Multiple inputs from a user using the same variable !

Question

Hi Folks,
I am trying out the following code block,which should ask the users to enter 3 different names using '&' operator & assign it to a variable v_ename every time the loop executes.
declare
type ename_table_type is table of
emp.ename%type
index by binary_integer
ename_table ename_table_type
begin
for i in 1..3 loop
ename_table( i ):= '&v_ename';
dbms_output.put_line(ename_table(i));
end loop;
end
The above code accepts a single input from the user & assigns the same input 3 times to "ename_table".thus the output shows the same name 3 times.
Is it possible that we can have the user input 3 different names & then print them using the concept of Index by binary_integer ?
Please help
Thanks
Om

Answer 1

Server side PL/SQL is NOT designed for this kind of user interaction.
the "&" character is intrepreted by the SQL*Plus application and before the PL/SQL block is submitted to the DB by the SQL*Plus application, it replaces each appearance of the &variable with the value entered. Once the block gets to the database, all it sees is a constant value - no more a variable name.
&variable_name is a SQL*Plus application thing, not the database.
Where will this type of logic will be eventually used? What client application will interact with the server side PL/SQL? You need to code this input logic in that client application.