How do i return data, when my sql was opened in a ref cursor.

Question

In Pl/sql, I was been bunged in the following situation:
I am opening a ref cursor, where i couldn't determine the return type. In that case how will i return the data for those sql.
Sample code :
Declare
Type a_ref IS REF CURSOR;
C1 a_ref;
Begin
Open c1 for ‘select a, b, c from D’;
Fetch c1 into ??????;
Close c1;
End;
My doubt resides in ??? part..
The columns in the select clause will vary dynamically.
Hence how can I declare my variable..
Regards,
Bala

Answer 1

Well, nothing is over to change mind if possible. I think the knowledge of
alternatives is always useful... :).
As for DBMS_SQL, it's an alternative to ref cursors too, but surely inside PL/SQL:
SQL> declare
  2   c integer;
  3   desc_t DBMS_SQL.DESC_TAB;
  4   col_cnt integer;
  5   type gvarray is varray(25) of varchar(40);
  6   values1 gvarray := gvarray();
  7   a integer;
  8  begin
  9   values1.extend(25);
10   c := dbms_sql.open_cursor;
11   DBMS_SQL.PARSE(c,'select hiredate,ename from emp' ,DBMS_SQL.NATIVE);
12   DBMS_SQL.DESCRIBE_COLUMNS (
13     c,
14     col_cnt,
15     desc_t);
16   for j in 1..col_cnt loop
17     dbms_sql.define_column(c,j,values1(j),40);
18   end loop;
19   a:=dbms_sql.execute(c);
20   loop
21     if dbms_sql.fetch_rows(c) > 0 then
22      for j in 1..col_cnt loop
23        dbms_sql.column_value(c,j,values1(j));
24        dbms_output.put_line('Row number ' || j || ', column ' || desc_t(j).col_name || ', value
25        || values1(j) );
26      end loop;
27     else
28       exit;
29     end if;
30   end loop;
31   dbms_sql.close_cursor(c);
32  end;
33  /
Row number 1, column HIREDATE, value 17.12.80
Row number 2, column ENAME, value SMITH
Row number 1, column HIREDATE, value 20.02.81
Row number 2, column ENAME, value ALLEN
Row number 1, column HIREDATE, value 22.02.81
Row number 2, column ENAME, value WARD
Row number 1, column HIREDATE, value 02.04.81
Row number 2, column ENAME, value JONES
Row number 1, column HIREDATE, value 28.09.81
Row number 2, column ENAME, value MARTIN
Row number 1, column HIREDATE, value 01.05.81
Row number 2, column ENAME, value BLAKE
Row number 1, column HIREDATE, value 09.06.81
Row number 2, column ENAME, value CLARK
Row number 1, column HIREDATE, value 19.04.87
Row number 2, column ENAME, value SCOTT
Row number 1, column HIREDATE, value 17.11.81
Row number 2, column ENAME, value KING
Row number 1, column HIREDATE, value 08.09.81
Row number 2, column ENAME, value TURNER
Row number 1, column HIREDATE, value 23.05.87
Row number 2, column ENAME, value ADAMS
Row number 1, column HIREDATE, value 03.12.81
Row number 2, column ENAME, value JAMES
Row number 1, column HIREDATE, value 03.12.81
Row number 2, column ENAME, value FORD
Row number 1, column HIREDATE, value 23.01.82
Row number 2, column ENAME, value MILLER
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.Rgds.