8 Times Ten PL/SQL Support: Reference Summary

This chapter lists PL/SQL language elements and features supported in TimesTen. (In the Oracle Database documentation, many of these features are covered in "PL/SQL Language Elements" in Oracle Database PL/SQL Language Reference.)

Note that these are not supported in TimesTen:

Features: autonomous transactions, database links (dblinks), result cache, savepoints, triggers, user-defined objects or collections

While TimesTen does not support triggers, you can achieve similar functionality using XLA. See "XLA and TimesTen Event Management" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database C Developer's Guide.
Statements: CREATE LIBRARY, CREATE TYPE, LOCK TABLE, SAVEPOINT, SET TRANSACTION
Pragmas: AUTONOMOUS_TRANSACTIONS, RESTRICT_REFERENCES, SERIALLY_REUSABLE
SYSTIMESTAMP: TimesTen cannot support this because the return type, TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE, is not supported. As an alternative, you can use SELECT tt_sysdate FROM dual using dynamic SQL:
```
declare
  ts timestamp;
begin
  execute immediate 
    'select tt_sysdate from dual'
     into ts;
-- ts has millisecond resolution
end;
```

Table 8-1 PL/SQL language element and feature support in TimesTen

Feature name	Description	Example/comment
`ALTER {PROCEDURE\| FUNCTION \| PACKAGE}` statements	Recompiles a PL/SQL procedure, function, or package.	Syntax and semantics are the same as in Oracle Database. For information about these statements, see "SQL Statements" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database SQL Reference.
`ALTER SESSION` statement	Changes session parameters dynamically.	In TimesTen, you can use `ALTER SESSION` to set some PL/SQL connection attributes as discussed in "PL/SQL connection attributes". For more information on this statement in TimesTen, see "ALTER SESSION" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database SQL Reference.
Assignment statement	Sets current value of a variable, parameter, or element.	See "PL/SQL variables and constants".
Block declaration	Declares a block, the basic unit of a PL/SQL source program.	See "PL/SQL blocks".
`BULK COLLECT` clause	Select multiple rows.	This clause can be used with the `SELECT` statement in PL/SQL to retrieve rows without using a cursor. See "FORALL and BULK COLLECT operations" and "Examples using FORALL and BULK COLLECT".
`CALL` statement	Executes a routine from within SQL.	In TimesTen, use the `CALL` statement to execute PL/SQL stored procedures and functions, as in Oracle Database, or TimesTen built-in procedures. (For TimesTen built-in procedures, use `EXECUTE IMMEDIATE` if `CALL` is inside PL/SQL.) See "Executing procedures and functions" and Example 5-19, "Using EXECUTE IMMEDIATE to call ttConfiguration".
`CASE` statement	Evaluates an expression, compares it against several values, and takes action according to the comparison that is true.	See "PL/SQL control structures".
`CLOSE` statement	Closes a cursor or cursor variable.	See Example 2-17, "Using a cursor to retrieve information about an employee" (among others).
Collection definition	Specifies a collection, which is an ordered group of elements that are all of the same type.	Examples include associative arrays (index-by tables or PL/SQL tables), nested tables, and varrays. TimesTen supports all three of these collection types in PL/SQL programs, but supports only associative arrays as bound parameters between PL/SQL and applications written in other languages (such as OCI or JDBC). See "Using collections in PL/SQL".
Collection methods	Built-in subprograms that operate on collections and are called using "dot" notation.	See "Collection Methods" in Oracle Database PL/SQL Language Reference. Examples include `COUNT`, `DELETE`, `EXISTS`, `EXTEND`, `FIRST`, `LAST`, `LIMIT`, `NEXT`, `PRIOR`, and `TRIM`.
Comments	Text included within your code for explanatory purposes.	Single-line and multi-line comments are supported.
`COMMIT` statement	Ends the current transaction and makes permanent all changes performed in the transaction.	See "COMMIT" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database SQL Reference. Important: `COMMIT` and `ROLLBACK` statements close all cursors in TimesTen.
Connection attributes	Equivalent to initialization parameters in Oracle Database.	See "PL/SQL connection attributes". Also see "PL/SQL first connection attributes" and "PL/SQL general connection attributes" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database Reference.
Constant and variable declarations	Specify constants and variables to be used in PL/SQL code, in the declarative part of any PL/SQL block, subprogram, or package.	See "PL/SQL variables and constants".
`CONTINUE` statement	Exits the current iteration of a loop and transfers control to the next iteration.	See "CONTINUE statement".
`CREATE FUNCTION` statement	Creates a PL/SQL function.	`CREATE FUNCTION` is supported in TimesTen Classic, but the `AS LANGUAGE`, `AS EXTERNAL`, and `PIPELINED` clauses are not supported. The `ACCESSIBLE BY` clause is supported. See "PL/SQL procedures and functions". Also see "CREATE FUNCTION" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database SQL Reference. You are not required to run `DBMSSTDX.SQL` in TimesTen.
`CREATE PACKAGE` statement `CREATE PACKAGE BODY` statement	These statements are used together to create a PL/SQL package definition and package body.	`CREATE PACKAGE` is supported in TimesTen Classic. Syntax and semantics are the same as in Oracle Database. The `ACCESSIBLE BY` clause is supported. See "PL/SQL packages". Also see "CREATE PACKAGE" and "CREATE PACKAGE BODY" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database SQL Reference. You are not required to run `DBMSSTDX.SQL` in TimesTen.
`CREATE PROCEDURE` statement	Creates a PL/SQL procedure.	`CREATE PROCEDURE` is supported in TimesTen Classic, but the `AS LANGUAGE` and `AS EXTERNAL` clauses are not supported. The `ACCESSIBLE BY` clause is supported. See "PL/SQL procedures and functions". Also see "CREATE PROCEDURE" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database SQL Reference. Note: You are not required to run `DBMSSTDX.SQL` in TimesTen.
`CURRENT_DATE` function	Returns the current date in the session time zone.	In TimesTen, this returns the current date in UTC (universal time). TimesTen does not support local time zones.
Cursor attributes	Appended to the cursor or cursor variable to return useful information about the execution of a data manipulation statement.	Expl icit cursors and cursor variables have four attributes: `%FOUND`, `%ISOPEN`, `%NOTFOUND`, and `%ROWCOUNT`. The implicit cursor (SQL) has additional attributes: `%BULK_ROWCOUNT` and `%BULK_EXCEPTIONS`. See "Using the %ROWCOUNT and %NOTFOUND attributes" and "Using FORALL with SQL%BULK_ROWCOUNT". Also see "Named Cursor Attribute" in Oracle Database PL/SQL Language Reference.
Cursor declaration	Declares a cursor. To execute a multi-row query, TimesTen opens an unnamed work area that stores processing information. A cursor lets you name the work area, access the information, and process the rows individually.	See "Use of cursors in PL/SQL programs".
Cursor variables (REF CURSORs)	Act as handles to cursors over SQL result sets.	TimesTen supports `OUT` REF CURSORs, one per statement. See "PL/SQL REF CURSORs".
`DELETE` statement	Deletes rows from a table.	See "DELETE" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database SQL Reference.
`DROP { PROCEDURE \| FUNCTION \| PACKAGE }` statement	Removes a PL/SQL procedure, function, or package, as specified.	Syntax and semantics are the same as in Oracle Database. You can refer to information about these statements in "SQL Statements" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database SQL Reference.
Error reporting	(This is self-explanatory.)	TimesTen applications report errors using Oracle Database error codes instead of TimesTen error codes. The error messages that accompany the error codes are either TimesTen error messages or Oracle Database error messages.
`EXCEPTION_INIT` pragma	Associates a user-defined exception with a TimesTen error number.	See "EXCEPTION_INIT Pragma" in Oracle Database PL/SQL Language Reference.
Exception definition	Specifies an exception, which is a runtime error or warning condition. Can be predefined or user-defined.	Predefined conditions are raised implicitly. User-defined exceptions are raised explicitly by the `RAISE` statement. To handle raised exceptions, write separate routines called exception handlers. See Chapter 4, "Errors and Exception Handling".
`EXECUTE IMMEDIATE` statement	Builds and executes a dynamic SQL statement.	TimesTen supports this as Oracle Database does to execute a SQL DML or DDL statement, execute a PL/SQL anonymous block, or call a PL/SQL stored procedure or function. See "Dynamic SQL in PL/SQL (EXECUTE IMMEDIATE statement)". In TimesTen, the `EXECUTE IMMEDIATE` statement can also be used to execute TimesTen built-in procedures and TimesTen-specific SQL features (such as `SELECT FIRST`).
`EXIT` statement	Exits a loop and transfers control to the end of the loop.	See Example 6-2, "Use ALTER SESSION to change attribute settings" (among others).
Expression definition	Specifies an expression, which is a combination of operands (variables, constants, literals, operators, and so on) and operators. The simplest expression is a single variable.	See "Expressions" in Oracle Database PL/SQL Language Reference.
`FETCH` statement	Retrieves rows of data from the result set of a multi-row query.	See Example 2-17, "Using a cursor to retrieve information about an employee" (among others).
`FORALL` statement	Bulk-binds input collections before sending them to the SQL engine.	See "FORALL and BULK COLLECT operations".
Function declaration and definition	Specifies a subprogram or stored program that can be declared and defined in a PL/SQL block or package and returns a single value.	In TimesTen, a stored function or procedure can be executed in an anonymous block or through a `CALL` statement, but not from any other SQL statement. See "Executing procedures and functions". In TimesTen Classic, use the `CREATE FUNCTION` statement in TimesTen SQL to create stored functions. See "PL/SQL procedures and functions". Also see "CREATE FUNCTION" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database SQL Reference. Also refer to the table entry below for "Procedure declaration and definition".
`GOTO` statement	Branches unconditionally to a statement label or block label.	See "GOTO Statement" in Oracle Database PL/SQL Language Reference.
`IF` statement	Executes or skips a sequence of statements depending on the value of the associated boolean expression.	See "Conditional control".
`INLINE` pragma	Specifies whether a subprogram call is to be inline.	See "INLINE Pragma" in Oracle Database PL/SQL Language Reference.
`INSERT` statement	Inserts one or more rows of data into a table.	See "Example using the INSERT statement". Also see "INSERT" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database SQL Reference.
Literal declaration	Specifies a numeric, character string, or boolean value.	Examples: Numeric literal: 135 String literal: 'TimesTen'
`LOOP` statement	Executes a sequence of statements multiple times. Can be used, for example, in implementing a `FOR` loop or `WHILE` loop.	See Example 2-8, "Using a WHILE loop". Also see "Basic LOOP Statement" in Oracle Database PL/SQL Language Reference.
`MERGE` statement	Allows you to select rows from one or more sources for update or insertion into a target table.	See "MERGE" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database SQL Reference.
Native dynamic SQL execution	Processes most dynamic SQL statements through the `EXECUTE IMMEDIATE` statement.	See the `EXECUTE IMMEDIATE` entry above.
`NULL` statement	This is a no-operation statement. Control is passed to the next statement without any action.	See "NULL Statement" in Oracle Database PL/SQL Language Reference.
`OPEN` statement	Executes the query associated with a cursor. Allocates database resources to process the query, and identifies the result set.	See Example 2-17, "Using a cursor to retrieve information about an employee".
`OPEN FOR` statement	Executes the `SELECT` statement associated with a cursor variable (REF CURSOR). Positions the cursor variable before the first row in the result set.	See "OPEN FOR Statement" in Oracle Database PL/SQL Language Reference.
Package declaration	Specifies a package, which is a database object that groups logically related PL/SQL types, items, and subprograms.	In TimesTen Classic, use SQL statements `CREATE PACKAGE` and `CREATE PACKAGE BODY`. See "PL/SQL packages". Also see "SQL Statements" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database SQL Reference for information about the `CREATE` statements.
Procedure declaration and definition	Specifies a subprogram or stored program that can be declared and defined in a PL/SQL block or package and performs a specific action.	In TimesTen, a stored procedure or function can be executed in an anonymous block or through a `CALL` statement, but not from any other SQL statement. See "Executing procedures and functions". In TimesTen Classic, use the `CREATE PROCEDURE` statement in TimesTen SQL to create stored procedures. See "PL/SQL procedures and functions". Also see "CREATE PROCEDURE" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database SQL Reference. Also refer to the table entry above for "Function declaration and definition".
`RAISE` statement	Stops normal execution of a PL/SQL block or subprogram and transfers control to an exception handler.	See "Using the RAISE statement".
Record definition	Defines a record, which is a composite variable that stores data values of different types (similar to a database row).	See "Using records in PL/SQL".
`RETURN` statement	Immediately completes the execution of a subprogram and returns control to the invoker. Execution resumes with the statement following the subprogram call.	See "RETURN Statement" in Oracle Database PL/SQL Language Reference.
`RETURNING INTO` clause	Specifies the variables in which to store the values returned by the statement to which the clause belongs.	See "RETURNING INTO clause" and "Examples using RETURNING INTO".
`ROLLBACK` statement	Undoes database changes made during the current transaction.	See "ROLLBACK" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database SQL Reference. Important: `COMMIT` and `ROLLBACK` statements close all cursors in TimesTen.
`%ROWTYPE` attribute	Provides a record type that represents a row in a database table.	See Example 2-2, "Assigning values to variables with the assignment operator".
`SELECT INTO` statement	Retrieves values from one row of a table (`SELECT`) and then stores the values in either variables or a record. With the `BULK COLLECT` clause (discussed above), this statement retrieves an entire result set.	See Example 2-3, "Using SELECT INTO to assign values to variables". Also see "Processing Query Result Sets" in Oracle Database PL/SQL Language Reference.
`SOUNDEX` SQL function	Returns a character string containing the phonetic representation of a `char`.	See "SOUNDEX" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database SQL Reference.
SQL cursor	Either explicit or implicit, handles the result set of a `SELECT` statement.	See "Use of cursors in PL/SQL programs".
`SQLCODE` function	Returns number code of the most recent exception.	Given the same error condition, error codes returned by the built-in function `SQLCODE` are the same in TimesTen as in Oracle Database, although the `SQLERRM` returns may be different. This is also noted in "TimesTen error messages and SQL codes".
`SQLERRM` function	Returns the error message associated with the error-number argument.	Given the same error condition, error messages returned by the built-in function `SQLERRM` are not necessarily the same in TimesTen as in Oracle Database, although `SQLCODE` returns are the same. This is also noted in "TimesTen error messages and SQL codes".
Supplied packages	These are PL/SQL packages supplied with the database.	TimesTen provides a subset of the Oracle Database PL/SQL supplied packages. See Chapter 7, "TimesTen Supplied PL/SQL Packages".
System tables and views	These are tables and views provided with the database for administrative purposes.	TimesTen supports a subset of the Oracle Database system tables and views. See "System Tables and Views" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database System Tables and Views Reference.
`ttPLSQLMemoryStats` built-in procedure	Returns statistics about library cache performance and activity.	See "ttPLSQLMemoryStats" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database Reference. Note: In Oracle Database, the `V$LIBRARYCACHE` system view provides the same statistical information.
`%TYPE` attribute	Lets you use the data type of a field, record, nested table, database column, or variable in your own declarations, rather than hardcoding the data type. Particularly useful when declaring variables, fields, and parameters that refer to database columns.	See "PL/SQL variables and constants".
`UPDATE` statement	Updates the values of one or more columns in all rows of a table or in rows that satisfy a search condition.	See "UPDATE" in Oracle TimesTen In-Memory Database SQL Reference.

8 TimesTen PL/SQL Support: Reference Summary

8 Times Ten PL/SQL Support: Reference Summary