Resolving the ORA-00933 and PLS-00103 Errors in Oracle SQL

Learn how to effectively resolve the `ORA-00933: SQL command not properly ended` and `PLS-00103` errors in your Oracle PL/SQL code with easy steps and clear explanations.
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Understanding the Errors in Oracle SQL

If you've been working with Oracle SQL and stumbled upon the errors: ORA-00933: SQL command not properly ended and PLS-00103, you're not alone. These common error codes can be frustrating, especially when they interrupt your PL/SQL scripts or code execution. Let's dive into the causes of these errors and how to resolve them effectively.

What Caused the Errors?

The errors reported in the example code may stem from improper placement of SQL statements or syntax issues. These problems can arise when:

SQL command endings are not appropriately formatted.

Misplaced WHERE clauses can be responsible for the SQL commands being ignored.

Code lack proper closing structures for control statements, making the interpreter confused about the expected syntax.

Here’s a breakdown of the specific errors you’re encountering:

ORA-00933: This indicates that your SQL command does not have the appropriate ending, which can happen because of extra characters or incorrect formatting.

PLS-00103: This error signifies that the PL/SQL parser found an unexpected symbol, such as LOOP in this case, when it was anticipating something else (likely due to misplaced syntax).

How to Resolve the Errors

1. Reviewing the SQL Statement

First, inspect your SQL statements to ensure they are correctly formed. In your case, the placement of WHERE clauses was problematic. Let's adjust the SQL command structure as follows:

Correct Placement of WHERE Clauses: The following segment from your code has misplaced WHERE clauses:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Replace it with a unified UPDATE statement that handles all assignments in a single SET clause followed by a WHERE:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

2. Use Proper Control Structures

Verify the control structures in your PL/SQL code to ensure there are proper logic flows with IF statements. For example:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Ensure that all IF and ELSE blocks are properly closed to prevent parser errors.

3. Final Revamped Code Snippet

Here is the revised PL/SQL code after making these adjustments:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By ensuring that all SQL statements are fully and correctly formed, and control structures are properly closed, you can easily resolve common errors like ORA-00933 and PLS-00103. This will enable smoother execution of your PL/SQL programs and save you time in troubleshooting.

If you encounter similar issues in the future, refer back to this guide to identify and fix syntax-related problems quickly. Happy coding!