How Do I Use SQL code for creating and using Stored Procedures

 Introduction

Using SQL code to create and manage stored procedures is an essential part of developing efficient and organized applications in Oracle APEX. Stored procedures allow you to encapsulate SQL and PL/SQL logic into reusable blocks that can be called from different parts of your application, such as buttons, processes, or dynamic actions. This helps improve performance, maintainability, and code reusability by centralizing business logic within the database.

In Oracle APEX, stored procedures are blocks of PL/SQL code stored in the database that can be called repeatedly to perform tasks such as inserting data, validating input, or processing business rules. Creating and using stored procedures helps keep your application logic organized, reusable, and easier to maintain.

Step 1: Open SQL Workshop
Log in to Oracle APEX and go to the main menu. Click on SQL Workshop, then select SQL Commands or Object Browser to create and manage stored procedures.

Step 2: Write SQL Code to Create a Stored Procedure
You can use the CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE statement to define a stored procedure. Below is an example of a simple procedure that inserts a record into a table called employees.

CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE add_employee (
  p_first_name   IN VARCHAR2,
  p_last_name    IN VARCHAR2,
  p_email        IN VARCHAR2
)
AS
BEGIN
  INSERT INTO employees (first_name, last_name, email)
  VALUES (p_first_name, p_last_name, p_email);
END;

Explanation:

• The procedure is named add_employee.

• It accepts three input parameters: p_first_name, p_last_name, and p_email.

• The BEGIN...END block contains the SQL logic to insert a new row into the employees table.

Step 3: Execute the SQL Code
Click the Run or Execute button in SQL Commands. If the syntax is correct and you have privileges, the procedure will be created in your schema.

Step 4: View and Manage Stored Procedures
To view your stored procedure:

1. Go to SQL Workshop

2. Click on Object Browser

3. Under Procedures, find and click on your procedure name
   You can see the source code, compile status, and edit or drop the procedure from here.

Step 5: Call the Stored Procedure from APEX
You can call the stored procedure from APEX using PL/SQL processes, page buttons, or dynamic actions.

Example: Add a button to a form page that calls the procedure on submit. In the button’s process, write:

BEGIN
  add_employee(:P1_FIRST_NAME, :P1_LAST_NAME, :P1_EMAIL);
END;

This will pass values from page items to the stored procedure and execute it.

Best Practices

• Use clear naming conventions for procedures and parameters.

• Include exception handling inside your procedure using EXCEPTION WHEN OTHERS THEN.

• Keep your business logic in the procedure to make it reusable across different pages.

• Recompile procedures if you make changes to referenced objects.

• Grant appropriate execution privileges if used across schemas.

Using SQL code to create and use stored procedures in Oracle APEX gives you strong control over your business logic and data processes, allowing you to build robust and maintainable applications.

Conclusion

Creating and using stored procedures with SQL code allows Oracle APEX developers to separate business logic from the user interface, resulting in cleaner, more modular applications. Whether you're performing complex calculations, managing transactions, or automating processes, stored procedures offer a powerful way to control how your application interacts with the database. Mastering stored procedure creation is a key skill for building scalable and maintainable APEX solutions.