ORA-03001: unimplemented feature

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ORA-03001: unimplemented feature

This error can be returned attempting to compile a PL/SQL unit containing a FORALL statement, as follows:

create table tab_pls_435 (
col_a number,
col_b varchar2(30));

create or replace
procedure test_pls_435
is

type rec_type     is record (col_b tab_pls_435.col_b%type);
type tab_type     is table of rec_type;
plsql_rec_tab     tab_type;

begin
plsql_rec_tab.extend;
plsql_rec_tab(1).col_b           := 'TEST';

forall i in 1..plsql_rec_tab.count
insert into tab_pls_435 (col_b)
values plsql_rec_tab(i);

end;

My current understanding is that currently is not possible to specify a subset of columns in an bulk INSERT statement that bulk binds a RECORD type collection inside FORALL.
Note that in the code above, if we get rid of column specification, we incur in ORA-00947, however this is caused by the mismatching number of columns between the table structure and the PL/SQL RECORD data type.
If you can redefine the RECORD definition to match the table structure, then the code can be compiled and executed successfully, as follows:

create or replace
procedure test_pls_435
is

type tab_type     is table of tab_pls_435%rowtype;
plsql_rec_tab     tab_type := tab_type();

begin
plsql_rec_tab.extend;
plsql_rec_tab(1).col_a           := 100;
plsql_rec_tab(1).col_b           := 'TEST';

forall i in 1..plsql_rec_tab.count
insert into tab_pls_435
values plsql_rec_tab(i);

end;

I ignore if ORA-03001 can be returned also in different situations.

See message translations for ORA-03001 and search additional resources.

Updated January 4, 2008:
If you are getting this error when using a CAST/MULTISELECT construct, check out the comments section!