Plsql - varray in a varray doubt/issue

Question

Hi,
My Oracle version:
Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.2.0.1.0 - 64bit Production
PL/SQL Release 11.2.0.1.0 - Production
"CORE     11.2.0.1.0     Production"
TNS for Linux: Version 11.2.0.1.0 - Production
NLSRTL Version 11.2.0.1.0 - Production
Please find the code below:
create or replace
procedure p_varray_test
AS
type t_va_emp_group_sal is varray(10) of number(9);
type t_2d_VA is varray(2) of t_va_emp_group_sal;
L2DVAv_test t_2d_VA := t_2d_VA(t_va_emp_group_sal(11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19));
begin
L2DVAv_test.extend;
L2DVAv_test(2)(1) := 21;
dbms_output.put_line(L2DVAv_test(2)(1));
end;
its getting compiled but when I am trying to run it, I am getting the following error:
ORA-06532: Subscript outside of limit
please help me with this issue.
Now if I modify the code something like this:
create or replace
procedure p_varray_test
AS
type t_va_emp_group_sal is varray(10) of number(9);
type t_2d_VA is varray(2) of t_va_emp_group_sal;
L2DVAv_test t_2d_VA := t_2d_VA(t_va_emp_group_sal(11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19),t_va_emp_group_sal(11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19));
begin
L2DVAv_test.extend;
L2DVAv_test(2)(1) := 21;
dbms_output.put_line(L2DVAv_test(2)(1));
end;
this code is perfectly working fine for me but I want to understand why am i getting the error above.
Regards
Rahul

Answer 1

Let's start with your second (working) example first:
L2DVAv_test t_2d_VA := t_2d_VA(t_va_emp_group_sal(11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19),t_va_emp_group_sal(11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19));Now you have an "outer" varray initialized with two elements. Each of those two elements are initialized with an "inner" varray each with 9 elements.
L2DVAv_test.extend;The "outer" varray has now been extended with a third element. That third element is as yet not initialized.
L2DVAv_test(2)(1) := 21;The value of first element of the "inner" varray in the second element of the "outer" varray is changed to 21.
So "11" in your second t_va_emp_group_sal expression is changed to 21.
Now your first example:
L2DVAv_test t_2d_VA := t_2d_VA(t_va_emp_group_sal(11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19));Now you have an "outer" varray initialized with one element. That single element is initialized with an "inner" varray each with 9 elements.
L2DVAv_test.extend;The "outer" varray has now been extended with a second element. That second element is as yet not initialized.
L2DVAv_test(2)(1) := 21;L2DVAv_test(2) will get you the second element of the "outer" varray.
But that element is not yet initialized, so you cannot reference "the first element of the inner varray" here.
But this should work after your extend:
L2DVAv_test(2) := t_va_emp_group_sal(21);Now you are initializing an "inner" varray with one element and assigning that newly initialized varray to become the second element of the "outer" varray.