Using Text_IO in Oracle Reports 6.0

Question

Hi.
I ask again, perhaps someone can help me:
I want to add a function to a column to write every row to a file (such as a .log-file).
In Example i can simply write into a file like this:
"Trigger - after parameter form":
file_out Text_IO.File_type;
BEGIN
file_out:= Text_IO.Fopen('log.txt', 'w');
Text_IO.put (file_out,'test');
Text_IO.Fclose(file_out);
END;
But i want to write to this file from the function, placed in a column.
So i cant open this file at every row (open, write, close)...
Perhaps someone can tell me, how i can do this: To open a File before Report, write into the File from the function and close the file after the report.
Thank you again.

Answer 1

Hello,
You need to create a client-side PL/SQL package as Program Units for your report. In this package you can define a package variable to hold and share your file handle, and create functions to open, write, and close the file. You can call these functions from the Before Report, Formula, and After Report triggers in your report.
Regards,
The Oracle Reports Team --skw