XML to varchar2

Question

Hi all
I am having a qry which is returning the results as ORAXML. Now I ve to convert this oraxml to varchar2. How can i do that . Any idea about casting it to varchar2.
Thanks in advance
Upmish

Answer 1

ORAXML is XMLTYPE.
example:
create function return_xmltype return xmltype
is
v_xml xmltype;
begin
select xmlelement("SIMPLE",'example') into v_xml from dual;
return v_xml;
end;
--complile
select return_xmltype from dual;
it will return a ORAXML column, at least it does in SQL Navigator.
one way to convert to varchar is as the other post said:
-- select return_xmltype.getstringval() from dual;
or returning a clob and then converting to to_char, althow clob is already alot of chars.
-- select to_char(return_xmltype.getclobval()) from dual;
or modify the function to do this:
create function return_xmltype return clob
is
v_xml clob;
begin
select xmlelement("SIMPLE",'example') into v_xml from dual;
return v_xml;
end;
--now it returns a clob
i have alot of other examples if you need them.
I hope we helped you.
Cheers.