CREATE INDEXTYPE

Syntax

Purpose

To create an indextype, which is an object that specifies the routines that manage a domain (application-specific) index. Indextypes reside in the same namespace as tables, views, and other schema objects. This statement binds the indextype name to an implementation type, which in turn specifies and refers to user-defined index functions and procedures that implement the indextype.

See Also: Oracle8i Data Cartridge Developer's Guide and Oracle8i Concepts for more information on implementing indextypes.

Prerequisites

To create an indextype in your own schema, you must have the CREATE INDEXTYPE system privilege. To create an indextype in another schema, you must have CREATE ANY INDEXTYPE system privilege. In either case, you must have the EXECUTE object privilege on the implementation type and the supported operators.

An indextype supports one or more operators, so before creating an indextype, you should first design the operator or operators to be supported and provide functional implementation for those operators.

See Also: "CREATE OPERATOR".

Keywords and Parameters

schema	is the name of the schema in which the indextype resides. If you omit schema, Oracle creates the indextype in your own schema.
indextype	is the name of the indextype to be created.
FOR	specifies the list of operators supported by the indextype.
	schema	is the schema containing the operator. If you omit schema, Oracle assumes the operator is in your own schema.
	operator	specifies the name of the operator supported by the indextype.
	parameter_type	lists the types of parameters to the operator.
	All the operators listed in this clause should be valid operators.
USING	specifies the type that provides the implementation for the new indextype.
	implementation_type	is the name of the type that implements the appropriate Oracle Data Cartridge interface (ODCI). You must specify a valid type that implements the routines in the ODCI interface. The implementation type must reside in the same schema as the indextype. For additional information on this interface, see Oracle8i Data Cartridge Developer's Guide.

Example

The following statement creates an indextype named TextIndexType and specifies the CONTAINS operator that is supported by the indextype and the TextIndexMethods type that implements the index interface:

CREATE INDEXTYPE TextIndexType
   FOR contains (VARCHAR2, VARCHAR2)
   USING TextIndexMethods;