Create trigger to insert into another table - oracle

Question

I have some problem executing the trigger below:
CREATE OR REPLACE TRIGGER AFTERINSERTCREATEBILL
AFTER INSERT
ON READING
FOR EACH ROW
DECLARE
varReadNo Int;
varMeterID Int;
varCustID Varchar(10);
BEGIN
SELECT SeqReadNo.CurrVal INTO varReadNo FROM DUAL;
Select MeterID INTO varMeterID
From Reading
Where ReadNo = varReadNo;
Select CustID INTO varCustID
From Address A
Join Meter M
on A.postCode = M.postCode
Where M.MeterID = varMeterID;
INSERT INTO BILL VALUES
(SEQBILLNO.NEXTVAL, SYSDATE, 'UNPAID' , 100 , varCustID , SEQREADNO.CURRVAL);
END;
Error Message:
*Cause: A trigger (or a user defined plsql function that is referenced in
this statement) attempted to look at (or modify) a table that was
in the middle of being modified by the statement which fired it.
*Action: Rewrite the trigger (or function) so it does not read that table.
Does it mean that I am not suppose to retrieve any details from table Reading?
I believe that the issue occur as I retrieving data from Table Reading while it is inserting the value:
SELECT SeqReadNo.CurrVal INTO varReadNo FROM DUAL;
Select MeterID INTO varMeterID
From Reading
Where ReadNo = varReadNo;
It's there anyway to resolve this? Or is there a better method to do this? I need to insert a new row into table BILL after entering the table Reading where the ReadNo need to reference to the ReadNo I just insert.

Answer 1

You cannot retrieve records from the same table in a row trigger. You can access values from actual record using :new and :old (is this your case?). The trigger could then be rewritten to
CREATE OR REPLACE TRIGGER AFTERINSERTCREATEBILL
AFTER INSERT
ON READING
FOR EACH ROW
DECLARE
varCustID Varchar(10);
BEGIN
Select CustID INTO varCustID
From Address A
Join Meter M
on A.postCode = M.postCode
Where M.MeterID = :new.MeterID;
INSERT INTO BILL VALUES
(SEQBILLNO.NEXTVAL, SYSDATE, 'UNPAID' , 100 , varCustID , SEQREADNO.CURRVAL);
END;
If you need to query other record from READING table you have to use a combination of statement triggers, row trigger and a PLSQL collection. Good example of this is on AskTom.oracle.com

Answer 2

Make sure that you have the necessary permissions on all the tables and access to the sequences you're using in the insert.
I haven't done Oracle in awhile, but you can also try querying dba_errors (or all_errors) in order to try and get more information on why your SP isn't compiling.
Something to the tune of:
SELECT * FROM dba_errors WHERE owner = 'THEOWNER_OF_YOUR_SP';

Answer 3

Add exception handling in your trigger and see what is happening, by doing it would be easy for you to track the exceptions.
CREATE OR REPLACE TRIGGER AFTERINSERTCREATEBILL
AFTER INSERT
ON READING
FOR EACH ROW
DECLARE
varCustID Varchar(10);
BEGIN
-- your code
EXCEPTION
WHEN NO_DATA_FOUND
THEN
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(TO_CHAR(SQLERRM(-20299)));
WHEN OTHERS THEN
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(TO_CHAR(SQLERRM(-20298)));
END;

Answer 4

we can combined insert and select statement
CREATE OR REPLACE TRIGGER AFTERINSERTCREATEBILL
AFTER INSERT
ON READING
FOR EACH ROW
DECLARE
varCustID Varchar(10);
BEGIN
insert into bill
values
select SEQBILLNO.NEXTVAL,
SYSDATE,
'UNPAID' ,
100 ,
CustID,SEQREADNO.CURRVAL
From Address A
Join Meter M
on A.postCode = M.postCode
Where M.MeterID = :new.MeterID;
END;
try the above code.