Error while using execute immediate

Question

Hi,
I am trying to get the record count of a table. The table name is saved in a variable..
when i am writing the code like below its working fine.
SELECT count(*) into count1 FROM emp1;
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(count1);
but when i am using the code for the table name in variable its giving error
execute immediate 'SELECT count(*) into count1 FROM ' || t_name;
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(count1);
the error is
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-00905: missing keyword
ORA-06512: at "SYSTEM.TEST_COL", line 14
ORA-06512: at line 1
any help
Ashish

Answer 1

Interesting, the into count doesn't be a problem, but the count variable usage does :
SQL> set serveroutput on
SQL> l
  1  declare
  2     count number;
  3     t_name varchar2(30):='all_objects';
  4  begin
  5     execute immediate 'select count(*) from ' || t_name into count;
  6  exception when others then dbms_output.put_line(sqlcode||' : '||sqlerrm);
  7* end;
SQL> /
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL> declare
  2     count number;
  3     t_name varchar2(30):='all_objects';
  4  begin
  5     execute immediate 'select count(*) from ' || t_name into count;
  6     dbms_output.put_line(count);
  7  exception when others then dbms_output.put_line(sqlcode||' : '||sqlerrm);
  8* end;
SQL> /
   dbms_output.put_line(count);
ERROR at line 6:
ORA-06550: line 6, column 25:
PLS-00204: function or pseudo-column 'COUNT' may be used inside a SQL statement
only
ORA-06550: line 6, column 4:
PL/SQL: Statement ignoredNicolas.