Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!bellcore!texbell!merch!cpe!hal6000!tdpvax!miker
From: miker@tdpvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Re: Oracle: Previous Record
Message-ID: <3900002@tdpvax>
Date: 19 Jul 89 18:48:00 GMT
References: <20532@cup.portal.com>
Lines: 32
Nf-ID: #R:cup.portal.com:20532:tdpvax:3900002:000:1342
Nf-From: tdpvax.UUCP!miker    Jul 19 13:48:00 1989


/* ---------- "Re: Oracle: Previous Record" ---------- */
>    Because Oracle is a relational and SQL oriented database
>which means you should think *sets* not record-at-a-time!
>Previous record has no valid meaning in a truly relational system
>where by definition physical ordering is irrelevant.

OK, I really meant previous record in the context of the results of an SQL
query.  I don't care in what order Oracle stores rows internally.

>    You didn't mention *how* you are accessing your data in your posting,
>i.e. through SQL*Forms, Sql*Plus, Pro*C, etc.  

I am using Pro*C.

>I would suggest one method is to use the ROWID, just save each row's 
>ROWID in a "prevrow" variable and then use it to "recall the previous record" 

But I want to be able to 'Previous' all the way back to the first record if 
needed.  If the table contains 100,000+ records than this gets ridiculous 
when one must build an internal table or external file and then re-execute
a single record query to retreive the record.

>Let me again caution you, however, that the very fact that you feel
>the need to do this indicates to me that you may not be
>"thinking relationally" in which case you are missing the
>real power of Oracle and SQL!

By that definition Oracle is voilating the same 'rules' in SQL*Forms.

Michael Reamy
Tandy Information Services