PL/SQL Procedure Char Parameter

Question

This is quite possibly a very stupid question but I've tried searching for and answer and come up empty.

I'm writing a procedure that takes a single parameter of type CHAR. i.e:

  CREATE PROCEDURE Proc1 (Param1 CHAR(5))
  AS
  BEGIN
    ...
  END;

This doesn't work and throws an error around the CHAR(5) area. If I don't specify a size for the parameter, so just leave it as CHAR it works fine. I've tried including the keyword IN but this makes no difference.

Is there anyway of specifying a size for parameters in PL/SQL procedures?

Answer 1

Is there anyway of specifying a size for parameters in PL/SQL procedures?

No, as documented in the manual

Quote from http://docs.oracle.com/cd/B19306_01/appdev.102/b14261/subprograms.htm#sthref1640

For each parameter, you specify:
- Its name.
- Its parameter mode (...)
- Its datatype. You specify only the type, not any length or precision constraints

(Emphasis mine)