Oracle VARRAYS
Version 11.2.0.3
 
General Information
A varray is a variable element array object. Memory to store varrays is taken from the PGA.
Related Data Dictionary Objects
col$ tab$ plitblm
dba_source all_source user_source
dba_types all_types user_types
dba_tables all_tables user_tables
dba_tab_cols all_tab_cols user_tab_cols
dba_nested_tables all_nested_tables user_nested_tables
dba_varrays all_varrays user_varrays
System Privileges
CREATE TYPE CREATE ANY TYPE DROP ANY TYPE
 
Non-Object SQL
Define VARRAY as a TYPE CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE uwvarray AS VARRAY(5) OF NUMBER;
/

desc uwvarray

CREATE TABLE varraytab (
oddt_col VARCHAR2(20),
udva_col uwvarray);

desc varraytab
 
Object SQL
Define Object as a TYPE CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE Project AUTHID DEFINER AS OBJECT (
project_no NUMBER(2),
title      VARCHAR2(35),
cost       NUMBER(7,2));
/

desc project

SELECT type_name, typecode, instantiable
FROM user_types;
Define VARRAY of object type CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE ProjectList AS VARRAY(50) OF Project;
/

desc projectlist

SELECT type_name, typecode, instantiable
FROM user_types;
Create table based on VARRAY -- Create relational table department, which has a column of type ProjectList

CREATE TABLE department (
dept_id  NUMBER(2),
dname    VARCHAR2(15),
budget   NUMBER(11,2),
projects ProjectList);

desc department

set describe depth all linenum on indent on

desc department
Inserting into the VARRAY containing table -- Each item in column projects is a varray that will store the projects scheduled for a given department. Next populate relational table department. Then the varray constructor ProjectList() provides values for column projects

INSERT INTO department
VALUES(30, 'Accounting', 1205700,
ProjectList (Project(1, 'Design New Expense Report', 3250),
Project(2, 'Outsource Payroll', 12350),
Project(3, 'Evaluate Merger Proposal', 2750),
Project(4, 'Audit Accounts Payable', 1425)));

INSERT INTO department
VALUES(50, 'Maintenance', 925300,
ProjectList (Project(1, 'Repair Leak in Roof', 2850),
Project(2, 'Install New Door Locks', 1700),
Project(3, 'Wash Front Windows', 975),
Project(4, 'Repair Faulty Wiring', 1350),
Project(5, 'Winterize Cooling System', 1125)));

INSERT INTO department
VALUES(60, 'Security', 750400,
ProjectList (Project(1, 'Issue New Employee Badges', 13500),
Project(2, 'Find Missing IC Chips', 2750),
Project(3, 'Upgrade Alarm System', 3350),
Project(4, 'Inspect Emergency Exits', 1900)));

COMMIT;

SELECT * FROM department;
Delete Record with VARRAY -- In the final example, delete the Accounting Department and its project list from table department

DELETE FROM department WHERE dept_id = 30;

SELECT * FROM department;
 
PL/SQL
Delete Record with VARRAY CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE Project IS OBJECT (
project_no NUMBER(2),
title      VARCHAR2(35),
cost       NUMBER(7,2));
/

DECLARE
 TYPE ProjectList IS VARRAY(50) OF Project;
 demo_t ProjectList;
BEGIN
  NULL;
END;
/

-- the following generates an error
DECLARE
 TYPE ProjectList IS VARRAY(50) OF Project;
 demo_t ProjectList;
BEGIN
 
demo_t(1) := Project(1,'One',1);
END;
/

set serveroutput on

DECLARE
 TYPE ProjectList IS VARRAY(50) OF Project;
 demo_t ProjectList;
BEGIN
  demo_t := ProjectList(NULL,NULL,NULL);
  demo_t(1) := Project(1,'One',1);
  demo_t(2) := Project(2,'Two',2);


  dbms_output.put_line(
demo_t(2).title);  -- value of varray element
  dbms_output.put_line(demo_t.
COUNT);     -- current count of elements in varray
  dbms_output.put_line(demo_t.
LIMIT);     -- max elements in varray

  IF demo_t.EXISTS(2) THEN
    dbms_output.put_line('TRUE');
  END IF;
END;
/
 
 
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