PLS-S-00487, Invalid reference to variable while compiling PRO*C program

Question

Hi,
I am writing a PRO*C code and get an error in compilation.
Code is as below:
+#include <stdio.h>+
+#include <string.h>+
EXEC SQL INCLUDE sqlca.h;
int main(int argc , char **argv)
+{+
int i;
EXEC SQL BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
VARCHAR connString[100];
struct emp_record
+{+
char name[25];
char dept[10];
int id;
int salary;
int comm;
int tot_sal;
+}e1;+
EXEC SQL END DECLARE SECTION;
strcpy (connString.arr, "abcd/efgh@ijkl");
connString.len = strlen ( connString.arr);
+printf("\n Connection is [%d][%s]",connString.len,connString.arr);+
+EXEC SQL CONNECT :connString;+
+if(sqlca.sqlcode!=0)+
+{+
+printf("\nFailed to Connect, sqlcode is %d\n",sqlca.sqlcode);+
+printf("\nOracle Message = %s", sqlca.sqlerrm.sqlerrmc);+
+exit(-1);+
+}+
+else+
+{+
+printf("\nConnected\n");+
+}+
+EXEC SQL EXECUTE+
+BEGIN+
+emp_calc ( :e1.name,+
+:e1.id,+
+:e1.salary,+
+:e1.tot_sal+
+);+
+END;+
+END-EXEC;+
+if(sqlca.sqlcode!=0)+
+{+
+printf("Oracle Error:[%d][%s]",sqlca.sqlcode,sqlca.sqlerrm.sqlerrmc);+
+}+
+}+
Procedure code is:
+CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE "EMP_CALC" (+
+pi_empname in emp.ename%type,+
+pi_empno in emp.empno%type,+
+pi_sal in emp.sal%type,+
+po_totsal out NUMBER)+
+is+
+begin+
+po_totsal := 1.1 * pi_sal;+
+dbms_output.put_line('Total Salary is:' || po_totsal);+
+end;+
*My main aim is to use elements of a structure in procedure call as parameters*
*But when I compile I get error on such usage as follows:*
Pro*C/C++: Release 11.2.0.3.0 - Production on Tue Apr 30 16:59:22 2013
Copyright (c) 1982, 2011, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
System default option values taken from: /mtsapp1/ora11g/product/11.2.0.3/dbhome_1/precomp/admin/pcscfg.cfg
Error at line 52, column 20 in file singleStructOra.pc
emp_calc ( :e1.name,
...................1
PLS-S-00487, Invalid reference to variable 'E1'
Error at line 52, column 1 in file singleStructOra.pc
emp_calc ( :e1.name,
1
PLS-S-00000, Statement ignored
Semantic error at line 50, column 1, file singleStructOra.pc:
BEGIN
1
PCC-S-02346, PL/SQL found semantic errors
*I would like to know how to resolve this compilation error and how do I use members of structures in such a procedure call.*
Thanks....

Answer 1

Sadly PL/SQL blocks do not understand structs (or arrays). DML statements do understand them.
This is not very clearly stated in the manual, but it does say:
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/appdev.112/e10825/pc_08arr.htm#autoId33
Restrictions on Arrays of Structs
The following restrictions apply to the use of arrays of structs in Pro*C/C++:
Arrays of structs (just as with ordinary structs) are not permitted inside an embedded PL/SQL block.
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/appdev.112/e10825/pc_07pls.htm#autoId13
Do not use C pointer or array syntax in PL/SQL blocks. The PL/SQL compiler does not understand C host-variable expressions and is, therefore, unable to parse them.
Although the example uses an array of structs, simple structs also fail. I have always had to copy the fields to and from simple variables when calling stored procedures.
regards,
David