Creating an OLAP cursor with a dynamic SQL

Question

The create sql cursor command
SQL declare cursor_name cursor for Select col_name from table_name does not take a dynamic sql.
Is there a way to execute a sql dynamically like
SQL declare cursor_name cursor for 'Select col_name from table_name'
I tried using the prepare statement command but i could not get the statement execution to the cursor. I am working on Oracle OLAP version 9.2.0.5.0
Thanks in advance
Ajesh A

Answer 1

One method I'm familiar with is OPEN...FOR. You can do something like this (untested but should be close in any case):
DECLARE
  tabname VARCHAR2(100) := 'mytable';
  colaval VARCHAR2(100);
  colbval VARCHAR2(100);
  colcval VARCHAR2(100) := 'somesearchval';
  TYPE MyCurTyp IS REF CURSOR;
  my_cur MyCurTyp;
BEGIN
  OPEN my_cur
    FOR 'SELECT cola, colb FROM ' || tabname || ' WHERE colc=:1'
    USING colcval;
  LOOP
    FETCH my_cur INTO colaval, colvbal;
    EXIT WHEN my_cur%NOTFOUND;
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUTLINE('cola: ' || colaval || ' colb: ' || colbval);
  END LOOP;
END;
/The PL/SQL User's Guide is invaluable when working in PL/SQL. Here's the section on ref cursors:
http://download-east.oracle.com/docs/cd/B19306_01/appdev.102/b14261/sqloperations.htm#sthref1392
For problems not covered by the documentation, you may find that for general SQL and PL/SQL programming advice not specifically related to OLAP that there will be more knowledge in some of the more general forums here.