PLSQL: String Buffer Overflow

Question

When I create a sql region or a plsql returning sql, I get an error: "ORA-06502: PL/SQL: numeric or value error: character string buffer too small". My query is pretty long. If I reduce the length of the query, it works fine without errors. I tried to run the same query in the sql workshop. There also I get the same error. Can I increase the buffer for the string? Is there anyway to tackle this situation?

Answer 1

Hi Scott
I found my mistake.
Many thanks for your reply, yes you are correct it is the SQL*Plus prompt of Oracle Apex. I have tried the operation on SQL*Plus as well, I get the same error. I am trying to implement a formula which looks something like this: (Calculates the Balance of a Mortgage)
A=L*(1-(1+r)^p-n) / 1-(1+r)^-n
L is the Loan i.e. L = $270,000
r is the interest rate in decimal format and per month so, 8% is r = 0.08/12
p is number of payments already made, say 6 months p=6
n total number of payments to be made say 360 months
so my statement becomes like this:
-- A=L*(1-(1+r)^p-n) / 1-(1+r)^-n
select 270000 * 1 - power((1+(0.08/12)), 6-360) / 1 - power((1+(0.08/12)),-360) from dual
which does return the correct value of:
269999.813394013370288801946710628610631
the balance of the loan after 6 payments
I think my problem was "operator precedence" , sorry!
But I think I must have hit a hard limit as the following does return a value.
SQL> select power(-0.002, -20) from dual
9.5367431640625000000000000000000000E+53
but
SQL> select power(-0.002, -200) from dual
ORA-01426: numeric overflow
Maybe too small to fit to an Oracle Number data type!?
Many Thanks
Kubilay