Package in all_objects shows invalid but compiles fine

Question

I have a package with 2 procedures. the package compiles fine and executes without error.
when i looked at dba_objects, it showed the package and 2 procedures within as invalid. i compiled the package through sqlplus and the package name dissapeared from the list of invalid objects but the procedures remained.
any body have any idea what could be causing this?
10.2

Answer 1

Even though you've got it sorted now, remember the following.
A package can have an "invalid" status without actually having any errors in it.
If an object changes (i.e. table dropped and recreated etc.) that the package has a dependency on, then the package is marked as "invalid" indicating that it needs recompilation. You can either manually recompile the package, or you can just make a call to the package which will automatically compile the package.
SQL> create table t (x number);
Table created.
SQL> create package mypackage as
  2    procedure myproc;
  3  end;
  4  /
Package created.
SQL> create package body mypackage as
  2    procedure myproc is
  3      cursor mycur is
  4        select count(*) from t;
  5      v_cnt number;
  6    begin
  7      open mycur;
  8      fetch mycur into v_cnt;
  9      close mycur;
10      dbms_output.put_line('Count: '||v_cnt);
11    end;
12  end;
13  /
Package body created.
SQL> exec mypackage.myproc;
Count: 0
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL> drop table t purge;
Table dropped.
SQL> create table t (x number, y number);
Table created.
SQL> select object_type, status
  2  from user_objects
  3  where object_name = 'MYPACKAGE'
  4  and object_type like 'PACKAGE%';
OBJECT_TYPE         STATUS
PACKAGE             VALID
PACKAGE BODY        INVALID
SQL> exec mypackage.myproc;
Count: 0
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL> select object_type, status
  2  from user_objects
  3  where object_name = 'MYPACKAGE'
  4  and object_type like 'PACKAGE%';
OBJECT_TYPE         STATUS
PACKAGE             VALID
PACKAGE BODY        VALID
SQL> drop table t purge;
Table dropped.
SQL> create table t (x number);
Table created.
SQL> select object_type, status
  2  from user_objects
  3  where object_name = 'MYPACKAGE'
  4  and object_type like 'PACKAGE%';
OBJECT_TYPE         STATUS
PACKAGE             VALID
PACKAGE BODY        INVALID
SQL> alter package mypackage compile;
Package altered.
SQL> select object_type, status
  2  from user_objects
  3  where object_name = 'MYPACKAGE'
  4  and object_type like 'PACKAGE%';
OBJECT_TYPE         STATUS
PACKAGE             VALID
PACKAGE BODY        VALID
SQL> exec mypackage.myproc;
Count: 0
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL>There's also the issue of session states (the one where you get the message "Package state has been discarded" and you app falls over), but that's another kettle of fish which I won't explain here.
;)