SET SERVEROUTPUT ON; DECLARE id_start VARCHAR2(200); CURSOR get_old_id(id_pattern VARCHAR2) IS SELECT column1 FROM table1 WHERE column1 LIKE id_pattern ORDER BY column1 ASC ; BEGIN DBMS_OUTPUT.ENABLE; OPEN get_old_id('2010%'); FETCH get_old_id INTO id_start; DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(id_start); CLOSE get_old_id; END;