Weak REF CURSOR types are harder to work with than ones with a return type. Indeed, the compiler’s type-checker is unable to make some
verifications, which are then delayed till runtime.
When the use of weak REF CURSOR is required, it is best to use the SYS_REFCURSOR built-in type instead of defining a new
one.
This rule’s sysRefCursorAllowed parameter can be used to control whether or not the usage of SYS_REFCURSOR is allowed.
Noncompliant code example
DECLARE
TYPE dualCursorType IS REF CURSOR; -- Noncompliant
dualCursor dualCursorType;
otherCursor SYS_REFCURSOR; -- Compliant or non-compliant, depending on the "sysRefCursorAllowed" parameter
BEGIN
otherCursor := dualCursor; -- Works
END;
/
Compliant solution
DECLARE
TYPE dualCursorType IS REF CURSOR RETURN DUAL%ROWTYPE;
dualCursor dualCursorType;
TYPE otherCursorType IS REF CURSOR RETURN a%ROWTYPE;
otherCursor otherCursorType;
BEGIN
otherCursor := dualCursor; -- raises PLS-00382: expression is of wrong type, which makes debugging easier
END;
/
