Is it possible to receive a String[] back into stored procedure?

Question

Hi,
Is it possible to return String [] into plsql procedure?
I have a class :
class CreditCard {
public static String cc (String args []) []
throws
SQLException, ClassNotFoundException
I load it into the database and then create a plsql procedure:
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE check_credit(
card_number IN          VARCHAR2,
exp_month IN          VARCHAR2,
exp_year      IN          VARCHAR2,
flag1      OUT varchar2,
flag2          OUT varchar2)
AS LANGUAGE JAVA
NAME 'CreditCard.cc(java.lang.String[]) return java.lang.String[]';
trying to compile it gives me:
20/1 PLS-00311: the declaration of "CreditCard.cc(java.lang.String[])
return java.lang.String[]" is incomplete or malformed
Is it possible to receive a String[] back into stored procedure?
Thanks
Leonid

Answer 1

I don't think you can use a String Array directly, you have to use an oracle.sql.ARRAY.
You use the oracle.sql.ARRAY parameter in Java as an OUT parameter in the stored procedure. You need to use an ArrayDescriptor which requires a corresponding Oracle Nested Table type.
Try something like the following:
First the Nested Table Type:
     CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE
     TBL_STRINGS AS TABLE OF VARCHAR2(999);
Then the Java method:
public static void getStrings(oracle.sql.ARRAY[] theStrings) //has to be an array of oracle.sql.ARRAY's as we use it as an OUT parameter
try
     //get a connection
     Connection conn = DriverManager.getConnection("jdbc:default:connection:");
     String [] colours = new String []{"RED", "GREEN", "GOLD"};
ArrayDescriptor desc = ArrayDescriptor.createDescriptor("TBL_STRINGS", conn);
theStrings[0] = new oracle.sql.ARRAY(desc, conn, colours);
     conn.close();
catch (SQLException sqle)
          //report error
Then the call spec:
     PROCEDURE GET_STRINGS(p_the_strings     OUT     TBL_STRINGS)
     AS LANGUAGE JAVA
     NAME 'mypackage.MyClass.getStrings(oracle.sql.ARRAY[])';