SQLERRM Function

The SQLERRM function returns the error message associated with an error code.

Note:

The language of the error message depends on the NLS_LANGUAGE parameter. For information about this parameter, see Oracle Database Globalization Support Guide.

A SQL statement cannot invoke SQLERRM.

If a function invokes SQLERRM, and you use the RESTRICT_REFERENCES pragma to assert the purity of the function, then you cannot specify the constraints WNPS and RNPS.

Note:

DBMS_UTILTY.FORMAT_ERROR_STACK is recommended over SQLERRM, unless you use the FORALL statement with its SAVE EXCEPTIONS clause. For more information, see "Error Code and Error Message Retrieval".

Topics:

Syntax
Semantics
Examples
Related Topics

Syntax

sqlerrm_function ::=

Description of the illustration sqlerrm_function.gif

Semantics

error_code

An expression whose value is an Oracle Database error code. For a list of Oracle Database error codes, see Oracle Database Error Messages.

The default error code is the one associated with the current value of SQLCODE. Like SQLCODE, SQLERRM without error_code is useful only in an exception handler. Outside an exception handler, or if the value of error_code is zero, SQLERRM returns ORA-0000.

If the value of error_code is +100, SQLERRM returns ORA-01403.

If the value of error_code is a positive number other than +100, SQLERRM returns this message:

-error_code: non-ORACLE exception

If the value of error_code is a negative number whose absolute value is an Oracle Database error code, SQLERRM returns the error message associated with that error code. For example:

BEGIN
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('SQLERRM(-6511): ' || TO_CHAR(SQLERRM(-6511)));
END;
/

Result:

SQLERRM(-6511): ORA-06511: PL/SQL: cursor already open

If the value of error_code is a negative number whose absolute value is not an Oracle Database error code, SQLERRM returns this message:

ORA-error_code: Message error_code not found;  product=RDBMS;
facility=ORA

For example:

BEGIN
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('SQLERRM(-50000): ' || TO_CHAR(SQLERRM(-50000)));
END;
/

Result:

SQLERRM(-50000): ORA-50000: Message 50000 not found;  product=RDBMS;
facility=ORA

Examples