How to index a varray of object type?

Question

Hello,
Is it possible to index a varray/Table type, which is of type of an object, like the way the scalar types are.
say, CREATE OR REPLACE
TYPE SAMPLE_TABLE AS TABLE OF Date index by binary_integer
But if I have to change the table type from Date to an object
lets say
create or replace TYPE SAMPLE_TYPE AS OBJECT (
id NUMBER(12),
value varchar2(12)
Will I be able to do
CREATE OR REPLACE
TYPE SAMPLE_TABLE AS TABLE OF SAMPLE_TYPE index by id
If not, is there a way it can be done, or is it a limitaion that it cant be done. Any pointers to this is highly appreciated.
Thanks

Answer 1

One way to do this...
SQL> drop type profile_options_object_array
  2  /
SQL> drop type profile_options_object
  2  /
SQL> drop table t
  2  /
SQL>
SQL> CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE profile_options_object AS OBJECT(
  2  option_name VARCHAR2(100),
  3  option_value VARCHAR(200)
  4  );
  5  /
SQL> CREATE OR REPLACE TYPE profile_options_object_array AS VARRAY(32000) OF profile_options_object;
  2  /
SQL>
SQL> create table t
  2  (x varchar2(10)
  3  ,y varchar2(10)
  4  );
SQL> insert into t values ('name1', 'value1');
SQL> insert into t values ('name2', 'value2');
SQL> commit;
SQL>
SQL> select profile_options_object (x, y)
  2    from t
  3  /
PROFILE_OPTIONS_OBJECT(X,Y)(OPTION_NAME, OPTION_VALUE)
PROFILE_OPTIONS_OBJECT('name1', 'value1')
PROFILE_OPTIONS_OBJECT('name2', 'value2')
SQL> declare
  2     profile_options  profile_options_object_array;
  3     idx pls_integer;
  4  begin
  5     select profile_options_object (x, y)
  6       bulk collect
  7       into profile_options
  8       from t
  9     ;
10    idx := profile_options.first;
11    while idx is not null
12    loop
13      dbms_output.put_line (profile_options(idx).option_name); 
14      dbms_output.put_line (profile_options(idx).option_value);
15      idx := profile_options.next(idx);
16    end loop;
17  end;
18  /
name1
value1
name2
value2
SQL>