From TOAD to Sql Developer

Question

Hi,
I've been a TOAD user for more then 5 years, now our office is switching us to SQL Developer. Is there a way, in SQL Developer, to display the content of a REF CURSOR? If so, how is it done?
Thanks in advance,
Marc

Answer 1

Hi Marc,
From SQL Developer's Help menu (used version 3.0.04.34), just click on Search and enter "ref cursor". One result with a nice REF CURSOR example is "Cursor Variables". Scroll down to "Example: Fetching Data with Cursor Variable".
Or read more about it on the SQL and PL/SQL forum:
PL/SQL 101 : Understanding Ref Cursors
Or, as a quick example, create a function in the SCOTT schema that returns a sys_refcursor:
create or replace function get_employees return sys_refcursor as
ret_cursor sys_refcursor;
begin
open ret_cursor for
select * from emp;
return ret_cursor;
end get_employees;
Then, from a worksheet, use Run Script (the Run Statement produces a hard-to-read result for the select) on:
select get_employees() from dual;
or...
variable v_ref_cursor refcursor;
exec :v_ref_cursor := get_employees();
print :v_ref_cursor
Regards,
Gary Graham
SQL Developer Team
Edited by: gggraham on Jul 28, 2011 1:44 PM