBMS_SQL Features
PL/SQL8
Extensions to
DBMS_SQL
07/27/08 Copyright
New Features in DBMS_SQL
◆ The functionality of DBMS_SQL has been
extended in Oracle8 in several ways:
– Parse very long SQL strings
– Describe cursor columns
– Use "array processing" to perform bulk updates,
inserts, deletes and fetches.
– Support for RETURNING clause to avoid unnecessary
queries.
07/27/08 Copyright
Describing Cursor Columns
PROCEDURE DBMS_SQL.DESCRIBE_COLUMNS
(c IN INTEGER,
col_cnt OUT INTEGER,
desc_t OUT DBMS_SQL.DESC_TAB);
◆ Before PL/SQL8, it was not possible to determine

the datatypes of the columns defined in a cursor.
– Now you can call the DBMS_SQL.DESCRIBE_COLUMNS.
◆ Returns all of the column information in an index
table of records.
– The record TYPE is also defined in DBMS_SQL.
07/27/08 Copyright
Basic Steps to Describe Columns
◆ The following script shows the individual steps you will
need to perform in order to use this feature.
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE show_columns
IS
cols DBMS_SQL.DESC_TAB;
ncols PLS_INTEGER;
BEGIN
DBMS_SQL.PARSE (cur,
'SELECT hiredate, empno FROM emp', DBMS_SQL.NATIVE);
DBMS_SQL.DESCRIBE_COLUMNS (cur, ncols, cols);
FOR colind IN 1 .. ncols

LOOP
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (cols(colind).col_name);
END LOOP;
desccols.pkg
DBMS_SQL.CLOSE_CURSOR (cur); desccols.tst
END; showcols.sp
07/27/08 Copyright
"Array Processing" in DBMS_SQL
◆ PL/SQL8 now allows you to specify the use of "arrays", i.e.,
index tables, when you perform updates, inserts, deletes
and fetches.
◆ Instead of providing a scalar value for an operation, you
specify an index table. DBMS_SQL then repeats your action
for every row in the table.
◆ It really isn't "array processing".
– In actuality, DBMS_SQL is executing the specified SQL statement N
times, where N is the number of rows in the table.
◆ This technique still, however, can offer a significant
performance boost over Oracle7 dynamic SQL.
07/27/08 Copyright
Recommendations for Dynamic SQL
◆ Bind (vs. concatenate) whenever possible.
– Increased chance of reusing parsed SQL, and easier code to write.
– But remember: you cannot pass schema elements (table names,
column names, etc.) through the USING clause.
◆ Encapsulate statements to improve error handling.
– With NDS, only possible for statements that do not need USING and
INTO clauses, though you could write variations for those as well.
– Encapsulate DBMS_SQL.PARSE so that you include the trace in that
program.
◆ Use the Oracle8i invoker rights model whenever you want to
share your dynamic SQL programs among multiple
schemas.
– Otherwise that SQL will be executed under the authority
of the owner of the code, not the invoker of the code. effdsql.sql
openprse.pkg
whichsch.sql
07/27/08 Copyright
NDS or DBMS_SQL: Which is Best?
◆ Dynamic SQL and PL/SQL is very useful, but DBMS_SQL is
hard to use. Both implementations will still come in handy...
– If, of course, you have upgraded to Oracle8i!
◆ Major Advantages of NDS: ◆ When You'd Use DBMS_SQL:

– Ease of use – Method 4 Dynamic SQL
– Performance – DESCRIBE columns of cursor
– Works with all SQL datatypes – SQL statements larger than 32K
(including user-defined object – RETURNING into an array
and collection types) – Reuse of parsed SQL statements
– Fetch into records – Bulk dynamic SQL
– Available from client-side PL/SQL
07/27/08 Copyright
Oracle
Advanced Queuing
◆ The high performance, asynchronous,
persistent messaging subsytem of
Oracle
07/27/08 Copyright
Who Needs Messaging? Everyone!
◆ In the distributed world of the Internet, systems are now
heavily reliant on the ability of components to communicate
with each other in a dependable, consistent manner.
Distribution
Center
Coffee Beans
Producer Retailer
Shipping
Service
Consumer
07/27/08 Copyright
Applications Relying on Messaging
◆ Stock trading system
◆ Airline reservation system
◆ Auction portals
◆ Any e-commerce application
07/27/08 Copyright
Key Features of Oracle AQ
◆ Leverage full power of SQL
– Messages are stored in database tables
◆ Database high availability, scalability and reliability all carry
over to queues
– Strong history and retention
– Backup and recovery
– Comprehensive journaliing
◆ Rich message content increases usefulness of queueing
– Use object types to define highly structured payloads
◆ New to Oracle8i, AQ now offers a publish/subscribe style of
messaging between applications.
– Rule-based subscribers, message propagation, the listen feature and
notification capabilities.
07/27/08 Copyright
AQ architectural overview
Queue Monitor process
Queue table
Queue
“Producers” “Consumers”
Message 4
Enqueued
messages
Message 3 Dequeued
Message 2 messages
Message1
Messages include both

control information and
“payload” (content)
07/27/08 Copyright
Oracle AQ Highlights
◆ In 8.0, AQ supports:
– Multiple queues
– Resetting order and priority of queued items
– Queue management using only SQL & PL/SQL
– Multiple message recipients
– Propagation of queue to remote servers
◆ Oracle8i adds:
– Rules-based publish & subscribe
– Listening on multiple queues
– Easier monitoring
– Native Java interface
07/27/08 Copyright
AQ Components
◆ The DBMS_AQ package offers enqueue and
dequeue capabilities
◆ The DBMS_AQADM package provides
administrative functionality to manage queues and
queue tables.
◆ Underlying database tables and views
◆ The queue monitor (background process)
– Set # of processes with the AQ_TM_PROCESSES
initialization parameter.
07/27/08 Copyright
DBMS_AQADM Highlights
CREATE_QUEUE_TABLE Assigns name, payload type, storage clause, sort
column, whether multiple consumers
DROP_QUEUE_TABLE Drops table if all queues in the table have been
stopped
CREATE_QUEUE Associates queue table with queue; assigns retry
and retention properties to queue
DROP_QUEUE Drops a stopped queue
START_QUEUE Can also turn on/off enqueue and dequeue
operations
STOP_QUEUE Stops queue, optionally waiting for outstanding
transactions
ADD_SUBSCRIBER Adds an “agent” as a subscriber
07/27/08 Copyright
Creating Queue Tables and Queues
CREATE TYPE message_type AS OBJECT
(title VARCHAR2(30), Define the "payload"
text VARCHAR2(2000));
/
BEGIN
DBMS_AQADM.CREATE_QUEUE_TABLE Create the queue table

(queue_table => 'msg',
queue_payload_type => 'message_type');
DBMS_AQADM.CREATE_QUEUE Define a queue in the

(queue_name => 'msgqueue', queue table
queue_table => 'msg');
DBMS_AQADM.START_QUEUE (queue_name => 'msgqueue');

Start the queue
END;
07/27/08 Copyright aq.pkg
The "operational package": DBMS_AQ
◆ DBMS_AQ is deceptively simple.
– Only two procedures, but lots of complexity buried inside the
parameters of these procedures.
◆ ENQUEUE puts a message into a specified queue, and
returns a RAW message handle
◆ DEQUEUE extracts a message from a specified queue
◆ Parameters control message properties such as:
– Visibility (ON_COMMIT or IMMEDIATE)
– Priority
– Delay
– Expiration
– Locking behavior
aq.sql
07/27/08 Copyright
Simple Enqueue Example
DECLARE
queueopts DBMS_AQ.ENQUEUE_OPTIONS_T; Declare records to
msgprops DBMS_AQ.MESSAGE_PROPERTIES_T; hold various enqueue
msgid aq.msgid_type; and msg properties.
my_msg message_type;
BEGIN
my_msg :=
message_type ( Set up the payload
'First Enqueue', with an object
'May there be many more...'); constructor.
DBMS_AQ.ENQUEUE (
'msgqueue',
queueopts,
msgprops,
my_msg, Place the message on the
msgid); specified queue and get a
END; aqenq*.* msg ID in return.
07/27/08 Copyright
More Interesting Enqueue Example
DECLARE
... Same setup as previous page ...
BEGIN
my_msg := message_type (
'First Enqueue', 'May there be many more...');
msgprops.delay := 3 * 60 * 60 * 24; Specify a delay

before the payload
DBMS_AQ.ENQUEUE ('msgqueue',
queueopts, msgprops, my_msg, msgid1); is available.
my_msg := message_type (
'Second Enqueue',
'And this one goes first...');
queueopts.sequence_deviation := DBMS_AQ.BEFORE;
queueopts.relative_msgid := msgid1;
Modify the dequeue
DBMS_AQ.ENQUEUE ( sequence by changing the
'msgqueue', deviation field and relative
queueopts, msgprops, my_msg, msgid2);
msg ID.
END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Dequeue Example
DECLARE
queueopts DBMS_AQ.DEQUEUE_OPTIONS_T;
msgprops DBMS_AQ.MESSAGE_PROPERTIES_T; Declare records to
msgid aq.msgid_type; hold various dequeue
/* defined in aq.pkg */ and msg properties.
my_msg message_type;
PROCEDURE getmsg (mode_in IN INTEGER) IS

BEGIN
queueopts.dequeue_mode := mode_in;
Dequeue operation
DBMS_AQ.DEQUEUE ( isolated in local
'msgqueue', queueopts, module.
msgprops, my_msg, msgid);
END;
BEGIN
getmsg (DBMS_AQ.BROWSE);
getmsg (DBMS_AQ.REMOVE); Demonstrates destructive
getmsg (DBMS_AQ.REMOVE);
END; and non-destructive
dequeuing.
aqdeq*.*
07/27/08 Copyright
Prioritized Payloads
◆ You can assign priorities to individual payloads and then
dequeue according to those priorities.
– The lower the numeric priority value, the higher the priority.
◆ A stack implementation using AQ demonstrates this well.

PROCEDURE push (item IN VARCHAR2) IS
queueopts DBMS_AQ.ENQUEUE_OPTIONS_T;
msgprops DBMS_AQ.MESSAGE_PROPERTIES_T;
msgid aq.msgid_type;
item_obj aqstk_objtype;
aqstk.pkg
BEGIN aqstk2.pkg
item_obj := aqstk_objtype (item); priority.*
msgprops.priority := g_priority;
queueopts.visibility := DBMS_AQ.IMMEDIATE;
g_priority := g_priority - 1;
DBMS_AQ.ENQUEUE (
c_queue, queueopts, msgprops, item_obj, msgid);
END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Defining Message Subscribers
◆ You can specify that a message is to be enqueued for a list
of subscribers.
– The message is then not removed from the queue until all
subscribers have dequeued the message.
◆ Steps to working with a subscriber list:
– 1. The queue table must be defined to support multiple subscribers
or consumers.
BEGIN
DBMS_AQADM.CREATE_QUEUE_TABLE (
queue_table => 'major_qtable',
queue_payload_type => 'student_major_t',
multiple_consumers => TRUE);
– 2. Add subscribers for the queue.

DBMS_AQADM.ADD_SUBSCRIBER (
c_queue, SYS.AQ$_AGENT (name_in, NULL, NULL)); aqmult*.*
07/27/08 Copyright
Oracle AQ - Summary
◆ Very powerful and flexible architecture.
– Much more robust that DBMS_PIPE.
– Significant enhancements in Oracle8i, supporting a
publish-subscribe model, improved security, LISTEN
capability.
◆ Considered by Oracle to be a core component of its
overall solution.
– Crucial for Oracle to have a message-oriented
middleware in order to offer an all-Oracle solution.
– Should be strongly supported "down the road".
07/27/08 Copyright
Managing
Large Objects
with DBMS_LOB
07/27/08 Copyright
LOB Terms
◆ LOB = Large OBject: a category of datatype allowing
storage of “unstructured” data up to 4 gigabytes
◆ LOB datatype can be:
– Column in table
– Attribute in object type
– Element in nested table
◆ Possible applications include office documents, Images,

sounds, video, etc.
◆ LOB datatypes are the successor to LONGs.
– Oracle has announced deprecation of LONGs; they should no
longer be used, though they will probably not be actually de-
supported.
07/27/08 Copyright
Types of Large Objects
◆ “Internal” LOBs ◆ “External” LOBs
– BLOB: unstructured binary – BFILE: pointer to an
data operating system file
– CLOB: single-byte fixed-
width character data
– NCLOB: multi-byte fixed-
width character data (or ◆ Temporary LOBs
varying width in )
– Internal LOBs that do not
participate in transactions,
improving performance.
◆ Key programming differences:
– Internal LOBs participate in transactions; external do not
– External LOBs are read-only from within Oracle
07/27/08 Copyright
PL/SQL built-ins for LOBs
◆ Package DBMS_LOB
– Supports for all LOBs: Reading, substring and instring searches,
comparison and length checking
– For internal LOBs: Write, append, copy, erase, trim
– For external LOBs: File existence test, open, close
◆ Other built-in functions

– LOADFROMFILE (load an external BFILE into a BLOB)
– EMPTY_LOB(), EMPTY_CLOB()
– BFILENAME
07/27/08 Copyright
Deceptively simple example
◆ BLOB-typed column in a table
CREATE TABLE incoming_faxes
(fax_id INTEGER,
received DATE,
fax BLOB);
◆ Retrieve record with BLOB into PL/SQL variable

DECLARE
CURSOR fax_cur IS
SELECT fax FROM incoming_faxes;
the_fax BLOB;
BEGIN
OPEN fax_cur;
FETCH fax_cur INTO the_fax;
CLOSE fax_cur; Question:
END; What’s in the_fax?
07/27/08 Copyright
The “LOB locator”
◆LOB columns [usually] contain pointers, not the LOBs
themselves
<lob segment>
fax_id received fax
281937 12-JAN-98 <lob locator>
◆Updating the LOB changes the pointer

◆This complicates use of LOBs
– LOB locators cannot span transactions
– Programs must lock records containing LOBs before updating
– Programs performing DML must accommodate dynamic LOB locator
values
07/27/08 Copyright
Example: Piecewise CLOB programmatic insert
◆ Create a table 1 of 2
CREATE TABLE web_pages (

url VARCHAR2(512) PRIMARY KEY,
htmlloc CLOB);
◆ Must get a new LOB locator before writing into the LOB:
DECLARE
the_url web_pages.url%TYPE := 'http://www.oodb.com';
the_loc CLOB;
BEGIN
INSERT INTO web_pages VALUES (the_url, EMPTY_CLOB())
RETURNING htmlloc INTO the_loc;
...
07/27/08 Copyright
Example: Piecewise CLOB programmatic insert
DECLARE
the_url web_pages.url%TYPE := 'http://www.oodb.com';
the_loc CLOB;
html_tab UTL_HTTP.HTML_PIECES;
piece_length PLS_INTEGER;
running_total PLS_INTEGER := 1;
BEGIN
This block retrieves INSERT INTO web_pages VALUES (the_url, EMPTY_CLOB())
and loads a web page
RETURNING htmlloc INTO the_loc;
into a CLOB column
html_tab := UTL_HTTP.REQUEST_PIECES(url => the_url);
FOR the_piece_no IN 1..html_tab.COUNT

LOOP
piece_length := LENGTH(html_tab(the_piece_no));
DBMS_LOB.WRITE(lob_loc => the_loc,
Note: We are ignoring
amount => piece_length,
several likely exceptions
offset => running_total,
buffer => html_tab(the_piece_no));
running_total := running_total + piece_length;
END LOOP;
07/27/08 Copyright END;
Example: Piecewise CLOB programmatic update
DECLARE
CURSOR hcur IS Program must lock the record explicitly
SELECT htmlloc
FROM web_pages
WHERE url = 'http://www.oodb.com'
FOR UPDATE;
the_loc CLOB;
str_offset INTEGER;
BEGIN
OPEN hcur; FETCH hcur INTO the_loc; CLOSE hcur;
str_offset := DBMS_LOB.INSTR(lob_loc => the_loc,

pattern => 'oodb');
IF str_offset != 0
THEN
DBMS_LOB.WRITE(lob_loc => the_loc,
amount => 4,
offset => str_offset,
buffer => 'cool');
END IF;
END;Copyright
07/27/08
Preparing to use BFILEs
◆ You must first create an Oracle “DIRECTORY”
– Creates logical alias for full directory path
– Similar to LIBRARY (used for C "external procedures"), but
DIRECTORY namespace is global
◆ Syntax:
CREATE OR REPLACE DIRECTORY <directory name>
AS
'<full path to directory>';
◆ Example: CREATE DIRECTORY web_pix

AS 'D:\bill\training\pix';
07/27/08 Copyright
Using BFILE datatype in DDL
◆ In a table...
CREATE TABLE web_graphics (

image_id INTEGER,
image BFILE);
◆ In an object type...
CREATE TYPE Business_card_t AS OBJECT (

name Name_t,
addresses Address_tab_t,
phones Phone_tab_t,
scanned_card_image BFILE
);
/
07/27/08 Copyright
The built-in BFILENAME function
◆ Returns value of datatype BFILE. Spec:
FUNCTION BFILENAME(directory_exprn, file_exprn)
RETURN BFILE;
◆ Example:
DECLARE
picture BFILE := BFILENAME('WEB_PIX', 'prodicon.gif');
BEGIN
INSERT INTO web_graphics VALUES (100015, picture);
END;
/
◆ Notes:
– No automatic file checking or synchronization
– No participation in transactions
07/27/08 Copyright
Loading File into Database BLOB
CREATE TABLE web_graphic_blobs (
image_id INTEGER, image BLOB);
DECLARE
pic_file BFILE := BFILENAME('WEB_PIX', 'prodicon.gif');
pic_blob_loc BLOB := EMPTY_BLOB();
BEGIN
INSERT INTO web_graphic_blobs
VALUES (1, pic_blob_loc)
RETURNING image INTO pic_blob_loc;
DBMS_LOB.FILEOPEN(pic_file, DBMS_LOB.FILE_READONLY);
DBMS_LOB.LOADFROMFILE(dest_lob => pic_blob_loc,

src_lob => pic_file,
amount => DBMS_LOB.GETLENGTH(pic_file));
DBMS_LOB.FILECLOSE(pic_file); loadblob.sql
END;
/ Copyright
07/27/08
New DBMS_LOB APIs in 8i
◆ Support for temporary LOBs
– No logging or rollback ➾ faster!
– Lifespan: session, call, or transaction
◆ Ability to retrieve LOB “chunk size”
– Allows programmer to tune READs and WRITEs
◆ For all internal LOBs
– OPEN & CLOSE allow control over timing; that can mean
less I/O
» Trigger will not fire until CLOSE
» Indexes will not update until CLOSE
– ISOPEN
07/27/08 Copyright
Large Object - Summary
◆ LOB support in Oracle is now significantly HOT
improved.
– Complete support in PL/SQL (and other APIs)
– Much better performance and control than with
LONGs
– Usable in object types
◆ Some weaknesses...
– LOB locator behavior slightly abstruse
– Inability to modify BFILEs directly from within
PL/SQL.
COLD
07/27/08 Copyright
Leveraging Java
Inside PL/SQL
07/27/08 Copyright
Overview of Java interoperability
◆ Java inside or outside 8i server can call PL/SQL
– Standard JDBC and SQLJ calls with Oracle extensions
– Same Java on client, mid-tier, or server
Not covered in this seminar
◆ PL/SQL can call Java inside 8i server

– Command-line tools load Java classes
– DDL extensions publish Java classes
– Writing stored procedures, functions, triggers in Java
– Distinct Java & PL/SQL namespaces
◆ But first...a BRIEF introduction to Java...

07/27/08 Copyright
Question 1: What is Java?
◆ Could it be...
– The end of programming history as we know it?
– The easiest, fastest, slickest piece of software ever designed by
human beings?
– Just the latest in a series of "silver bullets" promoted by software
vendors in order to prop up quarterly sales?
– The first and only successful O-O language?
– None of the above?
◆ We don't really need to take a vote.

– We just need to keep a firm grip on common sense and stay focused
on delivering solutions.
07/27/08 Copyright
Question 2: Will Java Replace PL/SQL?
◆ While that scenario is certainly possible, it is very unlikely
and totally unthinkable for years to come.
◆ PL/SQL will still be:
– Faster and more productive than Java for database operations.
– A language in which hundreds of thousands of developers are
trained.
– Ubiquitous in thousands of production applications and millions of
lines of code.
– Supported and improved by Oracle -- and very aggressively, to boot.
07/27/08 Copyright
Some Important Things to Remember
◆ Java is a case sensitive language...
– string is definitely not the same as String.
◆ Everything is a class (or an object instantiated from a

class)...
– Before you can call a (non-static) class method, you have to
instantiate an object from that class.
– Well, everything exception the primitive datatypes.
◆ You don't have to know how to do everything with Java to

get lots of value out of it...
– Don't get overwhelmed by all the classes and all the strange quirks.
07/27/08 Copyright
Building a Java Class
◆ Let's start from the very beginning...
public class Hello {
public static void main (String[] args) {
System.out.println ("Hello world!");
}
}
◆ No members, no methods, except the "special" main method.

– Used to test or run stand-alone a class,
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE hello IS Oh, by the way:

BEGIN the PL/SQL
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE ('Hello world!'); version
END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Compiling Classes
◆ Before you can use a class, you must compile it with the
javac command.
– You must also either have set the CLASSPATH or include it in your
javac call.
– This will convert the .java file to a .class file.
– It will also automatically recompile any classes used by your class
that has not been compiled since last change.
SET CLASSPATH = d:\Oracle\Ora81\jdbc\lib\classes111.zip;

e:\jdk1.1.7b\lib\classes.zip;d:\java
D:> javac Hello.java -classpath d:\java
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Running a Class
◆ Run a class? What does that mean? It means that if your
class contains a method with this header:
public static void main (String[] args)
◆ then you can "run" the main method with the java command:
d:\java> java Hello
◆ You can also pass one or more arguments on the command

line:
d:\java> java Hello mom

Hello2.java
07/27/08 Copyright
Using a Class
◆ The main method is handy for providing a built-in test
mechanism of your class.
◆ Usually, however, you will use a class by instantiating
objects from the class and then invoking class methods on
the object.
◆ Let's build a performance analyzer class to explore these
ideas.
07/27/08 Copyright
Compare Performance of Methods
◆ Use System.currentTimeMillis to calculate elapsed time to
nearest thousandth of a second.
class Tmr {
private long Gstart = 0; p.java
Tmr.java
public void capture () { InFile.java
Gstart = System.currentTimeMillis(); }
public void showElapsed () {

p.l ("Elapsed time ",
System.currentTimeMillis() - Gstart); }
public long elapsed () {

return (System.currentTimeMillis() - Gstart); }
public void showElapsed (String context) {

p.l ("Elapsed time for " + context, elapsed()); }
}
07/27/08 Copyright
Types of Classes
◆ There are several different kinds of classes in Java, besides
the "regular" kind we just saw...
◆ Abstract class
– The class can contain members and methods, but at least one
method remains unimplemented.
◆ Interface class
– The class only contains unimplemented methods.
◆ Inner class
– Classes that are defined inside other classes.
07/27/08 Copyright
And Now for Some Scary Buzzwords!
◆ Inheritance
– Subclasses inherit methods and variables from extended superclasses.
◆ Polymorphism
– An object of a class can have "multiple" forms, either as its own class or as
any superclass.
– Dynamic polymorphism: form is determined at run-time.
– Static polymorphism: form is chosen at compile-time (PL/SQL overloading).
supertype/"wider" subtype/"narrower"
Citizen War Criminal Person.java
Person
Employee Hourly Worker
Management
A Class
Salaried
Hierarchy Corporation Worker
Non-
Management
07/27/08 Copyright
Language Basics
◆ Comments // Single line comment
/* Block
comment */
/** Documentation comment */
◆ Primitive datatypes boolean int

– So I lied; these are not objects instantiated char long
from classes. byte float
short double
◆ Strings String myName;

– A String object is a read-only; if you myName = "Steven";
assign a new value to it, you are actually myName = "Feuerstein";
allocating a new object.
if (myName.equals(YourName))
– Can't do a direct == comparison. foundFamily();
07/27/08 Copyright
Writing Loops in Java
◆ Three kinds of loops: while, do-while and for
– Note: you need squiggly brackets only if there is more than one
statement in the loop body.
for (initialize; expression; step) {

lotsaStuff
}
while (expression) {
lostsaStuff Examples:
}
for (indx indx=0;
do { indx < args.length;
lostsaStuff indx++)
} while (expression); System.out.println (args[indx]);
static void processAll (Enumeration enum) {

while (enum.hasMoreElements ()) {
processIt (enum.NextElement());
System.out.println (
(String)enum.nextElement()) } }
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Passing Parameters
◆ Some important differences from PL/SQL...
– No default values for arguments; you must supply a value for each
parameter.
– Only positional notation is supported.
– If a method has no arguments, you still include the open and close
parentheses.
class PuterLingo {
private String mname;
public PuterLingo (String name) { mname = name; }
public String name () { return mname; }
}
class LotsALingos {
public static void main (String args[]) {
PuterLingo Java = new PuterLingo("Java");
System.out.println (Java.name()); }
}
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Exception Handling in Java
◆ Very similar to PL/SQL; you "throw" and "catch" exceptions,
rather than raise and handle.
Throwing my own
public static int numBytes (String filename) { exception
try {
if (filename.equals(""))
throw new Exception ("Filename is NULL");
Put inside
try clause File myFile = new File (filename);
return myFile.length();
} File-related
catch (SecurityException e) { exceptions
return -1;
}
catch (Exception e) {
System.out.println (e.toString()); "WHEN OTHERS"
} in Java
}
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Differences Between Java & PL/SQL
◆ Exceptions are objects derived directly or indirectly from the
Exception class.
– So you can pass them as arguments and do anything and everything
else you can do with objects.
◆ You must inform users of your method of which exceptions
may be thrown.
– Use the throws clause in your specification, as in:
public static int numBytes (String filename)

throws SecurityException, NoSuchFile {
...
}
07/27/08 Copyright
Java's Not So Tough!
◆ You can learn enough Java in less than a week to:
– Build simple classes
– Leverage Java inside PL/SQL
◆ Moving to the next level of expertise will be more of a

challenge.
– Object oriented development (Java) is very different from procedural
coding (PL/SQL).
◆ Now let's explore how you can put Java to work for you
inside PL/SQL programs.
07/27/08 Copyright
Java Stored Procedures (JSPs)
Java applet or
app. using
JDBC or
SQLJ Oracle 8i server
Oracle PL/SQL cover for Java

Developer
method
client
(PL/SQL) Net8 Java virtual machine running
Java method
OCI or
Pro*C
client
VB or C++
via OO4O or
ODBC
07/27/08 Copyright
JSPs: Some sample uses
◆PL/SQL extender
– For example, better file I/O
– RMI callouts, network communication in/out
◆PL/SQL replacement
– More standard language
– Good performer for numeric processing tasks
– Beware database I/O & string manipulation performance
◆Scaleable deployment of third party code
– Vertical application
– Web server
– XML parser/generator
07/27/08 Copyright
Creating JSP to call from PL/SQL
◆ 1. Create Java classes in your favorite IDE
◆ 2. Load into server using “loadjava” command-line
tool
◆ 3. Publish PL/SQL cover using AS LANGUAGE
JAVA... rather than BEGIN...END
◆ 4. Grant privileges as desired
◆ 5. Call from PL/SQL (or SQL) as if calling PL/SQL
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Create Java class(es)
class Corporation extends Person {
long layoffs;
long CEOCompensation;
Notes on Java
public Corporation (
String Pname, long Playoffs, long PceoComp) {
classes
name = Pname;
layoffs = Playoffs; ◆ toString method
CEOCompensation = PceoComp;
}
automatically used by
System.out.println
public String toString () {
return name + ◆ main method is used
" is a transnational entity with " + layoffs +
" laid-off employees, paying its" +
to test the class.
" Chief Executive Officer " + CEOCompensation;
}
◆ Entry points must be
public static in most
public static void main (String[] args) {
// A very scary company
cases
Corporation TheGlobalMonster =
new Corporation (
◆ Classes may call other
"Northrup-Ford-Mattel-Yahoo-ATT", classes
5000000, 50000000);
◆ Avoid GUI calls
System.out.println (TheGlobalMonster);
}}
07/27/08 Copyright person.java
Upload using “loadjava” utility
Java Oracle 8i server
.class file resource
file Java Java
loadjava class resource
.java file .jar file
Java
source
◆Example: loadjava -user scott/tiger -oci8

-resolve datacraft/bill/Hello.class
◆loadjava options (abbreviated)

-oci8 loadjava will connect using OCI driver
-resolve Resolves external class references at
compile time
-resolver (shown later) Search path like CLASSPATH
07/27/08 Copyright
Publish
◆ Example (top-level CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION hello_emp
call spec) (empno_in IN NUMBER)
RETURN VARCHAR2
AS LANGUAGE JAVA
NAME 'datacraft.bill.Hello.Emp(int)
return java.lang.String';
/
◆ Syntax (simplified)
CREATE [ OR REPLACE ] { PROCEDURE | FUNCTION } <name>

[ RETURN <sqltype> ]
[ ( <args> ) ]
[ AUTHID { DEFINER | CURRENT_USER } ]
AS LANGUAGE JAVA
NAME '<method fullname> (<Java type fullname>, ...)
[ return <Java type fullname> ]';
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Call the wrapped method
◆ Method 1: Call as if PL/SQL module
BEGIN
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(hello_emp(7499));
END;
◆ Method 2: Use 8i SQL CALL statement; for example, from

SQL*Plus:
VARIABLE thename VARCHAR2(12)

CALL hello_emp(7499) INTO :thename;
PRINT :thename
– CALL avoids overhead of SELECT fn FROM DUAL

jsp.sql
07/27/08 Copyright
Publishing -- more concepts
◆Shape mapping
– Java methods declared “void” become PL/SQL
procedures
– Signature mismatches detected only at runtime
◆Type mapping (typical)
java.lang.String VARCHAR2
java.sql.Timestamp DATE
java.math.BigDecimal NUMBER
oracle.sql.STRUCT user-defined object type
<named type> user-defined object type
oracle.sql.REF object REFerence
oracle.sql.ARRAY user-defined collection type
07/27/08 Copyright
Publish in PL/SQL Package Spec
◆ Designate Java module in PL/SQL package spec...
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE hello_pkg

AS
FUNCTION hi_emp (empno_in IN NUMBER)
RETURN VARCHAR2
AS LANGUAGE JAVA
NAME 'datacraft.util.Hello.Emp(int)
END;
/
(No package body required in this case)
07/27/08 Copyright
Publish as module in package body
◆ ...or in package body
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE hello_pkg2
AS
RETURN VARCHAR2;
END;
/
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY hello_pkg2

AS
RETURN VARCHAR2
IS LANGUAGE JAVA
END;
/
07/27/08 Copyright
Publish as object type method
◆ Either in CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE foo_t AS OBJECT (
bar VARCHAR2(30),
spec: MEMBER FUNCTION hello_emp RETURN VARCHAR2
IS LANGUAGE JAVA
return java.lang.String');
/
or in the CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE foo_t AS OBJECT (

bar VARCHAR2(30),
body: MEMBER FUNCTION hello_emp RETURN VARCHAR2);
/
CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE BODY foo_t AS

MEMBER FUNCTION hello_emp RETURN VARCHAR2
IS LANGUAGE JAVA
END;
07/27/08 Copyright /
New DDL Statements and Roles
◆ CREATE JAVA
– Alternative to “loadjava” utility
– Creates or replaces an Oracle “library unit” from Java source, class,
or resource
– Can read file designated with BFILE() function
◆ ALTER JAVA: compiles Java source, resolves Java
class references.
◆ DROP JAVA: drops a named Java library unit
◆ Several roles available for Java operations:

– JAVAUSERPRIV, JAVASYSPRIV (needed for file IO operations),
JAVA_ADMIN, JAVAIDPRIV, JAVADEBUGPRIV
– You can also grant specific privileges.
07/27/08 Copyright
Passing Oracle8 objects
Oracle8i server Java application
Object Java
in O-R object
table
◆ Harder than you’d think

◆ Three different interfacing techniques
– oracle.sql.STRUCT
– oracle.sql.CustomDatum
– oracle.jdbc2.SQLData
07/27/08 Copyright
JPublisher utility
User-supplied
◆What does it do?
JPublisher
Database server input file – Generates Java that
encapsulates type and
Definition of REF
type or REF in
data dictionary ◆Three types of mapping
supported for methods
– “Oracle mapping”
– “JDBC mapping”
JPublisher
– “Object JDBC mapping”
Generated Java
file(s) for use in
Java programs
07/27/08 Copyright
Passing object using JPub-generated Java
◆ After generating and uploading classes with JPub,
they become available to use in mapping
◆ Example of passing an Account_t object:
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE account_save

(new_acct IN Account_t)
IS LANGUAGE JAVA
NAME
'datacraft.bill.AccountRuntime.save
(datacraft.bill.Account_t)';
/
jspobj.sql
07/27/08 Copyright
Example: Improving File I/O
◆ You can read/write files in PL/SQL with
UTL_FILE, but that package is very limited.
◆ Java offers many file-related classes with much
greater capabilities.
◆ Let's see how we can make that great Java stuff
available from within PL/SQL.
07/27/08 Copyright
Encapsulate Java Classes
◆ You won't generally access native Java methods in
your PL/SQL wrapper.
– Instead build a static method that instantiates a Java
object from the class and then invokes the relevant
method against that object.
◆ Let's start with something simple...
– The File class offers a length method that returns the
number of bytes in a file.
– This is not available through UTL_FILE (though you can
get it through DBMS_LOB).
07/27/08 Copyright
My Own Java Class for File Manipulation
◆ Accept the name of a file and return its length.
import java.io.File;
public class JFile2 {
public static long length (String fileName) {
File myFile = new File (fileName);
return myFile.length(); }
} JFile2.java
◆ Take each of these steps:

– Import the File class to resolve reference.
– Instantiate a File object for the specified name.
– Call the method of choice against that object and return the
value.
07/27/08 Copyright
Build a Package over Java Method
◆ Let's put it in a package; we will certainly want to
add more functionality over time.
– I translate the Java long to a PL/SQL NUMBER.
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE xfile

IS
FUNCTION length (file IN VARCHAR2) RETURN NUMBER;
END;
/
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY xfile
IS
FUNCTION length (file IN VARCHAR2) RETURN NUMBER
AS LANGUAGE JAVA
NAME 'JFile.length (java.lang.String) return long';
END;
/
xfile2.pkg
07/27/08 Copyright
Mapping the Boolean Datatype
◆ Both Java and PL/SQL support a native Boolean
datatype, so you'd expect smooth sailing. Not so!
◆ To pass a Boolean back from Java to PL/SQL, you
will need to take these steps:
– 1. Convert the Java boolean to a String or number and
return that value.
– 2. Write a "hidden" PL/SQL wrapper function that returns
the string or number.
– 3. Write a "public" PL/SQL wrapper function to convert
that number to a true PL/SQL Boolean.
07/27/08 Copyright
Translate Boolean to Number
◆ Accept the name of a file and return its length.
import java.io.File;
public class JFile3 {

public static int canRead (String fileName) {
File myFile = new File (fileName);
boolean retval = myFile.canRead();
if (retval) return 1; else return 0; }
}
JFile3.java
◆ Translate TRUE to 1 and FALSE to 0.
– And don't forget: this is a boolean primitive, not a Boolean
class.
07/27/08 Copyright
Wrapper for Pseudo-Boolean function
◆ Simple translation back to PL/SQL Boolean.
– Avoid the hard-codings with named constants...
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE xfile IS
FUNCTION canRead (file IN VARCHAR2) RETURN BOOLEAN;
END;
/
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY xfile
IS
FUNCTION IcanRead (file IN VARCHAR2) RETURN NUMBER
AS LANGUAGE JAVA
NAME 'JFile3.canRead (java.lang.String) return int';
FUNCTION canRead (file IN VARCHAR2) RETURN BOOLEAN AS

BEGIN
RETURN IcanRead (file) = 1; xfile3.pkg
END; JFile4.java
END; xfile4.pkg
/ JFile.java
xfile.pkg
07/27/08 Copyright
Passing Objects to Java with STRUCT
◆ You can pass Oracle object information to Java
without relying on JPub by using the STRUCT class.
public class UnionBuster {
Obtain attributes of
public static void wageStrategy (STRUCT e) the Oracle object.
throws java.sql.SQLException {
// Get the attributes of the labor_source object.
Object[] attribs = e.getAttributes();
// Access individual attributes by array index,

// starting with 0
String laborType = (String)(attribs[0]);
BigDecimal hourly_rate = (BigDecimal)(attribs[1]);
"Pay " + laborType + " $" + Extract individual
hourly_rate + " per hour"); attribute values from
} the array.
UnionBuster.java
}
passobj.tst
07/27/08 Copyright
Wrapping a STRUCT-based Method
◆ You can pass Oracle object information to Java
without relying on JPub by using the STRUCT class.
CREATE TYPE labor_source_t AS OBJECT (
labor_type VARCHAR2(30), The Oracle object
hourly_rate NUMBER); type definition
/
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE bust_em_with (

labor_source_in IN labor_source_t)
AS LANGUAGE JAVA
NAME 'UnionBuster.wageStrategy (oracle.sql.STRUCT)';
/
BEGIN
bust_em_with ( Fully specify the
labor_source ('Workfare', 0)); STRUCT class in
bust_em_with ( parameter list.
labor_source ('Prisoners', '5'));
END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Viewing Output from Java Methods
◆ Java provides a "print line" method similar to
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE: System.out.println.
– Call it within methods and output will display in your Java
environment.
public class HelloAll {

public static void lotsaText (
int count) {
for (int i = 0; i < count; i++) {
"Hello Hello Hello Hello Hello All!"); }}}
◆ When called within a PL/SQL wrapper, you can redirect the

output to the DBMS_OUTPUT buffer.
HelloAll.java
– Here is a good nucleus for a login.sql file: HelloAll.tst
SET SERVEROUTPUT ON SIZE 1000000

CALL DBMS_JAVA.SET_OUTPUT (1000000);
07/27/08 Copyright
Error Handling with Java-PL/SQL
◆ Java offers a very similar, but more robust error handling
mechanism than PL/SQL.
– Exceptions are objects instantiated from the Exception class or a
subclass of it, such as java.sql.SQLException.
– Instead of raising and handling, you "throw" and "catch".
– Use two methods, getErrorCode() and getMessage() to obtain
information about the error thrown.
◆ Any error not caught by the JVM (Java virtual machine) will
be thrown back to the PL/SQL block or SQL statement.
– And also spew out the entire Java error stack! (at least through
8.1.5).
07/27/08 Copyright
Trapping and Identifying Errors
◆ Currently, the entire Java stack is displayed on your screen,
and you have to do some digging to extract the Oracle error
information.
SQL> BEGIN
2 dropany ('TABLE', 'blip');
3 EXCEPTION
4 WHEN OTHERS
5 THEN
6 DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (SQLCODE);
7 DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (SQLERRM);
8 END;
9 /
java.sql.SQLException: ORA-00942: table or view does not exist
at oracle.jdbc.kprb.KprbDBAccess.check_error(KprbDBAccess.java)
at oracle.jdbc.kprb.KprbDBAccess.parseExecuteFetch(KprbDBAccess.java)
at oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleStatement.doExecuteOther(OracleStatement.java)
at oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleStatement.doExecuteWithBatch(OracleStatement.java)
at oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleStatement.doExecute(OracleStatement.java)
at oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleStatement.doExecuteWithTimeout(OracleStatement.java)
at oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleStatement.executeUpdate(OracleStatement.java)
at DropAny.object(DropAny.java:14) DropAny.java
-29532 dropany.tst
ORA-29532: Java call terminated by uncaught Java exception: java.sql.SQLException:
getErrInfo.sp
ORA-00942: table or view does not exist dropany2.tst
07/27/08 Copyright
External Procedures
◆ An external procedure is a 3GL routine that can serve as
the “body” of a PL/SQL function, procedure, or method.
– Must be a shared object library on Unix or a dynamically linked
library (DLL) on Windows.
◆ An Oracle8 feature that allowed relatively "native"
callouts to C from PL/SQL for the first time.
07/27/08 Copyright
Process & data flow
Application Net8 External
Shared
Makes Library
External
request
Procedur
PL/SQL e Listener
Runtime calls
Client or routine
Routine in
Calls
server- Engine spawns
from .DLL or
side PL/SQL .so file
applicatio body
n returns extproc
results returns
returns results
results
07/27/08 Copyright
External procedures: Sample uses
◆ Send email email.sql
◆ Invoke operating system command
◆ Invoke custom or legacy application
◆ Call C runtime library function diskspace.sql
◆ Perform admin tasks
07/27/08 Copyright
Determine free disk space on NT (1/4)
◆ Use pre-existing routine:
– GetDiskFreeSpaceA in kernel32.dll
– For given drive letter, this function returns:
» sectors per cluster
» bytes per sector
» number of free clusters
» total number of clusters
» “return code” indicating success or failure
◆ First, create an Oracle8 “library”:

CREATE OR REPLACE LIBRARY nt_kernel
AS
'c:\winnt\system32\kernel32.dll';
/
07/27/08 Copyright
Package spec (2/4)
◆ Nothing unexpected here:
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE disk_util

AS
FUNCTION get_disk_free_space
(root_path IN VARCHAR2,
sectors_per_cluster OUT PLS_INTEGER,
bytes_per_sector OUT PLS_INTEGER,
number_of_free_clusters OUT PLS_INTEGER,
total_number_of_clusters OUT PLS_INTEGER)
RETURN PLS_INTEGER;
END disk_util;
/
07/27/08 Copyright
Package body in Oracle 8.0 (3/4)
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY disk_util AS
FUNCTION get_disk_free_space
(root_path IN VARCHAR2,
sectors_per_cluster OUT PLS_INTEGER,
bytes_per_sector OUT PLS_INTEGER,
number_of_free_clusters OUT pls_integer,
total_number_of_clusters OUT PLS_INTEGER)
RETURN PLS_INTEGER
IS EXTERNAL
LIBRARY nt_kernel
NAME "GetDiskFreeSpaceA"
◆ All the
LANGUAGE C
magic is in CALLING STANDARD PASCAL
the PARAMETERS
EXTERNAL (root_path STRING,
section sectors_per_cluster BY REFERENCE LONG,
bytes_per_sector BY REFERENCE LONG,
number_of_free_clusters BY REFERENCE LONG,
total_number_of_clusters BY REFERENCE LONG,
RETURN LONG);
07/27/08 Copyright
END disk_util;
Usage (4/4)
DECLARE
lroot_path VARCHAR2(3) := 'C:\';
lsectors_per_cluster PLS_INTEGER;
lbytes_per_sector PLS_INTEGER;
lnumber_of_free_clusters PLS_INTEGER;
ltotal_number_of_clusters PLS_INTEGER;
return_code PLS_INTEGER;
free_meg REAL;
BEGIN
return_code := disk_util.get_disk_free_space (lroot_path,
lsectors_per_cluster, lbytes_per_sector,
lnumber_of_free_clusters, ltotal_number_of_clusters);
free_meg := lsectors_per_cluster * lbytes_per_sector *

lnumber_of_free_clusters / 1024 / 1024;
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('free disk space, Mb = ' || free_meg);

diskspace.sql
END;
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Creating your own external procedure
◆ 1. Identify or create shared library
◆ 2. Identify or CREATE LIBRARY within Oracle
◆ 3. Map the parameters using:

– EXTERNAL clause (Oracle8)
or
– LANGUAGE clause (Oracle8i)
07/27/08 Copyright
1. Identify/create external routine
◆ Prerequisite: O/S must support shared libraries
◆ Some useful routines are pre-built in C runtime library

– On Unix: /lib/libc.so
– On NT: <systemroot>\system32\crtdll.dll
◆ Building a shared library of your own requires knowledge of:

– Appropriate language (typically C)
– Compiler & linker
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2. Create the Oracle library
◆ Syntax:
CREATE OR REPLACE LIBRARY <library name>
AS
'<full path to file>';
◆ Assigns a programmer-defined alias to a specific shared

library file
◆ Notes
– Requires CREATE LIBRARY privilege
– Does not validate directory
– Can’t use symbolic link
07/27/08 Copyright
3. Map the parameters
This can get complicated, because…
– Must pass extra – Six choices of parameter

parameters to designate: mode
» NULL/NOT NULL state » IN
» String length » RETURN
» Maximum allocated length » IN BY REFERENCE
» RETURN BY REFERENCE
» OUT
» IN OUT
These details are better suited for close reading…
07/27/08 Copyright
Oracle8i New Features
Autonomous Transactions
Invoker Rights Model
Row Level Security
07/27/08 Copyright
Oracle8i New Features
◆ Oracle8i offers a number of PL/SQL-specific features that
give you tremendous additional flexibility and capability.
– And the learning curve to take advantage of these features is
generally not too steep.
◆ Autonomous Transactions
◆ The Invoker Rights Model
◆ Row level security
07/27/08 Copyright
Autonomous Transactions
◆ Prior to Oracle8i, a COMMIT or ROLLBACK in any program
in your session committed or rolled back all changes in your
session.
– There was only one transaction allowed per connection.
◆ With Oracle8i, you can now define a PL/SQL block to

execute as an "autonomous transaction".
– Any changes made within that block can be saved or reversed
without affecting the outer or main transaction.
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE loginfo (

code IN PLS_INTEGER,
msg IN VARCHAR2)
AS
PRAGMA AUTONOMOUS_TRANSACTION;
07/27/08 Copyright
When to Use Autonomous Transactions
◆ Reusable Application Components
– ATs are more or less required in the new distributed application
architecture of the Internet.
– One component should not have any impact (esp. something like a
COMMIT) on other components.
◆ Logging Mechanism
– Commonly developers lot to database tables, which can cause all
sorts of complications: your log entry becomes a part of your
transaction.
– Now you can avoid the complexities (need for ROLLBACK TO
savepoints and so on).
◆ Tracing Code Usage
– Build retry mechanisms, software usage meter, etc.
◆ Call functions within SQL that change the database.

07/27/08 Copyright
Logging with ATs
◆ Don't forget that ROLLBACK in the exception section!
CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY log

IS
PROCEDURE putline ( Avoid inter-
code_in IN INTEGER, text_in IN VARCHAR2 dependencies with
)
the main transaction.
IS
PRAGMA AUTONOMOUS_TRANSACTION;
BEGIN
INSERT INTO logtab
VALUES (code_in, text_in,
SYSDATE, USER, SYSDATE, USER,
rec.machine, rec.program While we're at it, let's
); add some session
information.
COMMIT;
EXCEPTION WHEN OTHERS THEN ROLLBACK;
logger.sp
END; log81.pkg
retry.pkg
END; log81*.tst
retry.tst
07/27/08 Copyright
Tips and Gotchas with ATs
◆ An AT program must COMMIT or ROLLBACK before terminating, or an
error is raised.
◆ The AT PRAGMA can be used only with individual programs and top-
level anonymous blocks.
– You cannot define an entire package as an AT.
– You cannot define a nested anonymous block to be an AT.
◆ The AT PRAGMA goes in the body of packages.
– You cannot tell by looking at the package spec if you are calling ATs or not --
and this info is not available in the data dictionary.
◆ Any changes committed in an AT are visible in the outer transaction.
– You can use the SET TRANSACTION ISOLATION LEVEL SERIALIZABLE to
indicate that you do not want the changes visible until the outer transaction
commits.
– Place the SET TRANSACTION statement in the outer transaction.
autonserial.sql
auton_in_sql.sql
07/27/08 Copyright autontrigger*.sql
The Invoker Rights Model
◆ Prior to Oracle8i, whenever you executed a stored program,
it ran under the privileges of the account in which the
program was defined.
– This is called the …
Definer Rights Model
◆ With Oracle8i, you can now decide at compilation time

whether your program or package will execute in the
definer's schema (the default) or the schema of the invoker
of the code.
– This is called the …
Invoker Rights Model
07/27/08 Copyright
About Definer Rights
◆ Allows you to centralize
OE Code
access to and control of Sam_Sales
Order_Mgt
underlying data Place
Close Old
structures. Cancel Orders
◆ Ignores roles and relies

on directly-granted
privileges.
OE Data X
Cannot alter
Orders table directly.
◆ But it can be a source of
confusion and
architectural problems.
Note: Oracle built-in packages have long had the capability of

running under the invoker's authority.
07/27/08 Copyright
Problems with Definer Rights
◆ Deployment & maintenance
– Must install module in all remote databases where needed
– In some databases, each user has own copy of table(s), requiring
copy of stored module
◆ Security
– No declarative way to restrict privileges on certain modules in a
package -- it's all or nothing, unless you write code in the package to
essentially recreate roles programmatically.
– Can bypass 8i’s “fine-grained” access features (see the DBMS_RLS
package)
– Difficult to audit privileges
◆ Sure would be nice to have a choice...and now you do!
07/27/08 Copyright
Oracle8i Invoker Rights Syntax
◆ For top level modules:
CREATE [ OR REPLACE ] <module type>

[ AUTHID { DEFINER | CURRENT_USER } ]
AS ...
◆ For modules with separate spec and body, AUTHID goes
only in spec, and must be at the package level.
◆ Synonyms may be necessary if modules use object names
not qualified by schema.
– In other words, do what it takes to get the code to compile. You
could also create local, "dummy" objects.
– At run-time, the objects referenced may well be different from those
against which it compiled.
07/27/08 Copyright
"Reflection" Capability of Invoker Rights
◆ With invoker rights, you can execute code owned by another
schema, yet have all references to data structures "reflect
back" into your own schema.
Central Code schema

User/Data schema
PACKAGE acct_mgr PROCEDURE mng_account IS
make BEGIN
AUTHID modify ...
code.acct_mgr.destroy(...);
CURRENT_USER destroy END;
...FROM accounts
accounts table
WHERE...
07/27/08 Copyright
Tips and Gotchas for Invoker Rights
◆ Does not apply to code objects, only data
– When your stored code references another stored code element, the
definer rights model is always applied to resolve the reference.
– Both static and dynamic SQL is supported.
◆ Once a definer rights program is called, all other calls in
stack are resolved according to definer rights.
– AUTHID CURRENT_USER is ignored.
◆ Information about the rights model is not available in the
data dictionary
◆ What if you want to maintain a single version of your code
for both pre-Oracle8i and Oracle8i installations, taking
advantage of the invoker rights model whenever possible?
– A creative use of SQL*Plus substitution variables comes in very
handy. Note: cannot use with wrapped code. invdefinv.sql
oneversion.sql
07/27/08 Copyright
When to Invoke Invoker Rights
◆ You want to reuse the same code among many users, but
you want their own directly-granted privileges to determine
access.
National HQ
New York
Schema
Chicago Check City
Schema Statistics
stolenlives stolenlives
◆ Especially handy with dynamic SQL.

– Share a program that uses dynamic SQL (whether DBMS_SQL or the
new native implementation) and you end up taking the most
unexpected DDL and DML detours.
authid.sql
whichsch*.sql
07/27/08 Copyright
Combining Invoker & Definer Rights
◆ Rely on invoker rights to allow centralized code to work with
schema-specific data.
◆ Rely on definer rights to access centralized data from any
schema.
HQ
Chicago Check City New York
Statistics
Analyze
stolenlives Pattern stolenlives
perpetrators
perp.sql
07/27/08 Copyright
Row Level Security
DBMS_RLS
Row-Level
Security
07/27/08 Copyright
Row-Level Security with DBMS_RLS
◆ Oracle8i offers a new package, DBMS_RLS, with which to
implement automated row-level security (also referred to as
"fine grained access control").
Row Level Security ◆ The establishment of security

policies on (restricted access
to) individual rows of a table.
◆ Prior to Oracle8i, you could
achieve this only partially
through the use of views.
◆ The DBMS_RLS package
(along with "system contexts")
now allow you to do so in a
foolproof manner.
07/27/08 Copyright
Components Needed for RLS
◆ System Contexts
– A new feature in Oracle8i, the system context is a named set of attribute-
value pairs global to your session.
◆ Security Policy Packages
– You will need to write a package containing functions that establish the
security policies to be applied to a particular table.
◆ Database Logon Triggers
– I want to make sure that when a person logs in, their context information is
set properly.
◆ DBMS_RLS
– Use programs in DBMS_RLS to associate your security policies with tables.
◆ Let's step through a simple example to see how all these pieces tie
together.
07/27/08 Copyright
A National Health Care System
◆ The year is 2010.
– A massive, popular uprising in the United States has forced the
establishment of a national healthcare system. No more for-profit
hospitals pulling billions of dollars out of the system; no more
private insurance companies soaking up 30 cents on the dollar; all
children are vaccinated; all pregnant women receive excellent pre-
natal care.
◆ We need a top-notch, highly secure database for NHCS. The
main tables are patient, doctor, clinic and regulator.
◆ Here are some rules:
– Doctors can only see patients who are assigned to their clinic.
– Regulators can only see patients who reside in the same state.
– Patients can only see information about themselves.
fgac.sql
07/27/08 Copyright
Set the Context
◆ Define a context in the database, and create a procedure
that will set the context attributes (type and ID) upon login.
CREATE CONTEXT patient_restriction USING nhc_pkg;
PROCEDURE set_context
IS This is a simplification. See
CURSOR doc_cur IS fgac.sql for logic that identifies
SELECT doctor_id FROM doctor different types of people and
WHERE schema_name = USER; sets the context accordingly.
doc_rec doc_cur%ROWTYPE;
BEGIN
OPEN doc_cur; FETCH doc_cur INTO doc_rec;
DBMS_SESSION.SET_CONTEXT (
'patient_restriction', c_person_type_attr, 'DOCTOR');
DBMS_SESSION.SET_CONTEXT (
'patient_restriction', c_person_id_attr, doc_rec.doctor_id);
END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Define the Predicate
◆ A predicate is a string that will be appended to the WHERE
clause of the table to which this security policy is
associated (see next page).
FUNCTION person_predicate (
schema_in VARCHAR2, name_in VARCHAR2) RETURN VARCHAR2
IS
l_context VARCHAR2(100) := Extract the context
SYS_CONTEXT (c_context, c_person_type_attr); information for this
retval VARCHAR2(2000); connection.
BEGIN
IF l_context = 'DOCTOR'
THEN
retval := 'home_clinic_id IN
(SELECT home_clinic_id FROM doctor We need a different string
WHERE doctor_id = SYS_CONTEXT (''' || to modify the WHERE
c_context || ''', ''' || clause for each type of
c_person_id_attr || '''))'; person.
07/27/08 Copyright
Create the Security Policy
◆ Use the DBMS_RLS.ADD_POLICY procedure.
– The following procedure call specifies that the WHERE clause of any
query, update or delete against the SCOTT.PATIENT table will be
modified by the string returned by the person_predicate function of
the SCOTT.nhc_pkg package.
BEGIN
DBMS_RLS.ADD_POLICY (
OBJECT_SCHEMA => 'SCOTT',
OBJECT_NAME => 'patient',
POLICY_NAME => 'patient_privacy',
FUNCTION_SCHEMA => 'SCOTT',
POLICY_FUNCTION => 'nhc_pkg.person_predicate',
STATEMENT_TYPES => 'SELECT,UPDATE,DELETE');
END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Create Logon Trigger, Setting Context
◆ By setting the context in the logon trigger, we guarantee that
the context is set (and the predicate applied) no matter
which product is the entry point to Oracle.
CREATE OR REPLACE TRIGGER set_id_on_logon

AFTER LOGON ON DATABASE
BEGIN
nhc_pkg.set_context;
EXCEPTION Exception handling in
WHEN OTHERS trigger is critical! If you
THEN allow an exception to go
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE ( unhandled, logon is
'Error ' || SQLCODE || disabled.
' setting context for ' || USER');
END;
fgac.sql
07/27/08 Copyright
Queries Transparently Filtered
◆ What you see is determined automatically by who you are.
Context Information for "SWALLACE":

Type: DOCTOR
Doctor sees only her
ID: 1060
Predicate: patients.
home_clinic_id IN
(SELECT home_clinic_id FROM doctor
WHERE doctor_id = SYS_CONTEXT ('patient_restriction', 'person_id'))
Patients Visible to "SWALLACE":

CSILVA - Chris Silva - IL
VSILVA - Veva Silva - IL
Context Information for "CSILVA":

Type: PATIENT Patient sees only
ID:
himself.
Predicate: schema_name = 'CSILVA'
Patients Visible to "CSILVA":

CSILVA - Chris Silva - IL
07/27/08 Copyright
Take Full Advantage of PL/SQL!
January... February... March... April... May...
◆ It's so easy to fall into a

rut with a programming
language. Jump out of
– You learn what you your rut - and
need to get the job play a new tune
done, and you use only with PL/SQL!
what you know.
07/27/08 Copyright
Appendices
(a.k.a., If time permits…)
◆ UTL_FILE – file IO
◆ DBMS_JOB – Job scheduling
◆ DBMS_PIPE – Pipe-based communication
◆ DBMS_UTILITY – the kitchen sink package
07/27/08 Copyright
Built-in Packages: UTL_FILE
UTL_FILE
Server-side
File I/O
Application
FOPEN
GET_LINE
PUT_LINE
...
Physical Files
07/27/08 Copyright
UTL_FILE: Server-side I/O
◆ Allows you to read from and write to operating system
files on the database server.
◆ A "version 1" (fairly primitive) utility...

– Maximum of 1023 bytes per line (read or write) until Oracle 8.0.5,
when it jumps to 32K.
– No higher-level file operations supported (change privileges,
delete, copy, random access to contents).
– Limitations on files you can access (no mapped files, no use of
environmental variables).
◆ But you can read lines from a file and write lines to a file.
07/27/08 Copyright
UTL_FILE Module Outline
FCLOSE Close the specified file
FCLOSE_ALL Close all open files in your session
FFLUSH Flush all data from the UTL_FILE buffer to your file
FOPEN Open a file
GET_LINE Get the next line from a file
IS_OPEN Returns TRUE if the file is open (sort of)
NEW_LINE Insert a new line character in file at the end of current line
PUT Puts text into the UTL_FILE buffer
PUT_LINE Puts text and new line character into UTL_FILE buffer.
PUTF Puts formatted text into the buffer

07/27/08 Copyright
Authorizing Directory Access
◆ Oracle requires you to list explicitly those directories you
wish to be able to read/write with UTL_FILE.
– You do this by adding lines to the instance parameter file.
◆ Follow these rules to avoid many headaches.
– Use a separate entry for each directory (and subdirectory; there is no
subdirectory recursion).
– No single or double quotes around directory, no trailing delimiter.
utl_file_dir = /tmp
utl_file_dir = /accounts/newdev
◆ And don't do either of the following:

utl_file_dir = . utl_file_dir = *
Allows read & Allows read &

write for current write for any
directory. directory.
07/27/08 Copyright
Test UTL_FILE Access
◆ About the hardest part to working with UTL_FILE is simply
getting started.
◆ So before you write anything fancy, modify your
initialization file, restart your database, and then run the
following test script (it can't get much simpler than this):
DECLARE
BEGIN
/* Change the directory name to one to which you at least
|| THINK you have read/write access.
*/
fid := UTL_FILE.FOPEN ('c:\temp', 'test.txt', 'W');
UTL_FILE.PUT_LINE (fid, 'hello');
END;
/
utlfile.tst
07/27/08 Copyright
Opening a File
DECLARE
BEGIN
END;
◆ Specify file location, name and operation type.

– Types are 'R' for Read, 'W' for Write and 'A' for Append.
◆ The FOPEN function returns a record ("file handle") based
on the UTL_FILE.FILE_TYPE.
– Currently contains a single ID field.
◆ Maximum of 10 files may be opened in each user session.
◆ Test to see if file is open with the IS_OPEN function.
– In actuality, this function simply returns TRUE if the file handle's id
field is NOT NULL. Not much of a test...
07/27/08 Copyright
Reading from a File
DECLARE
BEGIN
fid := UTL_FILE.FOPEN ('c:\temp', 'test.txt', 'R');
UTL_FILE.GET_LINE (fid, myline);
END;
◆ Can only read from a file opened with the "R" mode.
◆ Lines in the file cannot be longer than 1023 bytes in length.
– In Oracle8 Release 8.0.5 and above, the ceiling is raised to 32K.
◆ The NO_DATA_FOUND exception is raised if you read past

the end of the file.
– You might want to build your own GET_LINE which handles the
exception and returns an EOF Boolean status flag.
getnext.sp
07/27/08 Copyright
Writing to a File
DECLARE
BEGIN
UTL_FILE.PUT_LINE (fid, 'UTL_FILE');
UTL_FILE.PUT (fid, 'is so much fun');
UTL_FILE.PUTF (fid, ' that I never\nwant to %s', '&1');
END;
UTL_FILE
is so much fun that I never Resulting Text
want to stop
◆ You can use PUT, PUT_LINE or PUTF.

– PUTF is like the C printf program, allowing for some formatting.
◆ Call FFLUSH to make sure that everything you have written
to the buffer is flushed out to the file.
– The file buffers are automatically flushed when you close a file or exit
your session.
07/27/08 Copyright
Closing a File
DECLARE
BEGIN
fid := UTL_FILE.FOPEN ('c:\temp', 'test.txt', 'R');
UTL_FILE.GET_LINE (fid, myline);
EXCEPTION
WHEN UTL_FILE.READ_ERROR
THEN
END;
◆ If you do not close the file, you will not see the data you have
(supposedly) written to that file.
◆ You can close a single file with FCLOSE or all open files with
FCLOSE_ALL.
◆ You should close files in exception handlers to make sure that files are
not left "hanging" open.
07/27/08 Copyright
Error Handling in UTL_FILE
PACKAGE UTL_FILE
IS
invalid_path EXCEPTION;
invalid_mode EXCEPTION;
invalid_filehandle EXCEPTION;
invalid_operation EXCEPTION;
read_error EXCEPTION;
write_error EXCEPTION;
internal_error EXCEPTION;
END;
◆ UTL_FILE relies on a combination of user-defined exceptions and

STANDARD exceptions to communicate errors.
– NO_DATA_FOUND when you try to read past the end of the file.
– UTL_FILE-named exceptions in other cases.
◆ You have to take special care to trap and handle the named exceptions.
– They all share a common SQLCODE of 1.
07/27/08 Copyright
Recommended Exception Section
EXCEPTION
WHEN UTL_FILE.INVALID_PATH
THEN recNgo (PLVfile.c_invalid_path); RAISE;
WHEN UTL_FILE.INVALID_MODE
THEN recNgo (PLVfile.c_invalid_mode); RAISE;
WHEN UTL_FILE.INVALID_FILEHANDLE
THEN recNgo (PLVfile.c_invalid_filehandle); RAISE;
WHEN UTL_FILE.INVALID_OPERATION
THEN recNgo (PLVfile.c_invalid_operation); RAISE;
WHEN UTL_FILE.READ_ERROR
THEN recNgo (PLVfile.c_read_error); RAISE;
WHEN UTL_FILE.WRITE_ERROR
THEN recNgo (PLVfile.c_write_error); RAISE;
utlflexc.sql
WHEN UTL_FILE.INTERNAL_ERROR
THEN recNgo (PLVfile.c_internal_error); RAISE;
END;
◆ Trap locally by name; record the error, translating the generic
user-defined exception into an understandable message.
◆ Re-raise exception if you want it to propagate from that block.
07/27/08 Copyright
Built-in Packages: DBMS_JOB
DBMS_JOB
Scheduled Execution
of Stored Procedures
Oracle Job Queue
Application Subsystem
SUBMIT
DBA_JOBS
RUN
REMOVE
...
Background
Process
07/27/08 Copyright
Overview of DBMS_JOB
◆ DBMS_JOB provides an API to the Oracle job queues, which
in turn offers job scheduling capabilities within the Oracle
Server.
◆ Built by Oracle to support snapshots and replication.
◆ Made its debut in PL/SQL Release 2.1, but only “publicly
available” and supported in PL/SQL Release 2.2.
◆ You can use DBMS_JOB to:
– Replicate data between different database instances.
– Schedule regular maintenance on instances.
– Schedule large batch jobs to run on "off hours".
– Create a listener program to poll the contents of a pipe and take
action.
– Spawn background processes to avoid blocking client process.
07/27/08 Copyright
DBMS_JOB Module Outline
BROKEN Marks the job as either FIXED or BROKEN.
Broken jobs will not run as scheduled.
CHANGE Changes one or all attributes of a job.
INTERVAL Changes the interval between executions of a job.
ISUBMIT Submits a job to the queue using a predefined job number.
NEXT_DATE Changes when a queued job will run.
REMOVE Removes the job from the queue.
RUN Forces immediate execution of the specified job number.
SUBMIT Submits a job to the queue returning a unique job number.
USER_EXPORT Returns the job string for a job number.
WHAT Changes the job string of a job.
07/27/08 Copyright
Submitting a Job
DECLARE
job# BINARY_INTEGER;
BEGIN
DBMS_JOB.SUBMIT
(job#, 'calculate_totals;', SYSDATE, 'SYSDATE + 1');
END;
◆ A job is a call to a stored procedure or an anonymous block

– It must end with a semi-colon and can contain “hard-coded”
arguments.
◆ When you submit a job, you specify the date on which it should
next execute, and then the job’s execution interval (frequency of
execution).
– In the above example, I run calculate_totals immediately and then on a
daily basis thereafter. Notice that the start time is a DATE expression,
while the interval is a string (this is dynamic PL/SQL!)
◆ You can also call DBMS_JOB.ISUBMIT and supply the job number,
instead of having DBMS_JOB generate one for you.
07/27/08 Copyright
Submit Job Example
DECLARE
v_jobno INTEGER;
BEGIN
DBMS_JOB.submit (
job => v_jobno,
what => 'DBMS_DDL.ANALYZE_OBJECT ' ||
'(''TABLE'',''LOAD1'',''TENK''' ||
',''ESTIMATE'',null,estimate_percent=>50);',
next_date => TRUNC (SYSDATE + 1),
interval => 'TRUNC(SYSDATE+1)'
);
p.l (v_jobno);
END;
/
◆ This block submits a job that uses a built-in procedure,

DBMS_DDL.ANALYZE_OBJECT, to analyze a specific table
every evening at midnight.
07/27/08 Copyright
DBMS_JOB.ISubmit Job Example
BEGIN
DBMS_JOB.ISUBMIT
(job => 1
,what => 'my_job1(''string_parm_value'',120);'
,next_date => SYSDATE + 1/24
,interval => 'SYSDATE +1');
DBMS_JOB.ISUBMIT
(2, 'my_job2(date_IN=>SYSDATE);'
,SYSDATE+1,'SYSDATE+10/1440');
DBMS_JOB.ISUBMIT(3,'BEGIN null; END;',SYSDATE,null);
END;
/
◆ This block submits three jobs to the job queue, numbered 1,2,
and 3.
– Job 1 passes a string and number into procedure MY_JOB1, runs it in one
hour and executes every day thereafter.
– Job 2 passes a date into procedure MY_JOB2, executes for the first time
tomorrow and every 10 minutes thereafter.
– Job 3 is a PL/SQL block which does nothing, executes immediately, and
will be removed from the queue automatically.
07/27/08 Copyright
Specifying Job Times & Frequencies
◆ Probably the most complicated part of using DBMS_JOB is to
get the string expression of the job interval right.
– Since it's a string, you must use 2 single quotes to embed strings.
– Use date arithmetic to request intervals smaller than a day.
Every hour 'SYSDATE + 1/24'
Every Sunday at 2 'NEXT_DAY (TRUNC (SYSDATE), ''SATURDAY'') +

AM 2/24'
First Monday of 'NEXT_DAY (

each quarter, at 9 ADD_MONTHS (TRUNC (SYSDATE, ''Q''), 3),
AM ''MONDAY'') + 9/24'
Every Monday, 'TRUNC (LEAST (

Wednesday and NEXT_DAY (SYSDATE, ''MONDAY''),
Friday at 6 PM NEXT_DAY (SYSDATE, ''WEDNESDAY''),
NEXT_DAY (SYSDATE, ''FRIDAY''))) + 18/24'
07/27/08 Copyright
Other Job Queue Operations
◆ Remove a job from the queue.
– Only if the job was submitted from same schema
Remove all jobs
for current
BEGIN schema.
FOR rec IN (SELECT * FROM USER_JOBS) LOOP
DBMS_JOB.REMOVE (rec.job);
END LOOP;
◆ Run a job immediately.

– Performs an implicit COMMIT in current session.
DBMS_JOB.RUN (my_job#);
◆ Export jobs from the queue.

– Produces a string that can be used to recreate an existing job in the job
queue.
– Uses DBMS_JOB.ISUBMIT, retaining current job number.
07/27/08 Copyright expjob.sql

Job Queue Views
◆ You can also view the job queue by looking at the
DBA_JOBS_RUNNING, DBA_JOBS and USER_JOBS views.
– The following query blends job information with session information
to display currently-executing jobs, who owns them and when they
began.
SELECT jr.job job_id

,username username
,jr.this_date start_date
,what job_definition
FROM DBA_JOBS_RUNNING jr
,DBA_JOBS j
,V$SESSION s
WHERE s.sid = jr.sid showjobs.sql

AND jr.job = j.job
ORDER BY jr.this_date;
07/27/08 Copyright
Setting up the Job Facility
◆ Make sure that the correct access is set up for the
DBMS_JOB package.
– The default is PUBLIC access. You will have to take special DBA
action if you want to restrict who can run jobs.
◆ You will need to set three parameters in the init.ora

(initialization) file for your database instance:
– job_queue_processes=N where n is the number of concurrent
background processes permitted. The valid range is 0 through 36.
– job_queue_interval=N where N is the interval in seconds to check
the job queue. The valid range is 1 to 3600 (a maximum, therefore, of
one hour).
07/27/08 Copyright
Error Handling with DBMS_JOB
◆ What if your stored procedure fails?
– After 16 attempts, the job facility will mark your job as broken.
– Do you want it to try 16 times?
– In addition, if your failure raises an unhandled exception, it may
cause the background processes to fail and no longer run any
jobs at all.
◆ To avoid unexpected and unhandled failures of scheduled
jobs:
– Always use the RUN built-in to execute your job in a “test” mode.
Then you can go ahead and submit it.
– Always include a WHEN OTHERS exception handler in your job
program which traps any and all problems and automatically sets
the job status to broken.
07/27/08 Copyright
Stopping the Job When It Fails
PROCEDURE calc_totals IS
BEGIN
...
EXCEPTION
WHEN OTHERS
THEN
job# := job_pkg.job (‘calc_totals’)
spacelog.sql
DBMS_JOB.BROKEN (job#, TRUE); showspc.sql
job_pkg.log (‘calc_totals’, ‘FAIL’);
END;
◆ The WHEN OTHERS exception handler of the calc_totals
procedure traps any kind of failure.
– Obtains the job number from a packaged function by passing the
name of the procedure.
– Uses a call to BROKEN to set the status of the job to “broken”.
– Calls log program of package to record that failure took place.
– Now the job facility will not try to run this program again. You can go
in and fix the problem.
07/27/08 Copyright
"Good to Knows" for DBMS_JOB
◆ You may find it useful to always wrap your stored procedure call (the
what) inside a BEGIN-END block.
– We've noticed some aberrant, difficult to reproduce behavior at times with
"straight" procedure calls.
◆ You will need to fully-qualify all database links (with user name and
password) to get them to work properly.
◆ If you find that you submit a job to run immediately and it does not start,
perform a COMMIT after your submit.
◆ When a job runs, it picks up the current execution environment for the
user.
◆ You can use the DBMS_IJOB to manage the jobs of other users.
– DBMS_JOB only allows you to modify characteristics and behavior of jobs
submitted by the current schema.
07/27/08 Copyright
Built-in Packages: DBMS_PIPE
DBMS_PIPE
Inter-session
Communication
07/27/08 Copyright
DBMS_PIPE Overview
◆ Allows communication between different Oracle sessions
through a pipe in the RDBMS Shared Global Area.
– Operates outside of database transaction limitations.
◆ Uses for DBMS_PIPE include:

– Parallelization of program execution. Oracle uses database pipes
to parallelize database operations. You can parallelize your own
code.
– More sophisticated debugging inside PL/SQL programs (work
around fundamental limitations of DBMS_OUTPUT).
– Interface PL/SQL-database activities with operating system
functions and programs written in other languages.
– Perform and commit DML in a separate transaction space from
your main transaction.
07/27/08 Copyright
Architecture of DBMS_PIPE
Shared Global Area
“Sue”
“Bob”
Message Buffer Message Buffer
Session A Session B
◆ A pipe is a named object that uses the System Global

Area to provide a non-transaction based conduit of
information.
– The pipe sends/receives a message, which can be composed of
one or more separate packets, using a maximum of 4096 bytes.
– Names can be up to 128 chars long (do not use names beginning
with “ORA$”. They are reserved for Oracle use).
07/27/08 Copyright
Processing Flow of DBMS_PIPE
◆ Construct a message from packets of information.
– Each packet can be a string, date, number, ROWID or RAW.
– There is just one message buffer per session.
◆ Send the message to a named pipe.

– If there isn’t currently room in the pipe, you can wait for up to
1000 days (or 86400000 seconds) for the pipe to be cleared.
– This is the default, so you should always specify a timeout
period.
◆ Receive a message from that pipe.
– You can wait for up to 1000 days for a message.
◆ Unpack the message packets and take action.

– Separate out the individual packets in the message (again:
string, date or number).
pipex1.sql
07/27/08 Copyright pipex2.sql
DBMS_PIPE Module Outline
Module Name Description
CREATE_PIPE Creates a PUBLIC or PRIVATE pipe.
NEXT_ITEM_TYPE Returns the datatype of the next item in the piped message.
PACK_MESSAGE Packs an item into the message buffer for your session.
PURGE Empties the contents of a pipe into your local buffer freeing it for
removal, making it a candidate for removal with a LRU algorithm.
RECEIVE_MESSAGE Receives a message from pipe and copies to local buffer.
REMOVE_PIPE Removes a pipe explicitly created via CREATE_PIPE.
RESET_BUFFER Clears your buffer so that PACK_MESSAGE and

UNPACK_MESSAGE can work from the first item.
SEND_MESSAGE Sends contents of message buffer to the specified pipe.
UNIQUE_SESSION_NAME Returns name that is unique among all sessions in the database.
UNPACK_MESSAGE
Unpacks the next item from the local message buffer and deposits it into
the specified local variable.
07/27/08 Copyright
Creating Public and Private Pipes
◆ There are two ways to create pipes: implicitly and
explicitly.
– Send messages to non-existent pipe implicitly create it.
– Use CREATE_PIPE to create a pipe explicitly.
PROCEDURE newpipe IS
stat INTEGER;
BEGIN
stat := DBMS_PIPE.CREATE_PIPE (
pipename => 'bbs', maxpipesize => 20000, private => TRUE);
◆ An explicit pipe can be private (accessible only to sessions with

matching userID or SYSDBA privileges).
– Specify TRUE for private argument of CREATE_PIPE.
◆ A public pipe is accessible as long as you know its name.

– Implicitly-created pipes are always public.
07/27/08 Copyright
Sending a Message
FUNCTION send_message
Provide pipe name,
(pipename IN VARCHAR2,
seconds you will wait,
timeout IN INTEGER DEFAULT maxwait,
and new max pipe size
maxpipesize IN INTEGER DEFAULT 8192)
(you can make it bigger,
RETURN INTEGER;
but not smaller).
FOR month_num IN 1 .. 12
Fill your message buffer
LOOP
with packets of data.
DBMS_PIPE.PACK_MESSAGE (
total_sales (month_num));
END LOOP;
pipe_stat := Send to "monthly" pipe,

DBMS_PIPE.SEND_MESSAGE ( waiting up to 1 minute,
‘monthly’, 60, 10 * 4096); expanding pipe size to 40
Kbytes.
IF pipe_stat != 0
THEN
RAISE could_not_send; Status of 0 means message was sent.
07/27/08 Copyright
Receiving and Unpack a Message
FUNCTION receive_message
(pipename IN VARCHAR2, timeout IN INTEGER DEFAULT maxwait)
RETURN INTEGER;
◆ First you pull the message from the pipe and place it in buffer
with RECEIVE_MESSAGE.
– Specify pipe and number of seconds you will wait before you time out.
– Pipe status of 0 means the message was read successfully.
PROCEDURE unpack_message (item OUT VARCHAR2);
PROCEDURE unpack_message (item OUT NUMBER);
PROCEDURE unpack_message (item OUT DATE);
◆ Then you call UNPACK_MESSAGE to extract individual packets from

the message.
– You need to know the datatype of packet or check it using NEXT_ITEM_TYPE.
07/27/08 Copyright
A Pipe-based Listener Program
◆ Program wakes up every N seconds to read the data from the pipe and
analyze results from assembly line (an intentional "infinite loop"!).
PROCEDURE analyze_assembly_data (every_n_secs IN INTEGER)

IS
pipe_status INTEGER;
prod_total NUMBER; Wait up to N
BEGIN seconds for the
LOOP next report.
pipe_status :=
DBMS_PIPE.RECEIVE_MESSAGE (
'production', every_n_secs); If I got something,
pass it on to the
IF pipe_status = 0 computation
THEN program.
DBMS_PIPE.UNPACK_MESSAGE (prod_total);
analyze_production (SYSDATE, prod_total);
ELSE
RAISE_APPLICATION_ERROR ( Stop process if data
-20000, 'Production data unavailable.'); not received.
END IF;
END LOOP;
END; Copyright
07/27/08
Unpacking the Message
FUNCTION next_item_type RETURN INTEGER;
Returns one of the following values:

Value Description or Data type
0 No more items in buffer
6 NUMBER dbpipe.sql
9 VARCHAR2 dbpipe.tst
11 ROWID
12 DATE
23 RAW
◆ Since a message can be composed of packets of different
datatypes, you have to make sure that you unpack a
packet into the right kind of variable. Either:
– You know the datatype and therefore can “hard-code” the correct
variable into the call to UNPACK_MESSAGE.
– Or you use the built-in NEXT_ITEM_TYPE to tell you in advance
the datatype of the next packet in the message and take
appropriate action.
07/27/08 Copyright
Parallelizing Your Code with Pipes
◆ Oracle uses DBMS_PIPE to improve RDBMS performance;
you can do the same for your application if:
– You have multiple CPUs available.
– You have processes which can run in parallel.
◆ Suppose I want to calculate my net profit. In order to do so I
must first compute total sales, total office expenses and
total compensation.
– These programs each take 15 minutes, but are not dependent on
each other.
◆ Without pipes, I must execute them sequentially and incur
an elapsed time of 45 minutes before I calculate the profits.
– The CEO is decidedly unhappy about the delay.
07/27/08 Copyright
Sequential vs. Parallel Execution
Sequential Execution: Maximum Elapsed Time
S
t E
a n
r Process A Process B Process C d
t
Parallel Execution: Minimum Elapsed Time
Start
Process A Process B Process C
End
07/27/08 Copyright
Parallelizing PL/SQL Execution
BEGIN
kick_off_sales_calc;
kick_off_exp_calc;
kick_off_totcomp_calc;
wait_for_confirmation;
calculate_net_profits;
END;
◆ The “kick off” programs pass their messages to separate
pipes.
– Other programs running in the background grab the messages and start
their corresponding calculation program.
– When each program is complete, it puts a message (perhaps even a
value) into the pipe.
◆ The “wait” program waits till it receives a message from each
program. Then net profits can be computed -- in a much-
decreased elapsed time.
07/27/08 Copyright
Code to Kick Off and Calculate
PROCEDURE kick_off_sales_calc IS
stat INTEGER; Send message to start
BEGIN calculations.
DBMS_PIPE.PACK_MESSAGE (1995);
stat := DBMS_PIPE.SEND_MESSAGE (‘sales’);
END;
PROCEDURE calculate_sales IS
stat INTEGER;
BEGIN
stat := DBMS_PIPE.RECEIVE_MESSAGE (‘sales’);
IF stat = 0
THEN
lots_of_number_crunching; Receive the year,
calculate sales, and send
DBMS_PIPE.PACK_MESSAGE (sales$); back the results.
ELSE
DBMS_PIPE.PACK_MESSAGE (NULL);
END IF;
END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Waiting for Confirmation
PROCEDURE wait_for_confirmation
IS
stat INTEGER;
BEGIN
stat := DBMS_PIPE.RECEIVE_MESSAGE (‘sales’); Wait for all calculations to
DBMS_PIPE.UNPACK_MESSAGE (sales$); finish.
stat := DBMS_PIPE.RECEIVE_MESSAGE (‘offexp’); The order in which you

DBMS_PIPE.UNPACK_MESSAGE (offexp$); wait is insignificant.
stat := DBMS_PIPE.RECEIVE_MESSAGE (‘comp’);

DBMS_PIPE.UNPACK_MESSAGE (comp$);
END;
PROCEDURE calculate_net_profits IS
BEGIN Perform final
net_profits := sales$ - offexp$ - comp$; calculation.
END;
parallel.sql
07/27/08 Copyright
Other DBMS_PIPE Examples
◆ Simple trace package that sends it output either to screen or to pipe.
– Demonstrates the use of toggles and switches in packages.
watch.pkg
p_and_l.pkg
◆ Implementation of a system-wide, in-memory cache.

– A request for data is passed to a "central" pipe.
– A listener program grabs the request (including the return pipe name),
obtains the data, and sends it to the pipe.
– The requester reads the information from the pipe.
syscache.pkg
syscache.tst
07/27/08 Copyright
Built-in Packages: DBMS_UTILITY
DBMS_UTILITY
Application
GET_TIME
GET_HASH_VALUE
FORMAT_CALL_STACK
...
A ‘grab-bag’
of miscellaneous SCHEMA
operations
07/27/08 Copyright
DBMS_UTILITY Module Outline
ANALYZE_DATABASE Analyze objects in database
ANALYZE_PART_OBJECT Runs ANALYZE TABLE or ANALYZE INDEX

for each partition of the object (Oracle8).
COMMA_TO_TABLE Parses comma-delimited list to index-by table.
COMPILE_SCHEMA Recompile INVALID objects in specified schema.
DATA_BLOCK_ADDRESS_BLOCK Gets block number part of data block address.
DATA_BLOCK_ADDRESS_FILE Gets file number part of data block address.
DB_VERSION Returns database version (Oracle8)
EXEC_DDL_STATEMENT Executes DDL statement (Oracle8).
FORMAT_CALL_STACK Returns execution call stack.

dbver.pkg
FORMAT_ERROR_STACK Returns error stack. dbparm.pkg
GET_HASH_VALUE Returns hash value for string.

07/27/08 Copyright
DBMS_UTILITY Module Outline, cont.
GET_PARAMETER_VALUE Retrieves value of database parameter (Oracle8).
GET_TIME Returns "current time" down to hundredth of second.
IS_PARALLEL_SERVER Returns TRUE if in parallel server mode.
MAKE_DATA_BLOCK_ADDRESS Creates data block address from block & file numbers.
NAME_RESOLVE Resolves name of object into component parts.
NAME_TOKENIZE Parses string object designator into components.
PORT_STRING Returns platform and version of database.
TABLE_TO_COMMA Converts list (in index-by-table) of elements into a

comma-delimited list (string).
07/27/08 Copyright
Sub-Second Timings with GET_TIME
◆ GET_TIME returns the number of 100ths of seconds that
have elapsed since an arbitrary point in time.
– SYSDATE only reflects times down to the nearest second, so
GET_TIME offers significant additional granularity.
– Useful when analyzing individual PL/SQL programs, especially
those that run in sub-second time.
◆ Compare results from consecutive calls to GET_TIME to
determine the elapsed time of PL/SQL code execution.
DECLARE
v_start BINARY_INTEGER;
BEGIN
Basic steps necessary
v_start := DBMS_UTILITY.GET_TIME;
to convert GET_TIME
calc_totals;
into a performance
analysis tool.
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE
(DBMS_UTILITY.GET_TIME - v_start);
END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Building a Layer Over GET_TIME
PACKAGE PLVtmr
IS
Partial package PROCEDURE turn_on;
specification PROCEDURE turn_off;
PROCEDURE set_factor (factor_in IN NUMBER);
PROCEDURE capture (
context_in IN VARCHAR2 := NULL)
PROCEDURE show_elapsed
(prefix_in IN VARCHAR2 := NULL,
adjust_in IN NUMBER := 0,
reset_in IN BOOLEAN := TRUE);
END PLVtmr;
BEGIN
PLVtmr.capture;
Clean and lean timing code calc_totals;
PLVtmr.show_elapsed;
ovrhead.sql END;
plvtmr.sps
plvtmr.spb
07/27/08 Copyright
Accessing the Execution Call Stack
EXCEPTION
WHEN OTHERS THEN
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (
Use in the
DBMS_UTILITY.FORMAT_CALL_STACK);
exception
END;
section to show
context of ----- PL/SQL Call Stack -----
error. object line object
handle number name
88ce3f74 8 package STEVEN.VALIDATE_REQUEST

88e49fc4 2 function STEVEN.COMPANY_TYPE
88e49390 1 procedure STEVEN.CALC_NET_WORTH
88e2bd20 1 anonymous block
◆ "Little known facts" about FORMAT_CALL_STACK:

– Contains embedded new-line characters, equivalent to CHR(10).
– Most recent program at beginning of "report".
– Does not show package elements, only the package name.
07/27/08 Copyright
Accessing Call Stack Contents
◆ The call stack length can easily exceed 255 bytes, which means you
cannot pass it to DBMS_OUTPUT directly. Instead, use a loop to read
through the stack.
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE dispcs IS
stk VARCHAR2(10000);
next_newline INTEGER;
next_line VARCHAR2(255);
startpos INTEGER := 1;
BEGIN
stk := DBMS_UTILITY.FORMAT_CALL_STACK || CHR(10);
LOOP
next_newline := INSTR (stk, CHR(10), startpos, 1);
EXIT WHEN next_newline = 0;
next_line := SUBSTR (
stk, startpos, next_newline - startpos + 1);
dispcs.sp DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (next_line);

dispcs.tst
callstack.pkg startpos := next_newline + 1;
plvcs.sps END LOOP;
END;
07/27/08 Copyright
Resolving Names of Stored Code
◆ Code names have many components; the way they are
attached also follows a complicated syntax.
– Use NAME_RESOLVE to break down an identifier string into its
components easily.
PROCEDURE DBMS_UTILITY.NAME_RESOLVE Possible "Part 1" Types
(name IN VARCHAR2,
context IN NUMBER, 5 Synonym
schema OUT VARCHAR2,
part1 OUT VARCHAR2, 7 Procedure
part2 OUT VARCHAR2,
dblink OUT VARCHAR2, 8 Function
part1_type OUT NUMBER,
object_number OUT NUMBER); 9 Package
◆ What a chore! All those arguments...but don't see it as a problem, see it

as an opportunity...for encapsulation!
showcomp.sp
snc.pkg
07/27/08 Copyright

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Achieving PL/SQL Excellence

◆ Demonstration scripts executed in the training can be

– See filedesc.doc for a listing of many of the files.

◆ The PL/SQL IDE (Integrated Development Environment).

◆ Improve transaction integrity by hiding data structures

◆ Construct very flexible and usable utilities for developers.

Program references Does the yes Run initialization

– Can have its own exception handling FUNCTION func RETURN

◆ Overloading is a critical feature when building myproc

date_string := TO_CHAR (SYSDATE, 'MMDDYY');

number_string := TO_CHAR (10000);

Without overloading, you would have to deal with something

which one? too_similar.calc ('123');

which one? DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (only_returns.func1 (v_value));

which one? param_modes.proc1 (v_value);

◆ Overloading by Type, not Value

PROCEDURE l (number_in IN NUMBER);

PROCEDURE l (char_in IN VARCHAR2);

PROCEDURE l (char_in IN VARCHAR2, number_in IN NUMBER);

PROCEDURE l (boolean_in IN BOOLEAN);

DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE p.l (SYSDATE);

DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE p.l (SQLERRM, SQLCODE);

IF print_report_fl p.l (print_report_fl);

◆ Pass a literal value...

PROCEDURE func (name_in IN VARCHAR2, type_in IN NUMBER);

PROCEDURE func (name_in IN VARCHAR2, type_in IN DATE);

SQL> exec plvgen.func A date function, please!

SQL> exec plvgen.func A number function, please!

PROCEDURE calc (comp_id_IN IN company.comp_id%TYPE);

◆ In the above example, I rely on an anchored type (%TYPE) to

PROCEDURE calc_total (reg_in IN VARCHAR2);

◆ Explicit association between the formal parameter (the

◆ Emulate bi-directional cursors, which are otherwise not

◆ Characteristics of an index-by table:

children (6810) := ‘Adam Russell;

6306 ‘Barbara Anne’

◆ Nested table characteristics

CREATE TABLE db_family (surname VARCHAR2 (30),

For ORACLE's use only

◆ Characteristics of variable arrays:

CREATE TABLE db_family (surname VARCHAR2 (30), kids child_va_type);

◆ There is no information in the data dictionary available for

CREATE TYPE numbers_t IS VARRAY (10) OF NUMBER;

CREATE TABLE employee_denorm (

TYPE comp_tabtype IS TABLE OF comp_rectype

◆ EXTEND before assigning a value to a row.

◆ Include a handler for NO_DATA_FOUND or use the EXISTS

◆ Modify the contents of the collection

◆ The built-in package plitblm (PL/sql Index-TaBLe Methods)

-- Delete one (the last) row

-- Delete a range of rows

DELETE releases memory, but you may also want to call

rowind := birthdays.NEXT (rowind); -- birthdays.PRIOR

◆ Index-by tables are programmatic constructs only.

SELECT VALUE (act)

UPDATE THE (SELECT activities FROM inflation_beater

FUNCTION rowval (indx IN PLS_INTEGER) RETURN DATE

◆ Avoid mutating table problems in database

Row Level UPDATE row N

◆ Row level triggers cannot query from or

Department ID Salesperson ID Sales Amount Rank

◆ "Deferred work" is not only necessary, but preferable.

Statement Level Trigger