Return data from all columns apart from a certain data type.

Question

Bit stuck on something, hope somebody here can help:
I want to do a 'select * from ' a table, to return all columns except ones of a certain datatype. ie. I want to return data from all columns, excluding columns of datatype 'SDO_GEOMETRY'.
This gives me the list of columns:
SELECT COLUMN_NAME
FROM   USER_TAB_COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_NAME = 'ORDER_ITEM'
AND   DATA_TYPE <> 'SDO_GEOMETRY'; But I can't seem to take it any further...
Now if I knew the columns beforehand, then of course I could just list them, excluding the geometry column, but this is to be used for a plug-in for MS Word, where a user can pick database columns to dynamically fill a report from - but I don't want the geometry columns as these can't be handled in this way.

Answer 1

Hi Reggie,
> connects to the database and presents a list of tables
My guess is that this macro is written so it selects from all_tab_cols.
Change that plugin and let it select from a view like the one above. That way, the users won't be able to see/pick anything that you are not able/willing to present for them.
Edit:
You could even tease your users, and let them see the columns, but not being able to pick them.
create or replace view available_tab_columns
as
   select decode(pickable.data_type, null, 0, 1) pickable
         ,atc.* -- narrow down yourself
     from all_tab_cols atc  -- or maybe user_tab_cols
         ,(select 'CHAR' data_type from dual union all
           select 'DATE' from dual union all
        select 'NUMBER' from dual
           -- complete positive list, yourself
          ) pickable
    where atc.data_type = pickable.data_type(+);Regards
Peter
Message was edited by:
Peter Gjelstrup