DB proc - do you need to create a table to pass a ref cursor record type?

Question

I want to pass a limited selection of columns from a large table through a DB procedure using a REF CURSOR, returning a table rowtype:
CREATE OR REPLACE package XXVDF_XPOS_DS021_ITEMS AS
     TYPE XXVDF_XPOS_DS021_ITEM_ARRAY
     IS REF CURSOR
     return XXVDF_XPOS_DS021_ITEM_TABLE%ROWTYPE;
Do I need to create this dummy table?
I can't get a TYPE to work, where the type is an OBJECT with the desired columns in it.
So a dummy empty table will sit in the database...
Is there another way?
thanks!

Answer 1

You can use RECORD type declaration:
SQL> declare
  2   type rec_type is record (
  3    ename emp.ename%type,
  4    sal emp.sal%type
  5   );
  6   type rc is ref cursor return rec_type;
  7   rc1 rc;
  8   rec1 rec_type;
  9  begin
10   open rc1 for select ename, sal from emp;
11   loop
12    fetch rc1 into rec1;
13    exit when rc1%notfound;
14    dbms_output.put_line(rec1.ename || ' ' || rec1.sal);
15   end loop;
16   close rc1;
17  end;
18  /
SMITH 800
ALLEN 1600
WARD 1250
JONES 2975
MARTIN 1250
BLAKE 2850
CLARK 2450
SCOTT 3000
KING 5000
TURNER 1500
ADAMS 1100
JAMES 950
FORD 3000
MILLER 1300or use, for example, VIEW to declare rowtype:
SQL> create view dummy_view as select ename, sal from emp;
View created.
SQL> declare
  2   type rc is ref cursor return dummy_view%rowtype;
  3   rc1 rc;
  4   rec1 dummy_view%rowtype;
  5  begin
  6   open rc1 for select ename, sal from emp;
  7   loop
  8    fetch rc1 into rec1;
  9    exit when rc1%notfound;
10    dbms_output.put_line(rec1.ename || ' ' || rec1.sal);
11   end loop;
12   close rc1;
13  end;
14  /
SMITH 800
ALLEN 1600
WARD 1250
JONES 2975
MARTIN 1250
BLAKE 2850
CLARK 2450
SCOTT 3000
KING 5000
TURNER 1500
ADAMS 1100
JAMES 950
FORD 3000
MILLER 1300 Rgds.