RE: Are PL/SQL variable values runtime only?

The short answer is yes. The life of a variable is only within the block that it's defined. You can create variables in a package header that have a more global like life span. Although I'm not sure I totally understand what you are asking so maybe I'm off the mark here.

I think this is covered in the scoping rules of the PL/SQL guide.

Ric Van Dyke  

-----Original Message-----

From: oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org
[mailto:oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org] On Behalf Of Rich Jesse Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 12:29 PM
To: Oracle L
Subject: Are PL/SQL variable values runtime only?

Hey all,

In 10.1.0.5.0, I have a procedure like this:

CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE bleah AS

    v_test VARCHAR2(50) := my_pkg.my_value('ABC'); BEGIN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(v_test);
END bleah;
/

...where "my_pkg.my_value" is a function that reads a table and returns a
column value of a row based on the supplied parameter, in this case 'ABC'. From testing, I can change the column value for row 'ABC' in that table (and
COMMIT) and the above procedure will reflect the change.

I would have suspected the v_test variable value to be retrieve at compile
time, but I suppose that would be a maintenance nightmare since an invalid
referenced object forces a recompile, right?

Also the CONSTANT keyword in the variable declaration does not appear to effect this behavior.

Is this documented somewhere? I've poked around the PL/SQL User's Guide,
but can't find it.

TIA,
Rich

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http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l Received on Wed Jul 22 2009 - 13:43:17 CDT