I'd like to create an in-memory array variable that can be used in my PL/SQL code. I can't find any collections in Oracle PL/SQL that uses pure memory, they all seem to be associated with tables. I'm looking to do something like this in my PL/SQL (C# syntax):
string[] arrayvalues = new string[3] {"Matt", "Joanne", "Robert"};
Edit: Oracle: 9i
You can use VARRAY for a fixed-size array:
declare
type array_t is varray(3) of varchar2(10);
array array_t := array_t('Matt', 'Joanne', 'Robert');
begin
for i in 1..array.count loop
dbms_output.put_line(array(i));
end loop;
end;
Or TABLE for an unbounded array:
...
type array_t is table of varchar2(10);
...
The word "table" here has nothing to do with database tables, confusingly. Both methods create in-memory arrays.
With either of these you need to both initialise and extend the collection before adding elements:
declare
type array_t is varray(3) of varchar2(10);
array array_t := array_t(); -- Initialise it
begin
for i in 1..3 loop
array.extend(); -- Extend it
array(i) := 'x';
end loop;
end;
The first index is 1 not 0.