Multi-select list to select with in clause

Question

I have a multi-select list that the user can select from. P200_NODE_SELECTION.
I take the value(s) of that list and parse them out in a process using this code:
declare
l_selected HTMLDB_APPLICATION_GLOBAL.VC_ARR2;
v_char varchar2(2000);
begin
l_selected:=HTMLDB_UTIL.STRING_TO_TABLE(to_char(:P200_NODE_SELECTION) );
for i in 1..l_selected.count
loop
if i=1
then
:P200_LIST_OF_NODES:=to_char(l_selected(i) );
else
:P200_LIST_OF_NODES:=to_char(:P200_LIST_OF_NODES)||','||to_char(l_selected(i) );
end if;
end loop;
end;
This PL/SQL is trying to create the in-list string to be used in as the LOV to populate another select list. The LOV query for the second multi-select list looks like this:
select instance_name DISP, instance_id RET
from instance
where to_char(node_id) in (:P200_LIST_OF_NODES)
I've tried this a couple of different ways. Without the to_char in the where clause (a terrible thing to do to a query I know) I get a numeric conversion error.
When I do it with the to_char, it works if I select one record in the multi-select list, but if there are more than one then the in list fails.
I'm sure there must be a better way to do this (or at least a way that works!).... anyone want to help me here?

Answer 1

Robert - Try  where instr(','||:P200_LIST_OF_NODES||',',','||to_char(node_id)||',') > 0...and do get rid of all those to_chars in the process.
Scott