Question

how to do something like simple array in plsql? Better to explain on example.

Let’s see what I have

PROCEDURE MyProcedure(name varchar2 := '', father varchar2 := '', description varchar2 := '') IS 
        BEGIN
            UPDATE BC_ACTIONTYPEGROUP SET
                ColumnName = name,
                ColumnFather = father,
                ColumnDecription = description
            WHERE
                ColumnName = name;
            IF SQL%ROWCOUNT = 0 THEN
                INSERT INTO TableNames  (ColumnName, ColumnFather, ColumnDescription)
                VALUES (name, description, father);
            END IF;
        END;
/
MyProcedure('John',     '', 'Little John has three brothers');
MyProcedure('George',   'YES',  'George is father of John');

and I need something like this

MyProcedure(name=>'John', description=>'Little John has three brothers');
MyProcedure(name=>'George', father=>'YES',  description=>'George is father of John');

Is it possible? Or what is the simplest way how to use something like this in procedure.

I’m fresh student of IT so thanks for any advice.

Answer 1

I am not sure if you are looking for arrays or hash tables (associative arrays).

Arrays are easy:

declare
TYPE names IS VARRAY(6) OF VARCHAR2(20) ;
name names;
name names.extend(1);
begin
name(1) := 'John Doe';
end;

Reference:
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/B10500_01/appdev.920/a96624/05_colls.htm

In the case of associative arrays you would have to define a type such as:

TYPE my_type IS TABLE OF VARCHAR2(256) INDEX BY VARCHAR2(5);
-- Declare actual associative array using new data type.
my_array my_type;
my_key VARCHAR2(5);

Take a look at this:

http://javaconfessions.com/2008/08/associative-arrays-hashtables-for-plsql.html

http://tylermuth.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/plsql-associative-arrays/

Then follow these steps to pass array to a function or procedure:

How to use pass an array in PL/SQL function