How include array (or similar) into an in-clause SQL statement? - sql

Question

I am new to oracle and PL SQL. Currently I struggle with the handling of arrays and "similar things" like i.e. collection. I am trying to build a procedure like:
procedure insert_by_array( my_array some_array_type)
begin
insert into table1 (some_column)
select some_column
from table2
where column2 in my_array
;
end;
However I could not make I did try some array types but I did not find the right one. The entries of the type must be varchar2 - a part of this criterium I am open to any array type. I.e when my array_type is
type array_of_strings is varray(100) of varchar2(40);
My error would be: "local collection types are not alowed in sql statements"
I am using Oracle Database 12c Enterprise Edition Release 12.1.0.2.0.
So at the end, this worked:
create type table_of_strings IS TABLE OF VARCHAR2(64); --define it global;
declare
my_table table_of_strings;
begin
my_table := table_of_strings('aaa', 'bb','c');
insert into table1 (some_column)
select some_column
from table2
where column2 in (select * from table(my_table))
;
end;

Answer 1

First of all, you have to define sql level collection. (varray is not an option)
create type array_of_strings as table of varchar2(40);
Now you can use table or "member of" approach
declare
c array_of_strings := new array_of_strings();
begin
c.extend();
c(c.count) := 'A';
c.extend();
c(c.count) := 'B';
for rec in (select * from dual where 'A' member of c ) loop
dbms_output.put_line('Option with memeber of ');
end loop;
for rec in (select * from dual where 'A' in (select * from table(c))) loop
dbms_output.put_line('Option with table');
end loop;
end;

Answer 2

As error says, local collections, defined in procedure, function, code block, cannot be used in queries, at least in Oracle 11 which I use.
This does not work (PLS-00642):
declare
type strings is table of varchar2(5);
v_i strings := strings('A', 'X', 'Q');
v_o strings;
begin
select * bulk collect into v_o from dual where dummy in (select * from table(v_i));
end;
So... either use type defined at schema level (your own or predefined sys.odcivarchar2list):
declare
type strings is table of varchar2(5);
v_i strings := strings('A', 'X', 'Q');
v_o strings;
v_so sys.odcivarchar2list := sys.odcivarchar2list();
begin
v_so.extend(v_i.count);
for i in 1..v_i.count loop
v_so(i) := v_i(i);
end loop;
select * bulk collect into v_o from dual where dummy in (select * from table(v_so));
end;
... either use dynamic sql:
declare
type strings is table of varchar2(5);
v_i strings := strings('A', 'X', 'Q');
v_o strings;
v_str varchar2(4000);
begin
for i in 1..v_i.count loop
v_str := v_str || case when i > 1 then ', ' end || ''''||v_i(i)||'''';
end loop;
execute immediate 'select * from dual where dummy in ('||v_str||')' bulk collect into v_o ;
end;
... either use loop (probably slowest):
declare
type strings is table of varchar2(5);
v_i strings := strings('A', 'X', 'Q');
v_o strings := strings();
begin
for rec in (select * from dual) loop
if rec.dummy member of v_i then
v_o.extend();
v_o(v_o.count) := rec.dummy;
end if;
end loop;
end;