Connect by - sql help : getting error ORA-01489: result of string concatena

Question

here is an sql query and I am trying to cook a decode but since there are many columns invloved when I am trying to run this I am getting the following error:
ORA-01489: result of string concatenation is too long
Any kind of help is appreciated, I need to get this going otherwise I am dead :(
Regards
Rahul
SQL:
select sys_connect_by_path(c.decode_prep,'-') decode_prep
from (select 'DECODE(BIAPPS_11.'||substr(b.all_cols,instr(b.all_cols,',',1,a.rn)+1,instr(b.all_cols,',',1,a.rn+1)-instr(b.all_cols,',',1,a.rn)-1)||','||'RAHULKALRA.'||substr(b.all_cols,instr(b.all_cols,',',1,a.rn)+1,instr(b.all_cols,',',1,a.rn+1)-instr(b.all_cols,',',1,a.rn)-1)||',''1'',''0'')' decode_prep, rownum curr, rownum -1 prev
from (select rownum rn
from dual connect by rownum <=
(select (length('ROW_WID,COST_CENTER_NUM,COST_CENTER_NAME,COST_CENTER_DESC,CONTROL_AREA_NUM,CONTROL_AREA_NAME,CATEGORY_CODE,CATEGORY_NAME,CATEGORY_DESC,MANAGER_NAME,CURRENCY_CODE,CURRENCY_NAME,LANGUAGE_CODE,LANGUAGE_NAME,ST_ADDRESS1,ST_ADDRESS2,POST_OFFICE_BOX,CITY_NAME,STATE_CODE,STATE_NAME,REGION_CODE,REGION_NAME,COUNTRY_CODE,COUNTRY_NAME,POSTAL_CODE,PHONE_NUM,FAX_NUM,CSCN_HIER1_CODE,CSCN_HIER1_NAME,CSCN_HIER2_CODE,CSCN_HIER2_NAME,CSCN_HIER3_CODE,CSCN_HIER3_NAME,CSCN_HIER4_CODE,CSCN_HIER4_NAME,CSCN_HIER5_CODE,CSCN_HIER5_NAME,CSCN_HIER6_CODE,CSCN_HIER6_NAME,ACTIVE_FLG,CREATED_BY_WID,CHANGED_BY_WID,CREATED_ON_DT,CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX1_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX2_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX3_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX4_CHANGED_ON_DT,SRC_EFF_FROM_DT,SRC_EFF_TO_DT,EFFECTIVE_FROM_DT,EFFECTIVE_TO_DT,DELETE_FLG,CURRENT_FLG,W_INSERT_DT,W_UPDATE_DT,DATASOURCE_NUM_ID,ETL_PROC_WID,INTEGRATION_ID,SET_ID,TENANT_ID,X_CUSTOM')
- length(replace('ROW_WID,COST_CENTER_NUM,COST_CENTER_NAME,COST_CENTER_DESC,CONTROL_AREA_NUM,CONTROL_AREA_NAME,CATEGORY_CODE,CATEGORY_NAME,CATEGORY_DESC,MANAGER_NAME,CURRENCY_CODE,CURRENCY_NAME,LANGUAGE_CODE,LANGUAGE_NAME,ST_ADDRESS1,ST_ADDRESS2,POST_OFFICE_BOX,CITY_NAME,STATE_CODE,STATE_NAME,REGION_CODE,REGION_NAME,COUNTRY_CODE,COUNTRY_NAME,POSTAL_CODE,PHONE_NUM,FAX_NUM,CSCN_HIER1_CODE,CSCN_HIER1_NAME,CSCN_HIER2_CODE,CSCN_HIER2_NAME,CSCN_HIER3_CODE,CSCN_HIER3_NAME,CSCN_HIER4_CODE,CSCN_HIER4_NAME,CSCN_HIER5_CODE,CSCN_HIER5_NAME,CSCN_HIER6_CODE,CSCN_HIER6_NAME,ACTIVE_FLG,CREATED_BY_WID,CHANGED_BY_WID,CREATED_ON_DT,CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX1_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX2_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX3_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX4_CHANGED_ON_DT,SRC_EFF_FROM_DT,SRC_EFF_TO_DT,EFFECTIVE_FROM_DT,EFFECTIVE_TO_DT,DELETE_FLG,CURRENT_FLG,W_INSERT_DT,W_UPDATE_DT,DATASOURCE_NUM_ID,ETL_PROC_WID,INTEGRATION_ID,SET_ID,TENANT_ID,X_CUSTOM',',')))+1 total_cols
from dual)) a, (select ','||'ROW_WID,COST_CENTER_NUM,COST_CENTER_NAME,COST_CENTER_DESC,CONTROL_AREA_NUM,CONTROL_AREA_NAME,CATEGORY_CODE,CATEGORY_NAME,CATEGORY_DESC,MANAGER_NAME,CURRENCY_CODE,CURRENCY_NAME,LANGUAGE_CODE,LANGUAGE_NAME,ST_ADDRESS1,ST_ADDRESS2,POST_OFFICE_BOX,CITY_NAME,STATE_CODE,STATE_NAME,REGION_CODE,REGION_NAME,COUNTRY_CODE,COUNTRY_NAME,POSTAL_CODE,PHONE_NUM,FAX_NUM,CSCN_HIER1_CODE,CSCN_HIER1_NAME,CSCN_HIER2_CODE,CSCN_HIER2_NAME,CSCN_HIER3_CODE,CSCN_HIER3_NAME,CSCN_HIER4_CODE,CSCN_HIER4_NAME,CSCN_HIER5_CODE,CSCN_HIER5_NAME,CSCN_HIER6_CODE,CSCN_HIER6_NAME,ACTIVE_FLG,CREATED_BY_WID,CHANGED_BY_WID,CREATED_ON_DT,CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX1_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX2_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX3_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX4_CHANGED_ON_DT,SRC_EFF_FROM_DT,SRC_EFF_TO_DT,EFFECTIVE_FROM_DT,EFFECTIVE_TO_DT,DELETE_FLG,CURRENT_FLG,W_INSERT_DT,W_UPDATE_DT,DATASOURCE_NUM_ID,ETL_PROC_WID,INTEGRATION_ID,SET_ID,TENANT_ID,X_CUSTOM'||',' all_cols from dual) b) c
start with curr = 1
connect by prior curr = prev
order by length(sys_connect_by_path(c.decode_prep,'-')) desc
same as above sql only difference is here I am pulling the first record from the result set which above query returns :
select ltrim(replace(decode_prep,'-','||'),'||') decode_prep
from (select sys_connect_by_path(c.decode_prep,'-') decode_prep
from (select 'DECODE(BIAPPS_11.'||substr(b.all_cols,instr(b.all_cols,',',1,a.rn)+1,instr(b.all_cols,',',1,a.rn+1)-instr(b.all_cols,',',1,a.rn)-1)||','||'RAHULKALRA.'||substr(b.all_cols,instr(b.all_cols,',',1,a.rn)+1,instr(b.all_cols,',',1,a.rn+1)-instr(b.all_cols,',',1,a.rn)-1)||',''1'',''0'')' decode_prep, rownum curr, rownum -1 prev
from (select rownum rn
from dual connect by rownum <=
(select (length('ROW_WID,COST_CENTER_NUM,COST_CENTER_NAME,COST_CENTER_DESC,CONTROL_AREA_NUM,CONTROL_AREA_NAME,CATEGORY_CODE,CATEGORY_NAME,CATEGORY_DESC,MANAGER_NAME,CURRENCY_CODE,CURRENCY_NAME,LANGUAGE_CODE,LANGUAGE_NAME,ST_ADDRESS1,ST_ADDRESS2,POST_OFFICE_BOX,CITY_NAME,STATE_CODE,STATE_NAME,REGION_CODE,REGION_NAME,COUNTRY_CODE,COUNTRY_NAME,POSTAL_CODE,PHONE_NUM,FAX_NUM,CSCN_HIER1_CODE,CSCN_HIER1_NAME,CSCN_HIER2_CODE,CSCN_HIER2_NAME,CSCN_HIER3_CODE,CSCN_HIER3_NAME,CSCN_HIER4_CODE,CSCN_HIER4_NAME,CSCN_HIER5_CODE,CSCN_HIER5_NAME,CSCN_HIER6_CODE,CSCN_HIER6_NAME,ACTIVE_FLG,CREATED_BY_WID,CHANGED_BY_WID,CREATED_ON_DT,CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX1_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX2_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX3_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX4_CHANGED_ON_DT,SRC_EFF_FROM_DT,SRC_EFF_TO_DT,EFFECTIVE_FROM_DT,EFFECTIVE_TO_DT,DELETE_FLG,CURRENT_FLG,W_INSERT_DT,W_UPDATE_DT,DATASOURCE_NUM_ID,ETL_PROC_WID,INTEGRATION_ID,SET_ID,TENANT_ID,X_CUSTOM')
- length(replace('ROW_WID,COST_CENTER_NUM,COST_CENTER_NAME,COST_CENTER_DESC,CONTROL_AREA_NUM,CONTROL_AREA_NAME,CATEGORY_CODE,CATEGORY_NAME,CATEGORY_DESC,MANAGER_NAME,CURRENCY_CODE,CURRENCY_NAME,LANGUAGE_CODE,LANGUAGE_NAME,ST_ADDRESS1,ST_ADDRESS2,POST_OFFICE_BOX,CITY_NAME,STATE_CODE,STATE_NAME,REGION_CODE,REGION_NAME,COUNTRY_CODE,COUNTRY_NAME,POSTAL_CODE,PHONE_NUM,FAX_NUM,CSCN_HIER1_CODE,CSCN_HIER1_NAME,CSCN_HIER2_CODE,CSCN_HIER2_NAME,CSCN_HIER3_CODE,CSCN_HIER3_NAME,CSCN_HIER4_CODE,CSCN_HIER4_NAME,CSCN_HIER5_CODE,CSCN_HIER5_NAME,CSCN_HIER6_CODE,CSCN_HIER6_NAME,ACTIVE_FLG,CREATED_BY_WID,CHANGED_BY_WID,CREATED_ON_DT,CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX1_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX2_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX3_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX4_CHANGED_ON_DT,SRC_EFF_FROM_DT,SRC_EFF_TO_DT,EFFECTIVE_FROM_DT,EFFECTIVE_TO_DT,DELETE_FLG,CURRENT_FLG,W_INSERT_DT,W_UPDATE_DT,DATASOURCE_NUM_ID,ETL_PROC_WID,INTEGRATION_ID,SET_ID,TENANT_ID,X_CUSTOM',',')))+1 total_cols
from dual)) a, (select ','||'ROW_WID,COST_CENTER_NUM,COST_CENTER_NAME,COST_CENTER_DESC,CONTROL_AREA_NUM,CONTROL_AREA_NAME,CATEGORY_CODE,CATEGORY_NAME,CATEGORY_DESC,MANAGER_NAME,CURRENCY_CODE,CURRENCY_NAME,LANGUAGE_CODE,LANGUAGE_NAME,ST_ADDRESS1,ST_ADDRESS2,POST_OFFICE_BOX,CITY_NAME,STATE_CODE,STATE_NAME,REGION_CODE,REGION_NAME,COUNTRY_CODE,COUNTRY_NAME,POSTAL_CODE,PHONE_NUM,FAX_NUM,CSCN_HIER1_CODE,CSCN_HIER1_NAME,CSCN_HIER2_CODE,CSCN_HIER2_NAME,CSCN_HIER3_CODE,CSCN_HIER3_NAME,CSCN_HIER4_CODE,CSCN_HIER4_NAME,CSCN_HIER5_CODE,CSCN_HIER5_NAME,CSCN_HIER6_CODE,CSCN_HIER6_NAME,ACTIVE_FLG,CREATED_BY_WID,CHANGED_BY_WID,CREATED_ON_DT,CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX1_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX2_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX3_CHANGED_ON_DT,AUX4_CHANGED_ON_DT,SRC_EFF_FROM_DT,SRC_EFF_TO_DT,EFFECTIVE_FROM_DT,EFFECTIVE_TO_DT,DELETE_FLG,CURRENT_FLG,W_INSERT_DT,W_UPDATE_DT,DATASOURCE_NUM_ID,ETL_PROC_WID,INTEGRATION_ID,SET_ID,TENANT_ID,X_CUSTOM'||',' all_cols from dual) b) c
start with curr = 1
connect by prior curr = prev
order by length(sys_connect_by_path(c.decode_prep,'-')) desc)
where rownum = 1
Edited by: Mac_Freak_Rahul on Nov 28, 2012 1:31 AM : in the first sql ')'
removed after desc in the last line so now this query will run and throw an error.

Answer 1

Clearly your error is because the string concatenation you are doing with sys_connect_by_path is exceeding the 4000 bytes permitted by SQL.
In that case you need to concatenate your data into a CLOB datatype, for which you'll need a CLOB aggregation function...
create or replace type clobagg_type as object
  text clob,
  static function ODCIAggregateInitialize(sctx in out clobagg_type) return number,
  member function ODCIAggregateIterate(self in out clobagg_type, value in clob) return number,
  member function ODCIAggregateTerminate(self in clobagg_type, returnvalue out clob, flags in number) return number,
  member function ODCIAggregateMerge(self in out clobagg_type, ctx2 in clobagg_type) return number
create or replace type body clobagg_type is
  static function ODCIAggregateInitialize(sctx in out clobagg_type) return number is
  begin
    sctx := clobagg_type(null) ;
    return ODCIConst.Success ;
  end;
  member function ODCIAggregateIterate(self in out clobagg_type, value in clob) return number is
  begin
    self.text := self.text || value ;
    return ODCIConst.Success;
  end;
  member function ODCIAggregateTerminate(self in clobagg_type, returnvalue out clob, flags in number) return number is
  begin
    returnValue := self.text;
    return ODCIConst.Success;
  end;
  member function ODCIAggregateMerge(self in out clobagg_type, ctx2 in clobagg_type) return number is
  begin
    self.text := self.text || ctx2.text;
    return ODCIConst.Success;
  end;
end;
create or replace function clobagg(input clob) return clob
  deterministic
  parallel_enable
  aggregate using clobagg_type;
SQL> select trim(',' from clobagg(ename||',')) as enames from emp;
ENAMES
SMITH,ALLEN,WARD,JONES,MARTIN,BLAKE,CLARK,SCOTT,KING,TURNER,ADAMS,JAMES,FORD,MILLER
SQL> ed
Wrote file afiedt.buf
  1  with t as
  2    (select 'PFL' c1, 0 c2,110 c3 from dual union all
  3     select 'LHL', 0 ,111 from dual union all
  4     select 'PHL', 1, 111 from dual union all
  5     select 'CHL', 2, 111 from dual union all
  6     select 'DHL', 0, 112 from dual union all
  7     select 'VHL', 1, 112 from dual union all
  8     select 'CPHL', 0, 114 from dual union all
  9     select 'WDCL', 1, 114 from dual union all
10     select 'AHL' ,2 ,114 from dual union all
11     select 'NFDL', 3, 114 from dual)
12  --
13  -- end of test data
14  --
15  select trim(clobagg(c1||' ')) as c1, c3
16  from (select * from t order by c3, c2)
17  group by c3
18* order by c3
SQL> /
C1                                     C3
PFL                                   110
LHL CHL PHL                           111
DHL VHL                               112
CPHL AHL NFDL WDCL                    114