Using function in Sequence name

Question

Could you please advise if functions can be used in START WITH of sequence? Something similar to what is given below.
CREATE SEQUENCE test_seq
increment by 1
start with to_char(sysdate,'YYYYMMDD')
nominvalue
nomaxvalue
nocache
nocycle;
Actually I was wondering if I could use functions in the sequence start with or increment clause?

Answer 1

Hi,
Sandeep98191 wrote:
... Actually I was wondering if I could use functions in the sequence start with or increment clause?No; as Solomon said, you have to use literals in both those places.
If you want to use functions, or any other kind of expressions besides literals in those places, then you have to use dynamic SQL.
In SQL*Plus, this kind of dyanmic SQL can be fairly easy. For example:
PROMPT     ***  Set Substitution Variables  ***
COLUMN  incr_value_col     NEW_VALUE  incr_value
COLUMN     start_value_col     NEW_VALUE  start_value
SELECT     TO_CHAR (SYSDATE, 'YYYYMMDD')     AS start_value_col
,     TO_CHAR (SYSDATE, 'D')          AS incr_value_col
FROM     dual;
PROMPT  ***  Create Sequence  ***
CREATE SEQUENCE      test_seq
START WITH      &start_value
INCREMENT BY      &incr_value
PROMPT     ***  Test that it worked  ***
SELECT     test_seq.NEXTVAL
FROM     dual
CONNECT BY     LEVEL <= 4
;Output:
***  Set Substitution Variables  ***
START_VA I
20121226 4
***  Create Sequence  ***
old   2: START WITH      &start_value
new   2: START WITH      20121226
old   3: INCREMENT BY    &incr_value
new   3: INCREMENT BY    4
Sequence created.
***  Test that it worked  ***
   NEXTVAL
  20121226
  20121230
  20121234
  20121238Why do you need to do this? What is the business problem you're trying to solve? Whatever it is, there may be a better way.