1. PL/SQL Packages and Types Reference
  2. DBMS_PLSQL_CODE_COVERAGE

127 DBMS_PLSQL_CODE_COVERAGE

The DBMS_PLSQL_CODE_COVERAGE package provides an interface for the collection of code coverage data of PL/SQL applications at the basic block level.

This chapter contains the following topics:

127.1 DBMS_PLSQL_CODE_COVERAGE Overview

The DBMS_PLSQL_CODE_COVERAGE package provides an interface for collecting code coverage information at the basic block level of PL/SQL applications. A basic block refers to a single entry single exit block of PL/SQL code. PL/SQL developers want to know how well their test infrastructure exercised their code. The coverage tables are created using the CREATE_COVERAGE_TABLES procedure.

A typical code coverage run in a session involves calls to :

  • START_COVERAGE

  • Run PL/SQL code

  • STOP_COVERAGE

See Also:

127.2 DBMS_PLSQL_CODE_COVERAGE Security Model

The user must have EXECUTE privilege on the DBMS_PLSQL_CODE_COVERAGE package.

The user must have CREATE privilege on the unit to collect coverage information about this unit.

Coverage information is not collected for wrapped units.

127.3 Summary of DBMS_PLSQL_CODE_COVERAGE Subprograms

This table lists the DBMS_PLSQL_CODE_COVERAGE subprograms and briefly describes them.

Table 127-1 DBMS_PLSQL_CODE_COVERAGE Package Subprograms

Subprogram Description

CREATE_COVERAGE_TABLES Procedure

Creates coverage tables

START_COVERAGE Function

Starts the coverage data collection in the user’s session and returns the RUN_ID

STOP_COVERAGE Procedure

Ends the current coverage run

127.3.1 CREATE_COVERAGE_TABLES Procedure

This procedure creates the tables used for coverage data collection.

Syntax

DBMS_PLSQL_CODE_COVERAGE.CREATE_COVERAGE_TABLES (
   FORCE_IT     IN BOOLEAN DEFAULT FALSE);

Parameters

Parameter Description

FORCE_IT

The default is to raise an error if the coverage tables already exists. If set to TRUE, the tables are dropped silently if the tables already exist, and new tables are created.

Exceptions

Table 127-2 CREATE_COVERAGE_TABLES Exceptions

Exception Description
COVERAGE_ERROR

The FORCE_IT parameter is FALSE and the tables already exist.

127.3.2 START_COVERAGE Function

This function starts the coverage data collection in the user’s session and returns a unique identifier RUN_ID for the run.

Syntax

DBMS_PLSQL_CODE_COVERAGE.START_COVERAGE (
   run_comment   IN VARCHAR2) 
   RETURN NUMBER;

Parameters

Parameter Description

run_comment

Allows the user to name a run and identify the test.

127.3.3 STOP_COVERAGE Procedure

This procedure ends the current coverage run.

Syntax

DBMS_PLSQL_CODE_COVERAGE.STOP_COVERAGE;

Exceptions

Table 127-3 STOP_COVERAGE Exceptions

Exception Description
COVERAGE_ERROR

An error is raised if the coverage tables do not exist.