14
DBMS_DESCRIBE

You can use the DBMS_DESCRIBE package to get information about a PL/SQL object. When you specify an object name, DBMS_DESCRIBE returns a set of indexed tables with the results. Full name translation is performed and security checking is also checked on the final object.

This package provides the same functionality as the Oracle Call Interface OCIDescribeAny call.

This chapter discusses the following topics:

• Security, Types, and Errors for DBMS_DESCRIBE
• Summary of DBMS_DESCRIBE Subprograms

Security, Types, and Errors for DBMS_DESCRIBE

Security

This package is available to PUBLIC and performs its own security checking based on the schema object being described.

Types

The DBMS_DESCRIBE package declares two PL/SQL table types, which are used to hold data returned by DESCRIBE_PROCEDURE in its OUT parameters. The types are:

TYPE VARCHAR2_TABLE IS TABLE OF VARCHAR2(30)
 INDEX BY BINARY_INTEGER;

TYPE NUMBER_TABLE IS TABLE OF NUMBER
    INDEX BY BINARY_INTEGER;

Errors

DBMS_DESCRIBE can raise application errors in the range -20000 to -20004.

Table 14-1 DBMS_DESCRIBE Errors

Error	Description
ORA-20000	ORU 10035: cannot describe a package ('X') only a procedure within a package.
ORA-20001	ORU-10032: procedure 'X' within package 'Y' does not exist.
ORA-20002	ORU-10033: object 'X' is remote, cannot describe; expanded name 'Y'.
ORA-20003	ORU-10036: object 'X' is invalid and cannot be described.
ORA-20004	Syntax error attempting to parse 'X'.