Workaround for cursors using parameters or procedure variables

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Description

This section describes how to simulate the usage of cursor parameters and procedure variables inside the query of a cursor. The name of the variables or parameters is replaced with bindings using the ? sign. Then, when the cursor is opened, the values should be passed with the USING clause.

Some parts in the output code are omitted for clarity reasons.

Cursor with local variables

Use bindings for the query in the cursor for variable or procedure parameter used and open the cursor with the USING clause.

Oracle Cursor

IN -> Oracle_01.sql

CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE oracle_cursor_sample
AS
    like_value VARCHAR(255); 
    CURSOR c1 IS SELECT region_name FROM hr.regions WHERE region_name LIKE like_value ORDER BY region_name;  
    r_name VARCHAR(255);
BEGIN
    like_value := 'E%';
    OPEN c1;
    FETCH c1 INTO r_name;
    CLOSE c1;
    like_value := 'A%';
    FOR r1 IN c1 LOOP
        NULL;
    END LOOP;
END;

Snowflake Scripting Cursor

OUT -> Oracle_01.sql

CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE oracle_cursor_sample ()
RETURNS VARCHAR
LANGUAGE SQL
COMMENT = '{ "origin": "sf_sc", "name": "snowconvert", "version": {  "major": 0,  "minor": 0,  "patch": "0" }, "attributes": {  "component": "oracle",  "convertedOn": "07/14/2025",  "domain": "no-domain-provided" }}'
EXECUTE AS CALLER
AS
$$
    DECLARE
        like_value VARCHAR(255);
        --** SSC-PRF-0009 - PERFORMANCE REVIEW - CURSOR USAGE **
        c1 CURSOR
        FOR
            SELECT region_name FROM
                hr.regions
            WHERE region_name LIKE ?
            ORDER BY region_name;
        r_name VARCHAR(255);
    BEGIN
        like_value := 'E%';
        OPEN c1 USING (like_value);
        FETCH c1 INTO
            :r_name;
    CLOSE c1;
        like_value := 'A%';
        OPEN c1;
        --** SSC-PRF-0004 - THIS STATEMENT HAS USAGES OF CURSOR FOR LOOP **
        FOR r1 IN c1 DO
            NULL;
        END FOR;
        CLOSE c1;
    END;
$$;

Cursor with parameters

Use bindings for the query in the cursor for each parameter used and open the cursor with the USING clause. Keep in mind that a parameter that is used multiple times on a single cursor may require passing the variable multiple times in the USING clause.

Oracle Cursor

IN -> Oracle_02.sql

CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE parametrized_cursor_sample AS
    CURSOR cursor1(param1 number) IS SELECT region_name FROM hr.regions where region_id = param1 ORDER BY region_name;
    var1 integer;
BEGIN
    OPEN cursor1(123);
    FETCH cursor1 INTO var1;
    CLOSE cursor1;
    FOR r1 IN cursor1(456) LOOP
        NULL;
    END LOOP;
END;

Snowflake Scripting Cursor

OUT -> Oracle_02.sql

CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE parametrized_cursor_sample ()
RETURNS VARCHAR
LANGUAGE SQL
COMMENT = '{"origin":"sf_sc","name":"snowconvert","version":{"major":1, "minor":0},"attributes":{"component":"oracle"}}'
EXECUTE AS CALLER
AS
$$
    DECLARE
        --** SSC-PRF-0009 - PERFORMANCE REVIEW - CURSOR USAGE **
        cursor1 CURSOR
        FOR
            SELECT
                OBJECT_CONSTRUCT('REGION_NAME', region_name) sc_cursor_record FROM
                hr.regions
            where region_id = ?
            ORDER BY region_name;
                var1 integer;
    BEGIN
                OPEN cursor1 USING (123);
                FETCH cursor1 INTO
            :var1;
    CLOSE cursor1;
                OPEN cursor1 USING (456);
                --** SSC-PRF-0004 - THIS STATEMENT HAS USAGES OF CURSOR FOR LOOP **
                FOR r1 IN cursor1 DO
            LET r1 OBJECT := r1.sc_cursor_record;
                   NULL;
                END FOR;
                CLOSE cursor1;
    END;
$$;

Related EWIs

1. SSC-PRF-0004: This statement has usages of cursor for loop