Dynamic sql giving error --please help

Question

Hi ,
I have written the following code --
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION tabcount (
tab IN VARCHAR2, field IN VARCHAR2 ,whr IN VARCHAR2)
RETURN INTEGER
IS
retval INTEGER;
BEGIN
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE ('whr' ||whr);
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE ('field1' ||field);
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE
' SELECT COUNT(*) FROM ' || tab ||
' WHERE ' || field || 'like '/'%'||whr ||'%'/''
INTO retval;
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE ('countis!' ||retVal);
RETURN retval;
END tabcount;
It is giving the following error--
ORA-00920: invalid relational operator
ORA-06512: at "TABCOUNT", line 10
ORA-06512: at line 2
I am not sure how to enclose the like operator within the single quotes.Double quotes is not working for me.
Thanx in advance,
Ira

Answer 1

Offhand, it looks like you may still have some syntax problems -- probably need a blank space before the WHERE --maybe some other stuff too.
What you need to do to debug it is this (and this works just about anytime you are having trouble with dynamic SQL):
1. store the sql statement in a variable.
2. Use DBMS_OUTPUT to display your select statement BEFORE calling execute immediate.
3. copy/paste that select into a separate window and run/debug it.
4. Once you know what is wrong with that statement, go back and fix the code accordingly.
Have fun,
--scott