Problem with IN OUT Number, OUT RefCursor for EF Model StoredProcedure call

Question

When I call a stored procedure using the EF Model and implicit binding via App.config which has three parameters i.e. 'IN Number', 'IN OUT Number' and 'OUT sys_refcursor', the 'IN OUT Number' is not set correctly on return from the procedure.
The 'IN OUT Number' is for an error code and is set to 12345 on input and is then set to 54321 by stored proceedure for return.
The correct value is returned when the call is via OracleCommand using implicit binding via App.config but remains unchanged when the call is via EF Model and implicit binding via App.config.
The ODP documentaion says you cannot have two OUT RefCursors when using EF Model but does not say you cannot have OUT RefCursor and other non-RefCursor OUT parameters.
The idea behind this type of procedure is to have multiple input parameters to configure and filter the stored procedure and an output result set that consists of an error code and a collection of result rows in a RefCursor.
I am using 11g R2 database and ODP 11g Release 2 (11.2.0.2.30) and ODAC Entity Framework beta.
The query uses Scott/tiger schema with parameters department code, error code and list of employees for department.
code:
PROCEDURE TEST_PARAMETERS
DEPT IN NUMBER,
ERROR_CODE IN OUT NUMBER,
DEPT_EMPLOYEES OUT sys_refcursor
AS
BEGIN
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('DEPT = [' || DEPT || ']');
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('ERROR_CODE = [' || ERROR_CODE || ']');
OPEN DEPT_EMPLOYEES for SELECT empno, ename from emp where deptno = DEPT;
-- set ERROR_CODE for return
ERROR_CODE := 54321;
END TEST_PARAMETERS;
The App.config for implicit RefCursor binding is as follows ...
<oracle.dataaccess.client>
<settings>
<add name="SCOTT.TEST_PARAMETERS.RefCursor.DEPT_EMPLOYEES"
value="implicitRefCursor bindinfo='mode=Output'" />
<add name="SCOTT.TEST_PARAMETERS.RefCursorMetaData.DEPT_EMPLOYEES.Column.0"
value="implicitRefCursor metadata='ColumnName=EMPNO;
          BaseColumnName=EMPNO;BaseSchemaName=SCOTT;BaseTableName=EMP;
          NATIVE_DATA_TYPE=number;ProviderType=Int32;
          PROVIDER_DB_TYPE=Int32;DataType=System.Int32;
          ColumnSize=4;NumericPrecision=10;
               NumericScale=3;AllowDBNull=false;IsKey=true'" />
<add name="SCOTT.TEST_PARAMETERS.RefCursorMetaData.DEPT_EMPLOYEES.Column.1"
value="implicitRefCursor metadata='ColumnName=ENAME;
          BaseColumnName=ENAME;BaseSchemaName=SCOTT;BaseTableName=EMP;
          NATIVE_DATA_TYPE=varchar2;ProviderType=Varchar2;
          PROVIDER_DB_TYPE=String;DataType=System.String;
          ColumnSize=10;AllowDBNull=true'" />
</settings>
</oracle.dataaccess.client>
When the call is via OracleCommand both outputs are correct i.e. ERROR_CODE gets set to 54321 and the correct emplyees for department 10 are returned
code:
private void TestParametersViaOracleCommand()
try
string constr = "DATA SOURCE=ORCL;PASSWORD=tiger;PERSIST SECURITY INFO=True;USER ID=SCOTT";
OracleConnection con = new OracleConnection(constr);
con.Open();
OracleCommand cmd = con.CreateCommand();
OracleDataAdapter adapter = new OracleDataAdapter(cmd);
DataSet ds = new DataSet();
cmd = con.CreateCommand();
cmd.CommandText = "SCOTT.TEST_PARAMETERS";
cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
cmd.BindByName = true;
OracleParameter dept = cmd.Parameters.Add("DEPT",
OracleDbType.Int32,
ParameterDirection.Input);
dept.Value = 10;
OracleParameter errorCode = cmd.Parameters.Add("ERROR_CODE",
OracleDbType.Int32,
ParameterDirection.InputOutput);
errorCode.Value = 12345;
// RefCursor output parameter implicitly bound via App.Config
adapter = new OracleDataAdapter(cmd);
adapter.Fill(ds);
// should be 54321 and is ...
Console.WriteLine("after call errorCode.Value = " + errorCode.Value);
Console.WriteLine("list size = {0}", ds.Tables[0].Rows.Count);
// only one table
DataTable deptEmployeesTable = ds.Tables[0];
for (int ii = 0; ii < deptEmployeesTable.Rows.Count; ++ii)
DataRow row = deptEmployeesTable.Rows[ii];
Console.WriteLine("EMPNO: " + row[0] + "; ENAME: " + row[1]);
catch (Exception ex)
// Output the message
Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
if (ex.InnerException != null)
// If any details are available regarding
// errors in the app.config, print them out
Console.WriteLine(ex.InnerException.Message);
if (ex.InnerException.InnerException != null)
Console.WriteLine(
ex.InnerException.InnerException.Message);
output:
before call errorCode.Value = 12345
after call errorCode.Value = 54321 (should be 54321!)
list size = 3
EMPNO: 7782; ENAME: CLARK
EMPNO: 7839; ENAME: KING
EMPNO: 7934; ENAME: MILLER
However when call is via EF Model the correct employees are returned but the ERROR_CODE parameter is unchanged on return.
code:
private void TestParametersViaEFModel()
var context = new ScottEntities();
Decimal dept = 10;
ObjectParameter errorCodeParameter = new ObjectParameter("ERROR_CODE", typeof(decimal));
errorCodeParameter.Value = 12345;
Console.WriteLine("before call errorCodeParameter.Value = " + errorCodeParameter.Value);
// RefCursor output parameter implicitly bound via App.Config
var queryResult = context.TestParameters(dept, errorCodeParameter);
// should be 54321 and is ...
Console.WriteLine("after call errorCodeParameter.Value = " + errorCodeParameter.Value + " (should be 54321!)");
List<TestParameters_Result> deptEmployeesList = queryResult.ToList();
Console.WriteLine("list size = {0}", deptEmployeesList.Count);
for (int ii = 0; ii < deptEmployeesList.Count; ++ii)
TestParameters_Result result = deptEmployeesList[ii];
Console.WriteLine("EMPNO: " + result.EMPNO + "; ENAME: " + result.ENAME);
output:
after call errorCodeParameter.Value = 12345 (should be 54321!)
list size = 3
EMPNO: 7782; ENAME: CLARK
EMPNO: 7839; ENAME: KING
EMPNO: 7934; ENAME: MILLER
errorCodeParameter.Value IS NOT CORRECTLY RETURNED!
If there is no RefCursor then both outputs are identical i.e. the parameters are being passed in correctly and the problem is not with the 'IN OUT' parameter. Also same thing is true if ERROR_CODE is made an OUT parameter. Also tried changing the position of the parameter in the list but still get same problem i.e. works when OracleCommand but not when EF Model. Also note that the RefCursor results are correct for both types of call i.e. it is just a problem with the value of the 'IN OUT ERROR_CODE' parameter.
I have also enabled debug stepping from Visual Studio 2010 into Oracle PL/SQL as described in
"http://st-curriculum.oracle.com/obe/db/hol08/dotnet/debugging/debugging_otn.htm"
and have verified by inspection that the correct values are being passed into the stored procedure and that the stored procedure is definitely setting the ERROR_CODE to 54321 prior to return.
Most of our stored procedures have these type of parameters i.e. several IN params to configure the work of the stored procedure, an OUT NUMBER parameter for the Error_Code if any and a RefCursor for the result list.
Is this a bug or a feature? Am I doing something wrong?

Answer 1

Just to clarify ....
If the ERROR_CODE parameter is made an 'OUT' parameter instead of an 'IN OUT' parameter the correct return value is given for the OracleCommand invocation but the WRONG value is still returned for the EF Model invocation i.e. just changing the parameter from 'IN OUT' to just 'OUT' does not fix the problem.