Existing state of packages has been discarded...

Question

Hi all,
I know this is a long shot and probably you need more details to help, but please take a look in case you've encountered something similar before... It is a pretty interesting problem.
Ok, I have two packages, say, A and B. Package A is composed of utility functions, and package B makes use of those functions. These packages are compiled as part of the schema installation, where package A is always compiled first. I also have unit test scripts for each procedure in each package.
Now, after schema installation, when I run the unit test for some procedures in package B, I get the following error:
ORA-04068: existing state of packages has been discarded
ORA-04065: not executed, altered or dropped stored procedure "my_schema.pkg_A"
ORA-06508: PL/SQL: could not find program unit being called
ORA-06512: at "my_schema.pkg_B", line 18
ORA-06512: at line 5
Some interesting notes:
- I can run the unit test of all pkg A procedures. I can also describe the package. Which seems to me that pkg A has been compiled successfully.
- If I log into a sqlplus session, run the unit test for a pkg B procedure, which then fails with the above message. Then I run a unit test of a pkg A proceudre, which succeeds. Then I run the same pkg B unit test, it will work then. And all the other pkg B procedures will work from this point on.
- But if I log out from sqlplus session, and log in again, and run the pkg B procedure unit test again, it will fail as before.
- Certain procedures in pkg B have no problem running. They also call pkg A procedures. However, the pkg A procedures are always invoked in the where or order by clauses in these cases. The pkg B procedures that call pkg A procedure in a standalone statement will always fail.
- The fact above made me suspect that function-based indexes (which were created using pkg A procedures) were used in cases where pkg B procedures work. And that in those cases pkg A hasn't really been invoked. However, when I monitor those indexes using v$object_usage, it shows they are not used. (I have a very small set of data.)
- After schema installation, if I compile pkg B again, the problem will disappear.
Does this ring a bell to anyone? Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Gloria Chung

Answer 1

Thanks for reading and responding.
I'm compiling both header and body for both packages.
I ran the following query after schema installation, which returned 0:
select count(*) from user_objects where status='INVALID';
The schema installation involved putting new copies of both package A and B.
If I only recompile the package body after installation, it will still 'cure' the problem. I.e. if I run any of the affected pkg B unit test, it will run successfully.
It is assumed there is no schema before 'schema installation'.
Thanks,
Gloria