PL/SQL Language Elements, 16 of 52

EXCEPTION_INIT Pragma

The pragma EXCEPTION_INIT associates an exception name with an Oracle error number. That lets you refer to any internal exception by name and to write a specific handler for it instead of using the OTHERS handler. For more information, see "Associating a PL/SQL Exception with a Number: Pragma EXCEPTION_INIT".

Syntax

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Keyword and Parameter Description

error_number

This is any valid Oracle error number. These are the same error numbers returned by the function SQLCODE.

exception_name

This identifies a user-defined exception previously declared within the current scope.

PRAGMA

This keyword signifies that the statement is a pragma (compiler directive). Pragmas are processed at compile time, not at run time. They do not affect the meaning of a program; they simply convey information to the compiler.

Usage Notes

You can use EXCEPTION_INIT in the declarative part of any PL/SQL block, subprogram, or package. The pragma must appear in the same declarative part as its associated exception, somewhere after the exception declaration.

Be sure to assign only one exception name to an error number.

Example

The following pragma associates the exception deadlock_detected with Oracle error 60:

DECLARE
   deadlock_detected EXCEPTION;
   PRAGMA EXCEPTION_INIT(deadlock_detected, -60);
BEGIN
   ...
EXCEPTION
   WHEN deadlock_detected THEN
      -- handle the error
   ...
END;