IN Mode

An IN parameter pass the values to the subprogram being called. Within the subprogram, an IN parameter acts like a constant. And hence, it cannot be assigned a value. For illustration, the assignment statement below causes a compilation error:

PROCEDURE debit_account (acct_id IN INTEGER, amount IN REAL) IS

minimum_purchase CONSTANT REAL DEFAULT 10.0;

service_charge CONSTANT REAL DEFAULT 0.50;

BEGIN

IF amount < minimum_purchase THEN

amount := amount + service_charge; -- causes compilation error

END IF;

...

END debit_account;

The actual parameter that correspond to an IN formal parameter can be a literal, constant, initialized variable, or expression. Dissimilar OUT and IN OUT parameters, the IN parameters can be initialized to default values.