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dunkin1969

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ORACLE How to SELECT INTO a TEMP TABLE

Hello,

I want to SELECT into a TEMP TABLE.  The Temp table DOES NOT EXIST.  Can I create a temp table on the fly?

For example:

SELECT *
INTO TEMP_TABLE (doesn't yet exist)
FROM....
WHERE....

IS this possible in Oracle SQL?

Thanks!
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Michael Fowler
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slightwv (䄆 Netminder)

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dunkin1969

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Michael74,
Thanks I think that will work for me.  Even if the data is lost when session ends.

Slightw,
I assume you're saying to create my temp table first, then insert into it.  I was trying to prevent having to create the tables manually first.  I remember in SQL, all I had to do was SELECT INTO #TableName... I was hoping Oracle had something similar.

Thanks!
Temp tables in Oracle don't work like some other databases.

There isn't a transient temp table that magically goes away when you no longer need it.  Just the data.

You create the table, you must drop it when you are done.

>>I was trying to prevent having to create the tables manually first

You only create it once EVER.  It is never dropped.

It isn't:
create table.
use table.
drop table.

It is:
create table.
use table FOREVER AND ALWAYS (never dropped).
Thanks for the explanation Slightw.

I don't care if the temp table is dropped after my session ends.  My purpose for using temp tables is to alleviate subqueries and make performance better on our slow server.  I just need the temp tables for that session.  Which is why I didn't need to create the table first (I hate having to do that just for something i only need on a temp basis)... especially if there are 100+ columns I'd have to create.  Much easier to use the temp table method like in the SQL i'm used to:

SELECT *
INTO #Temp
FROM
  (SELECT...)

But like I said, for my particular purpose, I will use the method suggested by Micheal74.  Thank you
>>I don't care if the temp table is dropped after my session ends.

You should.  If you don't drop it, it will remain in the data dictionary forever.