Oracle SQL Query from EXCEL 2007 with prompt

Question

Hello,
I have many excel reports where I am pulling information from our Oracle 9 db through Excel using the following method:
http://blog.mclaughlinsoftware.com/microsoft-excel/how-to-query-oracle-from-excel-2007/
http://blog.mclaughlinsoftware.com/2009/11/30/sql-query-in-excel-2007/
However, I am having trouble when I try the following query due to the prompt:
SELECT
IM.ITEM_GROUP,
IM.ITEM,
IM.DESCRIPTION
FROM
LAWSON.ITEMMAST IM
WHERE
IM.ITEM = '&ITEM';
Does any one know how I can connect a prompt to an excel cell and then pass the query on to Oracle, or have a PL SQL prompt work from Excel?
Thanks,
Ben

Answer 1

The 'prompt' as you call it is a sqlplus feature, so does not belong to the SQL language
You would need to write a stored procedure returning a resultset.
create or replace procedure foo(rc in out sys_refcursor, p_item) as
begin
open rc for
'SELECT
IM.ITEM_GROUP,
IM.ITEM,
IM.DESCRIPTION
FROM
LAWSON.ITEMMAST IM
WHERE
IM.ITEM = '||p_item;
end;
and call that using ODBC or asp.net
Obviously this is profusely documented.
Sybrand Bakker
Senior Oracle DBA