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# oci_define_by_name

(PHP 5, PECL OCI8 >= 1.1.0)

oci_define_by_name — Associates a PHP variable with a column for query fetches

### Description

bool oci_define_by_name ( resource `$statement` , string `$column_name` , mixed `&$variable` [, int `$type` = SQLT_CHR ] )

Associates a PHP variable with a column for query fetches using oci_fetch().

The oci_define_by_name() call must occur before executing oci_execute().

### Parameters

`statement`

  A valid OCI8 statement identifier created by oci_parse() and executed by oci_execute(), or a REF CURSOR statement identifier.

`column_name`

  The column name used in the query.

  Use uppercase for Oracle's default, non-case sensitive column names. Use the exact column name case for case-sensitive column names.

`variable`

  The PHP variable that will contain the returned column value.

`type`

  The data type to be returned. Generally not needed. Note that Oracle-style data conversions are not performed. For example, SQLT_INT will be ignored and the returned data type will still be SQLT_CHR.

  You can optionally use oci_new_descriptor() to allocate LOB/ROWID/BFILE descriptors.

### Return Values

Returns `TRUE` on success or `FALSE` on failure.

### Examples

Example #1 oci_define_by_name() example

`<?php
$conn = oci_connect('hr', 'welcome', 'localhost/XE');
if (!$conn) {
$e = oci_error();
trigger_error(htmlentities($e['message'], ENT_QUOTES), E_USER_ERROR);
}
$sql = 'SELECT location_id, city FROM locations WHERE location_id < 1200';
$stid = oci_parse($conn, $sql);
// The defines MUST be done before executing
oci_define_by_name($stid, 'LOCATION_ID', $locid);
oci_define_by_name($stid, 'CITY', $city);
oci_execute($stid);
// Each fetch populates the previously defined variables with the next row's data
while (oci_fetch($stid)) {
echo "Location id $locid is $city<br>\n";
}
// Displays:
// Location id 1000 is Roma
// Location id 1100 is Venice
oci_free_statement($stid);
oci_close($conn);
?>`

Example #2 oci_define_by_name() with case sensitive column names

`<?php
/*
Before running, create the table with a case sensitive column name:
CREATE TABLE mytab (id NUMBER, "MyDescription" VARCHAR2(30));
INSERT INTO mytab (id, "MyDescription") values (1, 'Iced Coffee');
COMMIT;
*/
$conn = oci_connect('hr', 'welcome', 'localhost/XE');
if (!$conn) {
$e = oci_error();
trigger_error(htmlentities($e['message'], ENT_QUOTES), E_USER_ERROR);
}
$stid = oci_parse($conn, 'SELECT * FROM mytab');
// Use uppercase for non case-sensitive column names
oci_define_by_name($stid, 'ID', $id);
// Use the exact case for case-sensitive column names
oci_define_by_name($stid, 'MyDescription', $mydesc);
oci_execute($stid);
while (oci_fetch($stid)) {
echo "id $id is $mydesc<br>\n";
}
// Displays:
// id 1 is Iced Coffee
oci_free_statement($stid);
oci_close($conn);
?>`

Example #3 oci_define_by_name() with LOB columns

`<?php
/*
Before running, create the table:
CREATE TABLE mytab (id NUMBER, fruit CLOB);
INSERT INTO mytab (id, fruit) values (1, 'apple');
INSERT INTO mytab (id, fruit) values (2, 'orange');
COMMIT;
*/
$conn = oci_connect('hr', 'welcome', 'localhost/XE');
if (!$conn) {
$e = oci_error();
trigger_error(htmlentities($e['message'], ENT_QUOTES), E_USER_ERROR);
}
$stid = oci_parse($conn, 'SELECT * FROM mytab');
// The defines MUST be done before executing
oci_define_by_name($stid, 'ID', $id);
oci_define_by_name($stid, 'FRUIT', $fruit); // $fruit will become a LOB descriptor
oci_execute($stid);
while (oci_fetch($stid)) {
echo $id . " is " . $fruit->load(100) . "<br>\n";
}
// Displays:
// 1 is apple
// 2 is orange
$fruit->free();
oci_free_statement($stid);
oci_close($conn);
?>`

Example #4 oci_define_by_name() with an explicit type

`<?php
/*
Before running, create the table:
CREATE TABLE mytab (id NUMBER, fruit CLOB);
INSERT INTO mytab (id, fruit) values (1, 'apple');
INSERT INTO mytab (id, fruit) values (2, 'orange');
COMMIT;
*/
$conn = oci_connect('hr', 'welcome', 'localhost/XE');
if (!$conn) {
$e = oci_error();
trigger_error(htmlentities($e['message'], ENT_QUOTES), E_USER_ERROR);
}
$stid = oci_parse($conn, 'SELECT * FROM mytab');
// The defines MUST be done before executing
oci_define_by_name($stid, 'ID', $id);
$fruit = oci_new_descriptor($conn, OCI_D_LOB);
oci_define_by_name($stid, 'FRUIT', $fruit, OCI_D_CLOB);
oci_execute($stid);
while (oci_fetch($stid)) {
echo $id . " is " . $fruit->load(100) . "<br>\n";
}
// Displays:
// 1 is apple
// 2 is orange
$fruit->free();
oci_free_statement($stid);
oci_close($conn);
?>`

### Notes

> Note:

> In PHP versions before 5.0.0 use ocidefinebyname() instead. The old function name can still be used in current versions, however it is deprecated and not recommended.

### See Also

- oci_fetch() - Fetches the next row from a query into internal buffers
- oci_new_descriptor() - Initializes a new empty LOB or FILE descriptor

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OCI8 Functions
PHP Manual