How to return a dataset using PL/SQL?

Question

Hi All,
I am a beginner in PL/SQL for Oracle 9i.
I am converting a stored procedure written in T-SQL for SQL 2000.
It basically goes like this:
CREATE PROCEDURE CS_CidGetData
@City varchar(30)
AS
SET NOCOUNT ON
BEGIN
SELECT
FROM
UserAccounts
WHERE
City LIKE @City + '%'
END
When this procedure is executed it sucessfully returns all the Users that match the criteria.
In PL/SQL tried:
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE USERACCOUNTSSELECT
v_City IN UserAccounts.City%TYPE
AS
BEGIN
SELECT
FROM
UserAccounts
WHERE
City LIKE v_City +'%';
END;
I need the stored procedure return a dataset back to the calling application.
I realize I must define a return variable and use an INTO clause.
Can anybody please show me how to do it?
Thanks,
Amintas

Answer 1

Hi everybody,
Thank you very much for your support.
I have finally figured out how to do it.
Here is the code just in case someone has the same question.
You can test it using the default built-in database.
Cheers,
Amintas
create or replace package pkg_emp
AS
type rc_emp is ref cursor;
end;
create or replace
procedure SP_GetEmpData(v_empno IN emp.empno%Type,
v_ename IN emp.ename%Type,
emp_cur OUT pkg_emp.rc_emp)
is
begin
if v_empno is not null and v_ename is null then
OPEN emp_cur for
select empno,ename,sal
from emp
where empno=v_empno;
elsif v_ename is not null and v_empno is null then
OPEN emp_cur for
select empno,ename,sal
from emp
where ename like v_ename ||'%';
end if;
end;
/* Testing the stored procedure */
/*#1 */
var myresultset refcursor;
execute SP_GetEmpData(7900,null,:myresultset);
print myresultset;
/*#2 */
var myresultset refcursor;
execute SP_GetEmpData(null,'A',:myresultset);
print myresultset;