Using Virtual Columns on 11g: Indexes defined against virtual columns are equivalent to function-based indexes. Virtual columns can be referenced in the WHERE clause of updates and deletes, but they cannot be manipulated by DML. Tables containing virtual columns can still be eligible for result caching. Functions in expressions must be deterministic at the time of table creation, but can subsequently be recompiled and made non-deterministic without invalidating the virtual column. In such cases the following steps must be taken after the function is recompiled: Constraint on the virtual column must be disabled and re-enabled. Indexes on the virtual column must be rebuilt. Materialized views that access the virtual column must be fully refreshed. The result cache must be flushed if cached queries have accessed the virtual column. Table statistics must be regathered. Virtual columns are not supported for index-organized, external, object, cluster, or temporary tables. The expression use...
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