TO_LOB

Syntax

to_LOB::=

Text description of to_LOB

Purpose

TO_LOB converts LONG or LONG RAW values in the column long_column to LOB values. You can apply this function only to a LONG or LONG RAW column, and only in the SELECT list of a subquery in an INSERT statement.

Before using this function, you must create a LOB column to receive the converted LONG values. To convert LONGs, create a CLOB column. To convert LONG RAWs, create a BLOB column.

Note: You cannot use the TO_LOB function to convert a LONG column to a LOB column in the subquery of a CREATE TABLE ...AS SELECT statement if you are creating an index-organized table. Instead, create the index-organized table without the LONG column, and then use the TO_LOB function in an INSERT ... AS SELECT statement.

See Also: the modify_column_options clause of ALTER TABLE for an alternative method of converting LONG columns to LOB INSERT for information on the subquery of an INSERT statement

Examples

The sample table pm.print_media has a column press_release of type LONG. This example re-creates part of the table, with LOB data in the press_release column:

CREATE TABLE new_print_media (
   product_id       NUMBER(6),
   ad_id            NUMBER(6),
   press_release    CLOB);

INSERT INTO new_print_media
   (SELECT p.product_id, p.ad_id, TO_LOB(p.press_release)
      FROM print_media p);