Syntax for nested function/procedure?

Question

Hi,
What's the syntax to create a sub function/procedure in another function/procedure? Is this available in 9i?
Thanks.

Answer 1

Nested functions and procedures have been available since at least 7.3. However, any nested functions or procedures need to be the last things in your declare section.
This works:
SQL> CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE test_proc is
  2     l_v VARCHAR2(100);
  3     FUNCTION nested_function RETURN VARCHAR2 IS
  4     BEGIN
  5        RETURN('nested function call') ;
  6     END;
  7  BEGIN
  8     l_v := nested_function;
  9     DBMS_OUTPUT.Put_Line(l_v);
10  END;
11  /
Procedure created.But this does not:
SQL> CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE test_proc is
  2
  3     FUNCTION nested_function RETURN VARCHAR2 IS
  4     BEGIN
  5        RETURN('nested function call') ;
  6     END;
  7     l_v VARCHAR2(100);
  8  BEGIN
  9     l_v := nested_function;
10     DBMS_OUTPUT.Put_Line(l_v);
11  END;
12  /
Warning: Procedure created with compilation errors.
SQL> show err
Errors for PROCEDURE TEST_PROC:
LINE/COL ERROR
7/4      PLS-00103: Encountered the symbol "L_V" when expecting one of the
         following:
12/0     PLS-00103: Encountered the symbol "end-of-file" when expecting
         one of the following:
         begin function package pragma procedure formTTFN
John