Dereferencing in a method

Question

Hello,
If I create these simple object types :
create type Article_t as object
( artno integer
, title varchar2(100)
, price           Money_t
create type OrderItem_t as object
( article     REF Article_t
, qty          integer
, member function subtotal (cur in varchar2) return Money_t
The method 'subtotal' could look like :
create type body OrderItem_t as
member function subtotal (cur in varchar2) return Money_t is
m Money_t
begin
m := article.price ;
... --- compute the article price
return m ;
end subtotal ;
end;
But the instruction 'm := article.price' is subject to a compilation error ! Does it mean that I cannot use the dereferencing operator in a procedural statement ???
Must I use a select statement ???
Thanks,
Rigis

Answer 1

Regis,
You cannot navigate through refs within PL/SQL procedural statements. Instead, you must use the function DEREF in a SQL statement. For more information, check out the documentation at http://download-west.oracle.com/otndoc/oracle9i/901_doc/appdev.901/a89856/10_objs.htm#8348.
Regards,
Geoff
Hello,
If I create these simple object types :
create type Article_t as object
( artno integer
, title varchar2(100)
, price           Money_t
create type OrderItem_t as object
( article     REF Article_t
, qty          integer
, member function subtotal (cur in varchar2) return Money_t
The method 'subtotal' could look like :
create type body OrderItem_t as
member function subtotal (cur in varchar2) return Money_t is
m Money_t
begin
m := article.price ;
... --- compute the article price
return m ;
end subtotal ;
end;
But the instruction 'm := article.price' is subject to a compilation error ! Does it mean that I cannot use the dereferencing operator in a procedural statement ???
Must I use a select statement ???
Thanks,
Rigis