What is the Purpose of Subquery in Insert?

From: Den <dd_at_hotmail.net>
Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2005 16:44:39 +0800
Message-ID: <4215aaf7$1_3@rain.i-cable.com>

This statement is found in oracle's training material:

INSERT INTO (SELECT employee_id, last_name

           FROM employee
          WHERE department_id=50)

VALUES(9999,'peter');

The above subquery is interpreted as the list columns to be inserted with values. But what is the point of having this syntax? And why bother putting in a WHERE clause? Isnt it good enough to list just the column names instead of a doing a subquery which is nothing more than indicating what columns are involved?? Received on Fri Feb 18 2005 - 02:44:39 CST