Instead of Trigger for tabular form

Question

I have a tabular layout on a form that returns data from a database view. Based on user interaction I would like to update the underlying view records that are returned by a query in the form using an INSTEAD OF trigger. I have my trigger working, however I can only get it to update the first record of the tabular layout item on the form. I realize that INSTEAD OF triggers are row level triggers, but is there a way to get this trigger to fire for multiple records? I've written a simple update statement in the form that updates the view: update newborn.nb_ltfu_positive_v
set export_dt = sysdate
where barcode = :nb_ltfu_positive_v.barcode;
and my INSTEAD OF trigger looks like this: if :old.export_dt <> :new.export_dt then
update nbpat set export_dt = sysdate
where spec = :old.spec;
end if;
if :old.export_dt <> :new.export_dt then
update nbhear_audiotest set export_dt = sysdate
where barcode = :old.barcode;
end if;
Do I need to do some looping in the trigger?
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Answer 1

No you cannot do any looping in the database trigger. The database trigger will for every record which is involved in an UPDATE issued againt the view.
The problem is your code inside the form. In general you do not issue "manual" update against a table/view in forms, but let forms do so. So, if you want to update a record in a tabular block in forms you would just assign the new value to the forms-item, such as
:BLOCK.EXPORT_DT:=SYSDATE;in your example. This code marks the "active" reocrd in the block as "to be updated" in the next transactions, mean when the user presses "Save". If you want to update multiple records in forms, this is either done when the user navigates between different record and then does some changes in the block-fields, or if you want to do it "programmatical", by looping over the block, something like:
FIRST_RECORD;
LOOP
  EXIT WHEN :SYSTEM.RECORD_STATUS ='NEW';
  -- do some stuff on the current record, exampel code
  :BLOCK.EXPORT_DT:=SYSDATE;
  EXIT WHEN :SYSTEM.LAST_RECORD='TRUE';
  NEXT_RECORD;
END LOOP;hope this helps