Causes of ORA-4068 Errors
-------------------------
1) A dependent object was altered through a DDL statement.
When a package is compiled, all copies in the shared pool are
flagged as invalid. The next invocation of the package sees
this flag set, and goes to get a new copy.
If the package is now invalid, cannot compile, or relied on
a package state (i.e., package level variables), then this error
occurs because the current copy of the package is no longer valid
and must be thrown out.
2) The package was changed or recompiled (both DDL) and the package
being used contains package level variables.
Same as above. When a package dependency is altered through
DDL statements (DROP, CREATE, ALTER, ...), this package is
flagged as invalid through cascade invalidation.
3) A package relied on another package that had no body, and during
execution, the call failed.
When a package is compiled, it only looks for the specification.
During execution, it calls a non-existent routine and throws an
error. This error then invalidates the package.
Another variation is if the procedure being called is not defined
in the package body and possibly as a standalone routine.
4) A remote dependent object has been altered through a DDL statement.
This can occur between database instances or from Forms or Reports
to a database instance.
The default remote dependency model uses the Timestamp model, and when
an execution of a procedure takes place, the remote object's timestamp
is validated, thus forcing invalidation on the local package.
To check for these situations, several SQL statements can be run:
a. To check the package's last compile:
SELECT object_name, object_type, owner, status, last_ddl_time FROM
dba_objects WHERE object_name = '
For example:
SQL> SELECT object_name, object_type, owner, status, last_ddl_time FROM
2 dba_objects WHERE object_name = 'DBMS_SQL';
OBJECT_NAME
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OBJECT_TYPE OWNER STATUS LAST_DDL_
------------- ------------------------------ ------- ---------
DBMS_SQL
PACKAGE SYS VALID 13-JUL-99
DBMS_SQL
PACKAGE BODY SYS VALID 13-JUL-99
DBMS_SQL
SYNONYM PUBLIC VALID 13-JUL-99
SQL>
b. To check the dependent objects last alteration:
SELECT object_name, object_type, owner, status, last_ddl_time FROM
dba_objects WHERE ( object_name, object_type ) IN ( SELECT
referenced_name, referenced_type FROM dba_dependencies WHERE name =
'
For example:
SQL> SELECT object_name, object_type, owner, status, last_ddl_time FROM
2 dba_objects WHERE ( object_name, object_type ) IN ( SELECT
3 referenced_name, referenced_type FROM dba_dependencies WHERE name =
4 'DBMS_SQL' );
OBJECT_NAME
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
OBJECT_TYPE OWNER STATUS LAST_DDL_
------------- ------------------------------ ------- ---------
DBMS_SQL
PACKAGE SYS VALID 13-JUL-99
DBMS_SYS_SQL
PACKAGE SYS VALID 13-JUL-99
STANDARD
PACKAGE SYS VALID 13-JUL-99
SQL>
c. To check for existing errors on package:
SELECT name, type, text FROM dba_errors WHERE name = '
For example:
SQL> SELECT name, type, text FROM dba_errors WHERE name = 'DBMS_SQL';
no rows selected
SQL>
Solutions for ORA-4068 Errors
-----------------------------
1) Simply re-execute the package.
For example:
Session 1: Create the package and body for package p_pack:
SQL> create or replace package p_pack as
2 p_var varchar2(1);
3 procedure p;
4 end p_pack;
5 /
Package created.
SQL> create or replace package body p_pack as
2 procedure p is
3 begin
4 p_var := 1;
5 end;
6 end p_pack;
7 /
Package body created.
SQL>
Session 2: Execute the package:
SQL> exec p_pack.p
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL>
Session 1: Recreate the package and body:
SQL> create or replace package p_pack as
2 p_var varchar2(1);
3 procedure p;
4 end p_pack;
5 /
Package created.
SQL> create or replace package body p_pack as
2 procedure p is
3 begin
4 p_var := 1;
5 end;
6 end p_pack;
7 /
Package body created.
SQL>
Session 2: Re-execute the package:
SQL> exec p_pack.p
begin p_pack.p; end;
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-04068: existing state of packages has been discarded
ORA-04061: existing state of package "SCOTT.P_PACK" has been invalidated
ORA-04065: not executed, altered or dropped package "SCOTT.P_PACK"
ORA-06508: PL/SQL: could not find program unit being called
ORA-06512: at line 1
SQL> exec p_pack.p
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL>
As background, when the ORA-4068 is raised, ORACLE will throw away all
existing instantiations of the package. When the package (more properly,
the subprogram referring to the package) is re-executed, ORACLE will
re-instantiate the package automatically (if possible), which
typically will succeed, and re-execution of the subprogram will succeed.
An important proviso is that the ORA-4068 error must be unhandled on exit
from the subprogram in order for this solution to work. It's only when an
_unhandled_ ORA-4068 is returned by PL/SQL to ORACLE that the needed
deinstantiations take place.
(The ORA-4068 may be handled in the subprogram and various actions
taken in the handler, but the error must be reraised in order for it to be
unhandled on exit from PL/SQL to get the desired deinstantiations.)
2) Attempt to recompile the package by using the ALTER PACKAGE command.
For example:
SQL> ALTER PACKAGE DBMS_SQL COMPILE;
Package altered.
SQL>
3) Verify that proper execute permissions have been provided. In PL/SQL
stored program units, roles are disabled prior to the release of Oracle
8i. Oracle 8i definers rights follow the previous release model of
requiring explicit permission to the object.
In Oracle 8i, if invoker's rights are set on the routine, then execution
is done with roles enabled, so permission could be granted explicitly to
the schema executing or through a role. For additional information,
refer to Note:162489.1 entitled "Invokers Rights Procedure Executed by Definers Rights Procedures".
For example:
SQL> SELECT owner, table_name, privilege FROM dba_tab_privs WHERE
2 table_name = 'DBMS_SQL' AND ( grantee = 'SCOTT' OR grantee = 'PUBLIC' );
OWNER TABLE_NAME
------------------------------ ------------------------------
PRIVILEGE
----------------------------------------
SYS DBMS_SQL
EXECUTE
SQL>
4) If errors exist (check DBA_ERRORS or USER_ERRORS views with above
query), then take the appropriate action to correct the errors.
If the package is a system package that comes with the Oracle server,
the scripts are located in $ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/admin. Most packages have
their own .sql and .plb script to build the specification and body (see
below for names).
System packages that come with the Oracle server, as well as other Oracle
products, typically need to be owned by a particular schema. In the case
of the Oracle server DBMS packages, these need to be owned by SYS. If these
packages are not owned by SYS, some packages start getting 'ORA-6509 PL/SQL
ICD vector missing for this package' errors.
5) If duplicate SYS owned objects exist, clean them up. Refer to
Note:1030426.6, entitled "HOW TO CLEAN UP DUPLICATE OBJECTS OWNED BY
SYS AND SYSTEM SCHEMA", for information on this.
$ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/admin Packages
---------------------------------
System Package Name Package Spc Package Bdy Owner
------------------- ----------- ----------- -----
DBMS_ALERT dbmsalrt.sql prvtalrt.plb SYS
DBMS_APPLICATION_INFO dbmsapin.sql prvtapin.plb SYS
DBMS_AQ dbmsaq.plb prvtaq.plb SYS
DBMS_AQADM dbmsaqad.sql prvtaqad.plb SYS
DBMS_CRYPTO_TOOLKIT dbmsoctk.sql prvtoctk.plb SYS
DBMS_DDL dbmsutil.sql prvtutil.plb SYS
DBMS_DEBUG dbmspb.sql prvtpb.plb SYS
DBMS_DEFER dbmsdefr.sql prvtdefr.plb SYS
DBMS_DEFER_QUERY dbmsdefr.sql prvtdefr.plb SYS
DBMS_DEFER_SYS dbmsdefr.sql prvtdefr.plb SYS
DBMS_DESCRIBE dbmsdesc.sql prvtdesc.plb SYS
DBMS_DISTRIBUTED_TRUST_ADMIN
dbmstrst.sql prvttrst.plb SYS
DBMS_HS dbmshs.sql prvths.plb SYS
DBMS_IOT dbmsiotc.sql prvtiotc.plb SYS
DBMS_JOB dbmsjob.sql prvtjob.plb SYS
DBMS_LOB dbmslob.sql prvtlob.plb SYS
DBMS_LOCK dbmslock.sql prvtlock.plb SYS
DBMS_LOGMNR dbmslm.sql prvtlm.plb SYS
DBMS_LOGMNR_D dbmslmd.sql dbmslmd.sql SYS
DBMS_OFFLINE_OG dbmsofln.sql prvtofln.plb SYS
DBMS_OFFLINE_SNAPSHOT dbmsofsn.sql prvtofsn.plb SYS
DBMS_ORACLE_TRACE_AGENT
dbmsotrc.sql prvtotrc.plb SYS
DBMS_ORACLE_TRACE_USER
dbmsotrc.sql prvtotrc.plb SYS
DBMS_OUTPUT dbmsotpt.sql prvtotpt.plb SYS
DBMS_PCLXUTIL dbmsutil.sql prvtutil.plb SYS
DBMS_PIPE dbmspipe.sql prvtpipe.sql SYS
DBMS_RANDOM dbmsrand.sql dbmsrand.sql SYS
DBMS_RECTIFIER_DIFF dbmsrctf.sql prvtrctf.plb SYS
DBMS_REFRESH dbmssnap.sql prvtsnap.plb SYS
DBMS_REPAIR dbmsrpr.sql prvtrpr.plb SYS
DBMS_REPCAT dbmshrep.sql prvtbrep.plb SYS
DBMS_REPCAT_ADMIN prvthdmn.plb prvtbdmn.plb SYS
DBMS_REPCAT_INSTANTIATE
dbmsrint.sql prvtbrnt.plb SYS
DBMS_REPCAT_RGT dbmsrgt.sql prvtbrgt.plb SYS
DBMS_REPUTIL dbms_gen.sql prvtgen.plb SYS
DBMS_RESOURCE_MANAGER dbmsrmad.sql prvtrmad.plb SYS
DBMS_RESOURCE_MANAGER_PRIVS
dbmsrmpr.sql prvtrmpr.plb SYS
DBMS_RLS dbmsrlsa.sql prvtrlsa.plb SYS
DBMS_ROWID dbmsutil.sql prvtutil.plb SYS
DBMS_SESSION dbmsutil.sql prvtutil.plb SYS
DBMS_SHARED_POOL dbmspool.sql prvtpool.plb SYS
DBMS_SNAPSHOT dbmssnap.sql prvtsnap.plb SYS
DBMS_SPACE dbmsutil.sql prvtutil.plb SYS
DBMS_SPACE_ADMIN dbmsspc.sql prvtspad.plb SYS
DBMS_SQL dbmssql.sql prvtsql.plb SYS
DBMS_STATS dbmsstat.sql prvtstat.plb SYS
DBMS_TRACE dbmspbt.sql prvtpbt.plb SYS
DBMS_TRANSACTION dbmsutil.sql prvtutil.plb SYS
DBMS_UTILITY dbmsutil.sql prvtutil.plb SYS
OUTLN_PKG dbmsol.sql prvtol.plb SYS
UTL_COLL utlcoll.sql prvtcoll.plb SYS
UTL_FILE utlfile.sql prvtfile.plb SYS
UTL_HTTP utlhttp.sql prvthttp.plb SYS
UTL_RAW utlraw.sql prvtrawb.plb SYS
UTL_REF utlref.sql prvtref.plb SYS
References
----------
"Oracle7 Server Application Developer's Guide", (A32536-1)
"Oracle8 Server Application Developer's Guide", (A54642-01)
"Oracle8i Application Developer's Guide - Fundamentals Release 8.1.5",
(A68003-01)
Related Articles
----------------
Note:19857.1 OERR: ORA 4068 "existing state of packages%s%s%s has been
discarded"
Note:19854.1 OERR: ORA 4065 "not executed, altered or dropped %s"
Note:19850.1 OERR: ORA 4061 "existing state of %s has been invalidated"
Note:20065.1 OERR: ORA 6508 "PL/SQL: could not find program unit being
called"
Note:1012129.102 ORA-4068,4067,6508 When Executing a Procedure Using PL/SQL
Note:117118.1 Errors Running or Compiling DBMS_RANDOM or DBMS_CRYPTO_TOOLKIT
Note:1030426.6 HOW TO CLEAN UP DUPLICATE OBJECTS OWNED BY SYS AND SYSTEM
SCHEMA
Note:1012129.102 ORA-4068,4067,6508 WHEN EXECUTING A PROCEDURE USING PLSQL
