Why doesn't this work in a PL/SQL Developer command window?

[timboc]

variable x REFCURSOR

begin
open :x for select distinct location_name from t_location;
end;
/

print x

-- works fine in SQL*Plus

 

[Marco Kalter]

Cursor variables are not supported in the Command Window. You may want to use the Test Window for this.

 

[timboc]

Can you show me the syntax I'd use to accomplish the same in a Test Window?

Also, is there are reason this isn't implemented in a Command Window?

Thanks,
Tim

 

[Marco Kalter]

In the Anonymous PL/SQL Block of the Test Window:

begin
  open :x for select distinct location_name from t_location;
end;

Declare the :x variable as "Cursor" in the bind variable list at the bottom of the window, run the script, and press the [...] button of the :x variable to get the result set.

 

[ScottMattes]

This is great for comparing before and after states of your tables.

I save the max pk before and open a cursor for the before state, run the code with no commit, then after the run I open another with the after state. When all done comparing I rollback and I can run the same test again and again.

 

[timboc]

Thanks for the info. Can you elaborate on why this isn't implemented in a Command Window?

I'm both a PL/SQL Developer user and a Delphi Developer (using your Direct Oracle Access product, which is amazing). I was just wondering.