MetaData For Database View Columns How ??

Question

SELECT * FROM user_tabs_columns WHERE table_name = 'EMPLOYEES';
The above query will return column information like data_type, lenght etc for the columns in the EMPLOYEE table, how can one retrieve such information on the columns / fields in a view instead of a table. I have views built from several tables, and I use the data returned from quering the views as records displayed to the user in an AJAX application, using the data-grid widget in the said AJAX library. If the user has rights to edit the records, I need to use specific ajax widgets (like a date widget) to edit a field if the datatype information provided by the database is DATE or DATETIME, if the field is nullable, I can permit the user to enter nothing, and I can restrict input length to the lenght of the column. But since the record is spread across several tables and pulled out from a view, I therfore need a way to get the column information on the said view.
How can this be achieved.
Thanks.
Charles Odili.

Answer 1

You should still be able to use the USER_TAB_COLUMNS view to obtain this information. I did a quick test below:
SQL> create view test as select * from all_objects;
View created.
SQL> select table_name,column_name from user_tab_columns where table_name='TEST';
TABLE_NAME                     COLUMN_NAME
TEST                           OWNER
TEST                           OBJECT_NAME
TEST                           SUBOBJECT_NAME
TEST                           OBJECT_ID
TEST                           DATA_OBJECT_ID
TEST                           OBJECT_TYPE
TEST                           CREATED
TEST                           LAST_DDL_TIME
TEST                           TIMESTAMP
TEST                           STATUS
TEST                           TEMPORARY
TEST                           GENERATED
TEST                           SECONDARY
13 rows selected.
SQL> spool off;