Bulk selection based on PL/SQL table

Question

Hi forum,
I have a defined a pl/sql table named keys, contains 2 column keys(i).key and keys(i).desc.Now my requirement is to fetch the data based on from oracle table based on key strored in pl/sql table.
I know that one option is to iterate through the table.like
for i in 1..keys.count
select value into x from <table> where key = keys(i).key
Any options available to fetch the data in bulk by passing pl/sql table keys at once?
Thanks in advance...
Rgds,
Aneesh A

Answer 1

Something like this:
SELECT empno, ename
  FROM emp
WHERE deptno = 10
ORDER BY deptno
     EMPNO ENAME
      7782 CLARK
      7839 KING
      7934 MILLER
-- "record type"
CREATE TYPE dept_type AS OBJECT (
   deptno NUMBER(2),
   dname  VARCHAR2(14),
   loc    VARCHAR2(13)
-- nested table type
CREATE TYPE dept_tab_type AS TABLE OF dept_type
SET SERVEROUTPUT ON
DECLARE
   l_dept_tab dept_tab_type;
BEGIN
   SELECT dept_type (deptno, dname, loc)
     BULK COLLECT INTO l_dept_tab
     FROM dept
    WHERE deptno = 10;
   FOR rec IN (
     SELECT empno, ename
       FROM emp e,
            TABLE (l_dept_tab) d -- <=
      WHERE e.deptno = d.deptno
      ORDER BY empno)
   LOOP
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE (rec.empno || ' ' || rec.ename);
   END LOOP;
END;
7782 CLARK
7839 KING
7934 MILLERBut:
1. you can't use associative array ("PL/SQL table" is Oracle 7 termin) - you must use nested table
2. nested table type (and "record type") must be server defined
3. (or 1.) using collection for million of records is not good approach - use SQL instead of PL/SQL!
Regards,
Zlatko Sirotic