FOR LOOP

Description

With each iteration of the FOR LOOP statement, its statements run, its index is either incremented or decremented, and control returns to the top of the loop. (Oracle PL/SQL Language Reference FOR LOOP Statement).

FOR
pls_identifier [ MUTABLE | IMMUTABLE ] [ constrained_type ]
[ , iterand_decl ]

IN

[ REVERSE ] iteration_control pred_clause_seq
[, qual_iteration_ctl]...

LOOP
statement... 
END LOOP [ label ] ;
FOR <counter_variable> IN [ REVERSE ] <start> TO <end> { DO | LOOP }
    statement;
    [ statement; ... ]
END { FOR | LOOP } [ <label> ] ;

Snowflake Scripting supports FOR LOOP that loops a specified number of times. The upper and lower bounds must be INTEGER. Check more information in the Snowflake Scripting documentation.

Oracle FOR LOOP behavior can also be modified by using the statements:

Sample Source Patterns

1. FOR LOOP

2. FOR LOOP with additional clauses

3. FOR LOOP with multiple conditions

4. FOR LOOP with unsupported format

Known Issues

1. For With Multiple Conditions

Oracle allows multiple conditions in a single FOR LOOP however, Snowflake Scripting only allows one condition per FOR LOOP. Only the first condition is migrated and the others are ignored during transformation. Check SSC-FDM-OR0022.

2. Mutable vs Inmutable Counter Variable

Oracle allows modifying the value of the FOR LOOP variable inside the loop. The current documentation includes this functionality but Snowflake recommends avoiding this. Modifying the value of this variable may not behave correctly in Snowflake Scripting.

3. Integer vs Float number for Upper or Lower Bound

Snowflake Scripting only allows an INTEGER or an expression that evaluates to an INTEGER as a bound for the FOR LOOP condition. Floating numbers will be rounded up or down and alter the original bound. Check SSC-EWI-OR0102.

4. Oracle Unsupported Clauses

Oracle allows additional clauses to the FOR LOOP condition. Like the BY clause for a stepped increment in the condition. And the WHILE and WHEN clause for boolean expressions. These additional clauses are not supported in Snowflake Scripting and are ignored during transformation. Check SSC-EWI-OR0101.

5. Unsupported Formats

Oracle allows different types of conditions for a FOR LOOP. It supports boolean expressions, collections, records... However, Snowflake scripting only supports FOR LOOP with defined integers as bounds. All other formats are marked as not supported and require additional manual effort to be transformed. Check SSC-EWI-OR0103.

  1. SSC-FDM-0024: Functionality is not currently supported by Snowflake Scripting.

  2. SSC-EWI-0062: Custom type usage changed to variant.

  3. SSC-FDM-OR0022: For Loop With Multiple Conditions Is Currently Not Supported By Snowflake Scripting. Only First Condition Is Used.

  4. SSC-EWI-OR0101: Specific For Loop Clause Is Currently Not Supported By Snowflake Scripting.

  5. SSC-EWI-OR0102: For Loop With Float Number As Bound May Not Behave Correctly In Snowflake Scripting.

  6. SSC-EWI-OR0103: For Loop Format Is Currently Not Supported By Snowflake Scripting.

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