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DBMS_OUTLN

The DBMS_OUTLN package, synonymous with OUTLN_PKG, contains the functional interface for subprograms associated with the management of stored outlines.

A stored outline is the stored data that pertains to an execution plan for a given SQL statement. It enables the optimizer to repeatedly recreate execution plans that are equivalent to the plan originally generated along with the outline.The data stored in an outline consists, in part, of a set of hints that are used to achieve plan stability.

This chapter discusses the following topics:

• Requirements and Security for DBMS_OUTLN

• Summary of DBMS_OUTLN Subprograms

Requirements and Security for DBMS_OUTLN

Requirements

DBMS_OUTLN contains management procedures that should be available to appropriate users only. EXECUTE privilege is not extended to the general user community unless the DBA explicitly does so.

Security

PL/SQL functions that are available for outline management purposes can be executed only by users with EXECUTE privilege on the procedure (or package).

Summary of DBMS_OUTLN Subprograms

Table 37-1 DBMS_OUTLN Package Subprograms

Subprogram	Description
"DROP_BY_CAT Procedure"	Drops outlines that belong to a specified category.
"DROP_COLLISION Procedure"	Drops an outline with an ol$.hintcount value that does not match the number of hints for that outline in ol$hints.
"DROP_EXTRAS Procedure"	Cleans up after an import by dropping extra hint tuples not accounted for by hintcount.
"DROP_UNREFD_HINTS Procedure"	Drops hint tuples that have no corresponding outline in the OL$ table.
"DROP_BY_CAT Procedure"	Drops outlines that have never been applied in the compilation of a SQL statement.
"UPDATE_BY_CAT Procedure"	Changes the category of outlines in one category to a new category.
"GENERATE_SIGNATURE Procedure"	Generates a signature for the specified SQL text.