B Reserved Words, Keywords, and Namespaces

Topics in this appendix include:

Reserved Words and Keywords

Some words are reserved by Oracle. That is, they have a special meaning to Oracle and cannot be redefined. For this reason, you cannot use them to name database objects such as columns, tables, or indexes. To view the lists of the Oracle reserved words for SQL and PL/SQL, see the Oracle Database SQL Language Reference and the Oracle Database PL/SQL Language Reference.

Like COBOL keywords, you cannot use Pro*COBOL keywords as variables in your program(s). Otherwise, an error will be generated. An error may result if they are used as the name of a database object such as a column. Here are the keywords used in Pro*COBOL.

Keywords in Pro*COBOL Keywords in Pro*COBOL Keywords in Pro*COBOL
all allocate alter
analyze and any
append arraylen as
asc assign at
audit authorization avg
begin between bind
both break buffer
buffering by call
cast char character
character_set_name charf charz
check chunksize close
comment commit connect
constraint constraints context
continue convbufsz copy
count create current
currval cursor data
database date datetime_interval_code
datetime_interval_precision day deallocate
decimal declare default
define delete desc
describe descriptor directory
disable display distinct
do drop else
enable end end-exec
endif erase escape
exec execute exists
explain extract fetch
file fileexists filename
first float flush
for force found
free from function
get global go
goto grant group
having hold host_stride_length
hour iaf identified
ifdef ifndef immediate
in include indicator
indicator_stride_length input insert
integer internal_length intersect
interval into is
isopen istemporary last
leading length level
like list load
lob local lock
long max message
min minus minute
mode month name
national_character nchar next
nextval noaudit not
notfound nowait null
nullable number nvarchar2
octet_length of one
only open option
or oracle order
output overlaps overpunch
package partition perform
precision prepare prior
procedure put raw
read ref reference
release rename replace
return returned_length returned_octet_length
returning revoke role
rollback rowid rownum
savepoint scale second
section select set
some sql sql-context
sql-cursor sqlerror sqlwarning
start statement stddev
stop string sum
sysdate sysdba sysoper
table temporary threads
time timestamp timezone_hour
timezone_minute to tools
trailing transaction trigger
trim truncate type
uid union unique
unsigned user_defined_type_name user_defined_type_name_length
user_defined_type_schema user_defined_type_schema_length user_defined_type_version
update use user
using validate value
values var varchar
varchar2 variables variance
varnum varraw view
whenever where with
work write year
zone - -

Reserved Namespaces

Table B-1 contains a list of namespaces that are reserved by Oracle. The initial characters of subprogram names in Oracle libraries are restricted to the character strings in this list. Because of potential name conflicts, use subprogram names that do not begin with these characters.

For example, the Oracle Net Transparent Network Service functions all begin with the characters "NS," so avoid writing subprograms with names beginning with "NS."

Table B-1 Reserved Namespaces

Namespace Library

XA

external functions for XA applications only

SQ

external SQLLIB functions used by Oracle Precompiler and SQL*Module applications

O, OCI

external OCI functions internal OCI functions

UPI, KP

function names from the Oracle UPI layer

NA

NC

ND

NL

NM

NR

NS

NT

NZ

OSN

TTC

Oracle Net Native services product

Oracle Net RPC project

Oracle Net Directory

Oracle Net Network Library layer

Oracle Net Net Management Project

Oracle Net Interchange

Oracle Net Transparent Network Service

Oracle Net Drivers

Oracle Net Security Service

Oracle Net V1

Oracle Net Two task

GEN, L, ORA

Core library functions

LI, LM, LX

function names from the Oracle Globalization Support layer

S

function names from system-dependent libraries