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PLSQL

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20 views

PLSQL

Uploaded by

kotaiahpendurthi
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Describe the difference between a procedure, function and anonymous pl/sql block.

Candidate should mention use of DECLARE statement, a function must return a value while a
procedure doesn?t have to.

What is a mutating table error and how can you get around it?

This happens with triggers. It occurs because the trigger is trying to update a row it is currently
using. The usual fix involves either use of views or temporary tables so the database is selecting from
one while updating the other.

Describe the use of %ROWTYPE and %TYPE in PL/SQL

Expected answer: %ROWTYPE allows you to associate a variable with an entire table row. The
%TYPE associates a variable with a single column type.

4What packages (if any) has Oracle provided for use by developers?

Expected answer: Oracle provides the DBMS_ series of packages. There are many which developers
should be aware of such as DBMS_SQL, DBMS_PIPE, DBMS_TRANSACTION, DBMS_LOCK,
DBMS_ALERT, DBMS_OUTPUT, DBMS_JOB, DBMS_UTILITY, DBMS_DDL, UTL_FILE. If they can
mention a few of these and describe how they used them, even better. If they include the SQL
routines provided by Oracle, great, but not really what was asked.

Describe the use of PL/SQL tables

Expected answer: PL/SQL tables are scalar arrays that can be referenced by a binary integer. They
can be used to hold values for use in later queries or calculations. In Oracle 8 they will be able to be
of the %ROWTYPE designation, or RECORD.

When is a declare statement needed ?

The DECLARE statement is used in PL/SQL anonymous blocks such as with stand alone, non-stored
PL/SQL procedures. It must come first in a PL/SQL stand alone file if it is used.
In what order should a open/fetch/loop set of commands in a PL/SQL block be implemented if you
use the %NOTFOUND cursor variable in the exit when statement? Why?

Expected answer: OPEN then FETCH then LOOP followed by the exit when. If not specified in this
order will result in the final return being done twice because of the way the %NOTFOUND is handled
by PL/SQL.

What are SQLCODE and SQLERRM and why are they important for PL/SQL developers?

Expected answer: SQLCODE returns the value of the error number for the last error encountered. The
SQLERRM returns the actual error message for the last error encountered. They can be used in
exception handling to report, or, store in an error log table, the error that occurred in the code. These
are especially useful for the WHEN OTHERS exception.

How can you find within a PL/SQL block, if a cursor is open?

Expected answer: Use the %ISOPEN cursor status variable.

How can you generate debugging output from PL/SQL?

Expected answer: Use the DBMS_OUTPUT package. Another possible method is to just use the SHOW
ERROR command, but this only shows errors. The DBMS_OUTPUT package can be used to show
intermediate results from loops and the status of variables as the procedure is executed. The new
package UTL_FILE can also be used.

What are the types of triggers?

Expected Answer: There are 12 types of triggers in PL/SQL that consist of combinations of the
BEFORE, AFTER, ROW, TABLE, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE and ALL key words:

BEFORE ALL ROW INSERT

AFTER ALL ROW INSERT

BEFORE INSERT

AFTER INSERT etc.

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