Re: How to copy LONG column

Tom Wilson <tdwilson_at_mindspring.com> writes:
>I need to copy a long varchar from one table to another using
>UPDATE tab1 SET longcol = (SELECT longcol2 FROM tab2 WHERE
>tab1.key=tab2.key);
>But I get an error that this is an invalid use of a LONG column. How do
>I insert or update a long column by copying a value from another column?
>Tom

The only way I have been able to do this is to use PL/SQL. Define a variable as LONG and open a cursor into the variable. From here you can manipulate the variable in ways you cannot with straight SQL. Things such as substr, rtrim, instr, length, etc.

I hear Oracle8 will be able to handle LONG manipulations in SQL.

-Ari Kaplan
Independent Oracle DBA Consultant

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