SQLERRM Function

The SQLERRM function returns the error message associated with an error number.

You cannot use SQLERRM directly in a SQL statement. Assign the value of SQLERRM to a local variable first.

If a function invokes SQLERRM, and you use the RESTRICT_REFERENCES pragma to assert its purity, you cannot specify the constraints WNPS and RNPS.

Topics:

• Syntax

• Semantics

• Examples

• Related Topics

Syntax

sqlerrm_function ::=

Semantics

error_number

An expression whose value is an Oracle Database error number. For a list of Oracle Database error numbers, see Oracle Database Error Messages.

The default error number is the one associated with the current value of SQLCODE. Like SQLCODE, SQLERRM without error_number is useful only in an exception handler. Outside an exception handler, or if the value of error_number is zero, SQLERRM returns ORA-0000.

If the value of error_number is +100, SQLERRM returns ORA-01403.

If the value of error_number is a positive number other than +100, SQLERRM returns this message:

-error_number: non-ORACLE exception

If the value of error_number is a negative number whose absolute value is an Oracle Database error number, SQLERRM returns the error message associated with that error number. For example:

BEGIN
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('SQLERRM(-6511): ' || TO_CHAR(SQLERRM(-6511)));
END;
/

Result:

SQLERRM(-6511): ORA-06511: PL/SQL: cursor already open

If the value of error_number is a negative number whose absolute value is not an Oracle Database error number, SQLERRM returns this message:

ORA-error_number: Message error_number not found;  product=RDBMS;
facility=ORA

For example:

BEGIN
  DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('SQLERRM(-50000): ' || TO_CHAR(SQLERRM(-50000)));
END;
/

Result:

SQLERRM(-50000): ORA-50000: Message 50000 not found;  product=RDBMS;
facility=ORA

Examples

• Example 11-14, "Displaying SQLCODE and SQLERRM"

• Example 12-11, "FORALL Statement and SQL%BULK_EXCEPTIONS"

Related Topics

In this chapter:

• "Block"

• "EXCEPTION_INIT Pragma"

• "RESTRICT_REFERENCES Pragma"

• "SQLCODE Function"

In other chapters:

• "Error Code and Error Message Retrieval"