How to create an APEX_COLLECTION? - oracle-sqldeveloper

Question

I want to create an apex_collection in the Oracle SQL Developer for my apex webapplication.
Here's my code:
apex_collections.create_or_truncate_collection('TEST');
After running the statement I get the following:
If I enter the select-statement:
SELECT *
FROM apex_collections
WHERE collection_name = 'TEST';
afterwards, I get this:
It seems to me that no collection has been created,although there is no error code. What am I doing wrong? Why is the collection not created? I also tried to run the statement in the SQL Workshop of Oracle APEX, but the command is unknown there. I am using Oracle 12c version.

Answer 1

You will need a valid APEX session to create the collection. If you are on APEX 18.1 or later, use the procedure apex_session.create_session (see documentation) to create one. Make sure that the app_id is valid for the workspace that your schema is assigned to.
For anything before 18.1, OraOpenSource oos-utils has a procedure that does the same: oos_util_apex.create_session (see code). You will need to install oos-utils, or at least compile this package in your schema. Alternatively, replicate the activity contained in this procedure.
Update: Also, I just noticed Jeff Smith's comments. You will need to add members to the collection in order to get meaningful results.
begin
apex_session.create_session(
p_app_id => 100
, p_page_id => 1
, p_username => 'somebody'
);
end;
/
select * from apex_collections; -- shows nothing
begin
apex_collection.create_or_truncate_collection(
p_collection_name => 'test'
);
apex_collection.add_member(
p_collection_name => 'test'
, p_c001 => 'test row'
);
end;
/
select * from apex_collections; -- shows one record
Also, if you are using SQLDEV to troubleshoot the collections in an APEX session, then you'll want to use either the apex_session.attach or oos_util_apex.join_session procedure, depending on the version of APEX you are running. Use the APEX Session ID assigned to your browser session.
HTH.