Weird dba|all_views text column content [duplicate] - oracle

Question

I want to get the complete SQL code of the system views like USER_OBJECTS. However, when I execute the query below, it returns an error saying view not found in the SYS schema.
select dbms_metadata.get_ddl('VIEW', 'USER_OBJECTS', 'SYS') from dual;
When I execute the query below, it returns some codes in the text_vc column, but not the complete one. I cannot see the tables and where clause etc.
select * from ALL_VIEWS where VIEW_NAME = 'USER_OBJECTS';
But with this query, I can see that it is in the SYS schema with that name.
So, what is the reason that I cannot see the whole query? And is there a way to see it all?

Answer 1

+1 for looking at the definitions of the system views!
The first problem (DBMS_METADATA empty) is a privilege problem. According to the documentation, normal users will see only their own objects. You'll need the role SELECT_CATALOG_ROLE or EXP_FULL_DATABASE to see other users objects.
The second problem (SQL is not complete) comes from the datatype LONG, which - according to Oracle - should not be used anymore. However, it is still used by Oracle for view definitions, defaults, constraint text etc. Because it is so hard to handle, the view ALL_VIEWS has the original text in the LONG column and a truncated text, mostly the first 4000 characters, in the column text_vc, presumably for "text in varchar".
EDIT:
I believe you use Oracle 12 as you mention the column text_vc, which is not available in Oracle 11. Presumably, you are using a containerized database. If so, then please have a look at Data Dictionary Architecture in a CDB. Apparently, the definition of Oracle supplied things like views and packages are only visible in the root container. Sigh!!

Answer 2

In SQL*Plus, you'd set long (I shortened the output):
SQL> set pagesize 0
SQL> set long 10000
SQL>
SQL> select text from all_views where view_name = 'USER_OBJECTS';
select o.name, o.subname, o.obj#, o.dataobj#,
decode(o.type#, 0, 'NEXT OBJECT', 1, 'INDEX', 2, 'TABLE', 3, 'CLUSTER',
4, 'VIEW', 5, 'SYNONYM', 6, 'SEQUENCE',
7, 'PROCEDURE', 8, 'FUNCTION', 9, 'PACKAGE',
11, 'PACKAGE BODY', 12, 'TRIGGER',
<snip>
from sys."_CURRENT_EDITION_OBJ" o
where o.owner# = userenv('SCHEMAID')
and o.linkname is null
and (o.type# not in (1 /* INDEX - handled below */,
10 /* NON-EXISTENT */)
or
<snip>
union all
select l.name, NULL, to_number(null), to_number(null),
'DATABASE LINK',
l.ctime, to_date(null), NULL, 'VALID', 'N', 'N', 'N', NULL, NULL
from sys.link$ l
where l.owner# = userenv('SCHEMAID')
SQL>
Also, your first query works in my database (11g XE) if I'm connected as SYS:
SQL> show user
USER is "SYS"
SQL> select dbms_metadata.get_ddl('VIEW', 'USER_OBJECTS', 'SYS') from dual;
DBMS_METADATA.GET_DDL('VIEW','USER_OBJECTS','SYS')
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CREATE OR REPLACE FORCE VIEW "SYS"."USER_OBJECTS" ("OBJECT_NAME", "SUBOBJECT_N
AME", "OBJECT_ID", "DATA_OBJECT_ID", "OBJECT_TYPE", "CREATED", "LAST_DDL_TIME",
"TIMESTAMP", "STATUS", "TEMPORARY", "GENERATED", "SECONDARY", "NAMESPACE", "EDIT
ION_NAME") AS
select o.name, o.subname, o.obj#, o.dataobj#,
decode(o.type#, 0, 'NEXT OBJECT', 1, 'INDEX', 2, 'TABLE', 3, 'CLUSTER',
4, 'VIEW', 5, 'SYNONYM', 6, 'SEQUENCE',
7, 'PROCEDURE', 8, 'FUNCTION', 9, 'PACKAGE',
11, 'PACKAGE BODY', 12, 'TRIGGER',
<snip>