EXCEPTION_INIT Pragma

The pragma EXCEPTION_INIT associates an exception name with an Oracle error number. You can intercept any ORA- error and write a specific handler for it instead of using the OTHERS handler. For more information, see "Associating a PL/SQL Exception with a Number: Pragma EXCEPTION_INIT".

Syntax

Description of the illustration exception_init_pragma.gif

Keyword and Parameter Description

error_number

Any valid Oracle error number. These are the same error numbers (always negative) returned by the function SQLCODE.

exception_name

A user-defined exception declared within the current scope.

PRAGMA

Signifies that the statement is a compiler directive.

Usage Notes

You can use EXCEPTION_INIT in the declarative part of any PL/SQL block, subprogram, or package. The pragma must appear in the same declarative part as its associated exception, somewhere after the exception declaration.

Be sure to assign only one exception name to an error number.

Example

The following pragma associates the exception deadlock_detected with Oracle error 60:

DECLARE
   deadlock_detected EXCEPTION;
   PRAGMA EXCEPTION_INIT(deadlock_detected, -60);
BEGIN
   ...
EXCEPTION
   WHEN deadlock_detected THEN
      -- handle the error
   ...
END;

Related Topics

AUTONOMOUS_TRANSACTION Pragma, Exceptions, SQLCODE Function