PROCEDURE empty_the_pipe (pipe_name_in IN VARCHAR2)
IS
	/* Named constants for the different codes of pipe types */
	date_type CONSTANT INTEGER := 12;
	string_type CONSTANT INTEGER := 9;
	number_type CONSTANT INTEGER := 6;

	/* Variables to hold the items coming out of the pipe */
	my_date DATE;
	my_string VARCHAR2(100);
	my_number NUMBER:

	/* Variables to hold pipe status and the message type */
	pipe_status INTEGER;
	msg_type INTEGER;
BEGIN
	/* Read a message from the named pipe. */
	pipe_status := DBMS_PIPE.RECEIVE_MESSAGE (pipe_name_in);
	/* 
	|| If successful, determine the datatype of the first item
	|| and then call UNPACK_MESSAGE with the right kind of 
	|| variable to match that datatype.
	*/
	IF pipe_status = 0
	THEN
		msg_type := DBMS_PIPE.NEXT_ITEM_TYPE;
		IF msg_type = date_type
		THEN
			DBMS_PIPE.UNPACK_MESSAGE (my_date);

		ELSIF msg_type = string_type
		THEN
			DBMS_PIPE.UNPACK_MESSAGE (my_string);

		ELSIF msg_type = number_type
		THEN
			DBMS_PIPE.UNPACK_MESSAGE (my_number);
		END IF;
	END IF;
END;