1. Database PL/SQL Language Reference
  2. PL/SQL Language Elements
  3. SQL_MACRO Clause

14.64 SQL_MACRO Clause

The SQL_MACRO clause marks a function as a SQL macro which can be used as either a scalar expression or a table expression.

A TABLE macro is a function annotated as a SQL_MACRO and defined as a TABLE type.

A SCALAR macro is a function annotated as a SQL_MACRO and defined as a SCALAR type.

A SQL macro referenced in a view is always executed with the view owner's privileges.

The AUTHID property cannot be specified. When a SQL macro is invoked, they behave like invoker's right function. The SQL macro owner must grant inherit privileges to the invoking function.

When a macro annotated function is used in PL/SQL, it works like a regular function returning character or CLOB type with no macro expansion.

The SQL_MACRO annotation can appear in the following SQL statement:

SQL Macro Usage Restrictions:
  • A TABLE macro can only appear in FROM clause of a query table expression.
  • A SCALAR macro cannot appear in FROM clause of a query table expression. It can appear in the select list or the WHERE clause.
  • A scalar macro cannot have table arguments.
  • A SQL macro cannot appear in a virtual column expression, functional index, editioning view or materialized view.
  • Type methods cannot be annotated with SQL_MACRO.

Topics

Syntax

sql_macro_clause ::=

Description of sql_macro_clause.eps follows
Description of the illustration sql_macro_clause.eps

Semantics

sql_macro_clause

The sql_macro_clause can appear only once in the function. To make a SQL macro function, include the sql_macro_clause in the function definition. If you declare the SQL macro function before defining it, you must specify the sql_macro_clause in the function declaration.

If SCALAR or TABLE is not specified, TABLE is the default.

SCALAR

Specify SCALAR if the macro function can be used in scalar expressions.

TABLE (Default)

Specify TABLE if the macro function can be used in table expressions.

Restrictions on sql_macro_clause

The SQL_MACRO annotation is disallowed with RESULT_CACHE, PARALLEL_ENABLE, and PIPELINED. Although the DETERMINISTIC property cannot be specified, a SQL macro is always implicitly deterministic.

The SQL macro function must have a return type of VARCHAR2, CHAR, or CLOB.

Examples

Example 14-36 Emp_doc: Using a Scalar Macro to Convert Columns into a JSON or XML Document

The emp_doc SQL macro converts employee fields into a document string (JSON or XML).
The macro is implemented as a tree of nested macros with the following call graph structure.
emp_doc()
   ==> emp_json()
          ==> name_string()
          ==> email_string()
                ==> name_string()
          ==> date_string()
   ==> emp_xml 
          ==> name_string()
          ==> email_string()
                ==> name_string()
          ==> date_string()
The date_string function converts a date in a string formatted as a four digits year, month (01-12) and day of the month (1-31).
CREATE FUNCTION date_string(dat DATE) 
                    RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(SCALAR) IS
BEGIN
   RETURN q'{
             TO_CHAR(dat, 'YYYY-MM-DD')
          }';
END;
/
The name_string function sets the first letter of each words in the first_name and last_name in uppercase and all other letters in lowercase. It concatenates the formatted first name with a space and the formatted last name, and removes leading and trailing spaces from the resulting string.
CREATE FUNCTION name_string(first_name VARCHAR2,
                                 last_name VARCHAR2)
                     RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(SCALAR) IS
BEGIN
   RETURN q'{
          TRIM(INITCAP(first_name) || ' ' || INITCAP(last_name))
          }';
END;
/
The email_string sets the email address using the name_string function with the first_name and last_name and replacing all spaces with a period, and appending a default domain name of example.com.
CREATE FUNCTION email_string(first_name VARCHAR2,
                                  last_name VARCHAR2,
                                  host_name VARCHAR2 DEFAULT 'example.com')
                    RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(SCALAR) IS
BEGIN
   RETURN q'{
          REPLACE(LOWER(name_string(first_name, last_name)),' ','.') || '@' || host_name
          }';
END;
/
The emp_json SQL macro returns a JSON document string.
CREATE FUNCTION emp_json(first_name VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL,
                              last_name VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL,
                              hire_date DATE DEFAULT NULL,
                              phone_num VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL)
                    RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(SCALAR) IS
BEGIN
   RETURN q'{
          JSON_OBJECT(
             'name'      : name_string(first_name, last_name),
             'email'     : email_string(first_name, last_name),
             'phone'     : phone_num,
             'hire_date' : date_string(hire_date)
             ABSENT ON NULL)
          }';
END;
/
The emp_xml SQL macro returns an XML document string.
CREATE FUNCTION emp_xml(first_name VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL,
                             last_name VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL,
                             hire_date DATE DEFAULT NULL,
                             phone_num VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL)
                    RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(SCALAR) IS
BEGIN
   RETURN q'{
       XMLELEMENT("xml",
                  CASE WHEN first_name || last_name IS NOT NULL THEN
                     XMLELEMENT("name", name_string(first_name, last_name))
                  END,
                  CASE WHEN first_name || last_name IS NOT NULL THEN
                     XMLELEMENT("email", email_string(first_name, last_name))
                  END,
                  CASE WHEN hire_date IS NOT NULL THEN
                     XMLELEMENT("hire_date", date_string(hire_date))
                  END,
                  CASE WHEN phone_num IS NOT NULL THEN
                     XMLELEMENT("phone", phone_num)
                  END)
           }';
END;
/
The emp_doc SQL macro returns employee fields into a JSON (default) or XML document string.
CREATE FUNCTION emp_doc(first_name VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL,
                             last_name VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL,
                             hire_date DATE DEFAULT NULL,
                             phone_num VARCHAR2 DEFAULT NULL,
                             doc_type VARCHAR2 DEFAULT 'json')
                    RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(SCALAR) IS
BEGIN
   RETURN q'{
     DECODE(LOWER(doc_type),
            'json', emp_json(first_name, last_name, hire_date, phone_num),
            'xml', emp_xml(first_name, last_name, hire_date, phone_num))
         }';
END;
/
This query shows the emp_doc SQL macro used in a scalar expression to list all employees in a JSON document string in department 30. 
SELECT department_id,
            emp_doc(first_name => e.first_name, hire_date => e.hire_date) doc
FROM hr.employees e
WHERE department_id = 30
ORDER BY last_name;
Result:
  
     30 {"name":"Shelli","email":"shelli@example.com","hire_date":"2005-12-24"}
     30 {"name":"Karen","email":"karen@example.com","hire_date":"2007-08-10"}
     30 {"name":"Guy","email":"guy@example.com","hire_date":"2006-11-15"}
     30 {"name":"Alexander","email":"alexander@example.com","hire_date":"2003-05-19"} 
     30 {"name":"Den","email":"den@example.com","hire_date":"2002-12-07"}
     30 {"name":"Sigal","email":"sigal@example.com","hire_date":"2005-07-24"}
This query shows the emp_doc SQL macro used in a scalar expression to list all employees in a XML document string.
SELECT deptno,
            emp_doc(first_name => ename, hire_date => hiredate, doc_type => 'xml') doc
FROM scott.emp
ORDER BY ename;
Result:
20 <xml><name>Adams</name><email>adams@example.com</email><hire_date>1987-05-23</hire_date></xml>
30 <xml><name>Allen</name><email>allen@example.com</email><hire_date>1981-02-20</hire_date></xml>
30 <xml><name>Blake</name><email>blake@example.com</email><hire_date>1981-05-01</hire_date></xml> 
10 <xml><name>Clark</name><email>clark@example.com</email><hire_date>1981-06-09</hire_date></xml> 
20 <xml><name>Ford</name><email>ford@example.com</email><hire_date>1981-12-03</hire_date></xml> 
...
30 <xml><name>Ward</name><email>ward@example.com</email><hire_date>1981-02-22</hire_date></xml>

VARIABLE surname VARCHAR2(100)
EXEC :surname := 'ellison'
WITH e AS (SELECT emp.*, :surname lname FROM emp WHERE deptno IN (10,20))
SELECT deptno,
       emp_doc(first_name => ename, last_name => lname, hire_date => hiredate) doc
FROM e
ORDER BY ename;
Result:
10 {"name":"Clark Ellison","email":"clark.ellison@example.com","hire_date":"1981-06-09"} 
20 {"name":"Ford Ellison","email":"ford.ellison@example.com","hire_date":"1981-12-03"}
20 {"name":"Jones Ellison","email":"jones.ellison@example.com","hire_date":"1981-04-02"}
10 {"name":"King Ellison","email":"king.ellison@example.com","hire_date":"1981-11-17"}
10 {"name":"Miller Ellison","email":"miller.ellison@example.com","hire_date":"1982-01-23"}
20 {"name":"Scott Ellison","email":"scott.ellison@example.com","hire_date":"1987-04-19"}
20 {"name":"Smith Ellison","email":"smith.ellison@example.com","hire_date":"1980-12-17"}

Example 14-37 Env: Using a Scalar Macro in a Scalar Expression

The env SQL macro provides a wrapper for the value of the parameter associated with the context namespace USERENV which describes the current session. 

CREATE PACKAGE env AS
   FUNCTION current_user RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(SCALAR);
   FUNCTION current_edition_name RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(SCALAR);
   FUNCTION module RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(SCALAR);
   FUNCTION action RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(SCALAR);
END;
/
CREATE PACKAGE BODY env AS
   FUNCTION current_user RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(SCALAR) IS
     BEGIN
        RETURN q'{SYS_CONTEXT('userenv','SESSION_USER')}';
     END;
   FUNCTION current_edition_name RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(SCALAR) IS
     BEGIN
        RETURN q'{SYS_CONTEXT('userenv','CURRENT_EDITION_NAME')}';
     END;
   FUNCTION module RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(SCALAR) IS
     BEGIN
        RETURN q'{SYS_CONTEXT('userenv','MODULE')}';
     END;
   FUNCTION action RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(SCALAR) IS
     BEGIN
        RETURN q'{SYS_CONTEXT('userenv','ACTION')}';
     END;
END;
/

Select the current user info.

SELECT env.current_user, env.module, env.action FROM DUAL;
Result:
SCOTT   SQL*PLUS

Example 14-38 Budget : Using a Table Macro in a Table Expression

This example shows the SQL macro named budget used in a table expression to return the total salary in each department for employees for a given job title. 

CREATE FUNCTION budget(job VARCHAR2) RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO IS
BEGIN
   RETURN q'{SELECT deptno, SUM(sal) budget 
             FROM scott.emp
             WHERE job = budget.job
             GROUP BY deptno}';
END;

This query shows the SQL macro budget used in a table expression. 

SELECT * FROM budget('MANAGER');

Result:

    
DEPTNO     BUDGET 
---------- ----------   
        20       2975  
        30       2850 
        10       2450

Example 14-39 Take: Using a Table Macro with a Polymorphic View

This example creates a table macro named take which returns the first n rows from table t.
CREATE FUNCTION take (n NUMBER, t DBMS_TF.table_t) 
                      RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO IS
BEGIN
   RETURN 'SELECT * FROM t FETCH FIRST take.n ROWS ONLY';
END;
/
The query returns the first two rows from table dept.
SELECT * FROM take(2, dept);
Result:
    DEPTNO DNAME          LOC   
---------- -------------- -------------   
        10 ACCOUNTING     NEW YORK       
        20 RESEARCH       DALLAS   
VAR row_count NUMBER
EXEC :row_count := 5

WITH t AS (SELECT * FROM emp NATURAL JOIN dept ORDER BY ename)
SELECT ename, dname FROM take(:row_count, t);
Result:
ENAME      DNAME  
---------- --------------    
ADAMS      RESEARCH     
ALLEN      SALES     
BLAKE      SALES   
CLARK      ACCOUNTING   
FORD       RESEARCH

Example 14-40 Range : Using a Table Macro in a Table Expression

This example creates a SQL macro that generates an arithmetic progression of rows in the range [first, stop]. The first row start with the value first, and each subsequent row's value will be step more than the previous row's value.

The following combination of arguments will produce zero rows:
  • step < 0 and first < stop
  • step = 0
  • step > 0 and first > stop
/*  PACKAGE NAME: GEN
 *  SQL TABLE MACROS:
 *     range(stop  : number to generate starting from zero)
 *     range(first : starting number of the sequence (default=0), 
 *           stop  : generate numbers up to, but not including this number, 
 *           step  : difference between each number in the sequence (default=1) )
*/
CREATE PACKAGE gen IS 
   FUNCTION range(stop NUMBER)
            RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(TABLE);

   FUNCTION range(first NUMBER DEFAULT 0, stop NUMBER, step NUMBER DEFAULT 1)
            RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(TABLE);

   FUNCTION tab(tab TABLE, replication_factor NATURAL)
            RETURN TABLE PIPELINED ROW POLYMORPHIC USING gen;

   FUNCTION describe(tab IN OUT DBMS_TF.TABLE_T, replication_factor NATURAL)
            RETURN DBMS_TF.DESCRIBE_T;

   PROCEDURE fetch_rows(replication_factor NATURALN);
END gen;
/
CREATE PACKAGE BODY gen IS 
   FUNCTION range(stop NUMBER)
            RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(TABLE) IS
   BEGIN 
      RETURN q'{SELECT ROWNUM-1 n FROM gen.tab(DUAL, stop)}'; 
   END;

   FUNCTION range(first NUMBER DEFAULT 0, stop NUMBER, step NUMBER DEFAULT 1)
           RETURN VARCHAR2 SQL_MACRO(TABLE) IS
   BEGIN
      RETURN q'{
             SELECT first+n*step n FROM gen.range(ROUND((stop-first)/NULLIF(step,0)))
             }';
   END;
 
   FUNCTION describe(tab IN OUT DBMS_TF.TABLE_T, replication_factor NATURAL) 
            RETURN DBMS_TF.DESCRIBE_T AS
   BEGIN 
      RETURN DBMS_TF.DESCRIBE_T(row_replication => true);
   END;

  PROCEDURE fetch_rows(replication_factor NATURALN) as
  BEGIN 
    DBMS_TF.ROW_REPLICATION(replication_factor); 
  END;
END gen;
/

The gen.get_range SQL macro is used in table expressions.

This query returns a sequence of 5 rows starting at zero. 
SELECT * FROM gen.range(5);
Result:
         0 
         1 
         2 
         3 
         4
This query returns a sequence starting at 5, stopping at 10 (not included).
SELECT * FROM gen.range(5, 10);
Result:
         5  
         6  
         7  
         8   
         9
This query returns a sequence starting at 0, stopping at 1, by increment of 0.1.
SELECT * FROM gen.range(0, 1, step=>0.1);
Result:
 
         0  
        .1  
        .2  
        .3  
        .4  
        .5  
        .6  
        .7   
        .8   
        .9
This query returns a sequence starting at 5, stopping at -6 (not included) by decrement of 2.
SELECT * FROM gen.range(+5,-6,-2);
Result:
      5 
      3   
      1   
     -1 
     -3 
     -5

Related Topics