Executing proc from sqlplus.

Question

Hi all,
can you please let me know how to run a procedure with an OUT paramater using sqlplus?
I ran from Toad and got the output..but not able to do so in sqlplus.
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE IDM.GET_CAP_DATE
CAP_DATE OUT VARCHAR2
) IS.....................................
I tried the following from sqlplus
variable CAP_DATE VARCHAR2(100);
exec GET_CAP_DATE;
print :CAP_DATE;
Am I right in doing this?
Appreciate your help!
Thanks in advance!
MN

Answer 1

Hi,
You're almost right, but you need to use your variable when executing your procedure:
exec GET_CAP_DATE(:CAP_DATE);
Infact you're better off using a function instead:
- procedure usually 'do stuff'.
- a function always needs to return a value.
MHO%xe> create or replace procedure get_date_proc
  2  (p_date out date)
  3  as
  4  begin
  5    select sysdate
  6    into   p_date
  7    from   dual;
  8  end get_date_proc;
  9  /
Procedure is aangemaakt.
MHO%xe> set autoprint on
MHO%xe> var my_date varchar2(25)
MHO%xe> exec get_date_proc(:my_date);
PL/SQL-procedure is geslaagd.
MY_DATE
10-09-2009 20:39:42
MHO%xe> create or replace function get_date_func
  2  return date
  3  as
  4  begin
  5    return(sysdate);
  6  end get_date_func;
  7  /
Functie is aangemaakt.
MHO%xe> select get_date_func from dual;
GET_DATE_FUNC
10-09-2009 20:40:13
MHO%xe> exec :my_date := get_date_func
PL/SQL-procedure is geslaagd.
MY_DATE
10-09-2009 20:40:34And don't use strings to store dates, always use the DATE datatype for DATES.
Never store a date in a string.
The function can be selected from DUAL easily (procedures cannot) and your DATE still is a DATE.