Sqlplus exit with bind variable gives error

Question

Hi,
I want to return the ID-value from an insert-statement back to the OS, but I can't catch it properly in a variable to exit that variabel. here's the script:
variable logid NUMBER;
select id_seq.nextval into :logid from dual;
-- insert into Tab_A .....
---values :logid..... -> nothing to do with the problem
exit :logid;
I get this:
SP2-0670: Internal number conversion failed
To make a minimum test, I do:
variable logid NUMBER;
select 5 into :logid from dual;
exit :logid;
but I still get that error !
what am I doing worng here ?
it is a number isn't it ?
why do i get a conversion-error than ?
how do I fill and return a variable correctly ?
thanks for any help, Lao De

Answer 1

Your problem is with your select statement. SELECT...INTO is PL/SQL, not SQL, and can not be used to set a variable. Alternatives:
$ sqlplus scott/tiger
SQL*Plus: Release 9.2.0.3.0 - Production on Fri Dec 9 13:52:19 2005
Copyright (c) 1982, 2002, Oracle Corporation.  All rights reserved.
Connected to:
Oracle9i Release 9.2.0.3.0 - Production
JServer Release 9.2.0.3.0 - Production
SQL> variable logid number
SQL> exec :logid := 5
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL> exit :logid
Disconnected from Oracle9i Release 9.2.0.3.0 - Production
JServer Release 9.2.0.3.0 - Production
$ echo $?
5
$ sqlplus scott/tiger
SQL*Plus: Release 9.2.0.3.0 - Production on Fri Dec 9 13:53:39 2005
Copyright (c) 1982, 2002, Oracle Corporation.  All rights reserved.
Connected to:
Oracle9i Release 9.2.0.3.0 - Production
JServer Release 9.2.0.3.0 - Production
SQL> variable logid number
SQL> begin
  2  select 6 into :logid from dual;
  3  end;
  4  /
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL> exit :logid
Disconnected from Oracle9i Release 9.2.0.3.0 - Production
JServer Release 9.2.0.3.0 - Production
$ echo $?
6Note that, on a unix platform, your return value must be a positive integer <= 255.