1.1.1 Frequently Accessed URL.

SQL*Plus FAQ

1.1.2 SQL*Plus Quick Start

1.1.2.1 SQL*Plus Date Format

The default date format in SQL*Plus is determined by the database NLS_DATE_FORMAT parameter
and may use a date format displaying two digit years. You can use the SQL TO_CHAR function, or the
SQL*Plus COLUMN FORMAT command in your SELECT statements to control the way dates are
displayed in your report.

select name, value from v$parameter

where name like '%nls_date_format%';

1.1.2.2 Starting SQL*Plus Command-line

An example using an Easy Connection identifier to connect to the HR schema in the MYDB database
running on mymachine is:
sqlplus hr@//mymachine.mydomain:port/MYDB

An example using a Net Service Name is:

sqlplus hr@MYDB

Net Service Names can be stored in a number of places, including Oracle Names. See the Net Services
Reference Guide for more information.
If you want to use Net Service Names configured in a local Oracle Net tnsnames.ora file, then set the
environment variable TNS_ADMIN to the directory containing the tnsnames.ora file. For example, on
UNIX, if your tnsnames.ora file is in /home/user1 and it defines the Net Service Name MYDB2:
TNS_ADMIN=/home/user1
export TNS_ADMIN
sqlplus hr@MYDB2

This example assumes the ORACLE_HOME environment variable is set, and the
$ORACLE_HOME/network/admin/tnsnames.ora or ORACLE_HOME\network\admin\tnsnames.ora
file defines the Net Service Name MYDB3:
sqlplus hr@MYDB3

The TWO_TASK (on UNIX) or LOCAL (on Windows) environment variable can be set to a
connection identifier. This removes the need to explicitly enter the connection identifier whenever a
connection is made in SQL*Plus or SQL*Plus Instant Client. This UNIX example connects to the
database known as MYDB4:
TNS_ADMIN=/home/user1
export TNS_ADMIN

TWO_TASK=MYDB4
export TWO_TASK

sqlplus hr

Windows 7:
C:\Users\skandan>echo %TNS_ADMIN%
C:\app\oracle\product\11.1.0\db_1\NETWORK\ADMIN

C:\Users\skandan>echo %ORACLE_HOME%
C:\app\oracle\product\11.1.0\db_1

Network Configuration File:

C:\app\oracle\product\11.1.0\db_1\network\admin\tnsnames.ora

Because SQL*Plus Instant Client

Because SQL*Plus Instant Client does not include a database, it is always 'remote' from any database
server. To connect to a database you must specify the database using an Oracle Net connection
identifier.

If TNS_ADMIN is not set, then an operating system dependent set of directories is examined to find
tnsnames.ora. This search path includes looking in the directory specified by the ORACLE_HOME
environment variable for network/admin/tnsnames.ora. This is the only reason to set the
ORACLE_HOME environment variable for SQL*Plus Instant Client. If ORACLE_HOME is set when
running Instant Client applications, it must be set to a directory that exists.

1.1.2.3 Sample Schemas and SQL*Plus

Each table in the database is "owned" by a particular user. You may wish to have your own copies of
the sample tables to use as you try the examples in this guide. To get your own copies of the HR tables,
see your DBA or see the Oracle Database Sample Schemas guide, or you can create the HR tables with
the script HR_MAIN.SQL which is located in the following directory on UNIX:
$ORACLE_HOME/demo/schema/human_resources/hr_main.sql

And on the following directory on Windows:

ORACLE_HOME\DEMO\SCHEMA\HUMAN_RESOURCES\HR_MAIN.SQL

To create the HR tables from command-line SQL*Plus, do the following:

1. Ask your DBA for your Oracle Database account username and password.
2. Login to SQL*Plus.
3. On UNIX, enter the following command at the SQL*Plus prompt:
SQL> @?/DEMO/SCHEMA/HUMAN_RESOURCES/HR_MAIN.SQL
 On Windows, enter the following command at the SQL*Plus prompt:
SQL> @?\DEMO\SCHEMA\HUMAN_RESOURCES\HR_MAIN.SQL

To remove the sample tables, perform the same steps but substitute HR_DROP.SQL for
HR_MAIN.SQL.

1.1.3 Configuring SQL*Plus

1.1.3.1 SQL*Plus OS Environment Variables

Parameters or Environment Variables influencing SQL*Plus

Parameter or Variable Description
LD_LIBRARY_PATH Environment variable to specify the path used to search for libraries on
UNIX and Linux. The environment variable may have a different name on
some operating systems, such as DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH on Apple Mac
OS, LIBPATH on IBM/AIX-5L, and SHLIB_PATH on HP-UX. Not
applicable to Windows operating systems.

Example

$ORACLE_HOME/lib

LOCAL Windows environment variable to specify a connection string. Performs the

same function as TWO_TASK on UNIX.

NLS_LANG Environment variable to specify globalization behavior.

Example

american_america.utf8

ORACLE_HOME Environment variable to specify where SQL*Plus is installed. It is also

used by SQL*Plus to specify where message files are located.

Examples:

d:\oracle\10g
/u01/app/oracle/product/v10g

ORA_NLS10 Environment variable to specify the locations of the NLS data and the user
boot file in SQL*Plus 10.2. The default location is
$ORACLE_HOME/nls/data. In a system with both Oracle9i and 10g, or a
system under version upgrade, you should set ORA_NLS10 for Oracle 10g
and set ORA_NLS33 for 9i. The default NLS location in 9i was
Parameter or Variable Description
$ORACLE_HOME/common/nls/admin/data.

ORACLE_PATH Environment variable to specify the location of SQL scripts. If SQL*Plus

cannot find the file in ORACLE_PATH, or if ORACLE_PATH is not set, it
searches for the file in the current working directory.

Not applicable to Windows

ORACLE_SID Environment variable to specify the database instance, optional

PATH Environment variable to specify the path to search for executables, and
DLLs in Windows. Typically includes ORACLE_HOME/bin

SQLPATH Environment variable or Windows registry entry to specify the location of

SQL scripts. SQL*Plus searches for SQL scripts, including login.sql, in the
current directory and then in the directories specified by SQLPATH, and in
the subdirectories of SQLPATH directories. SQLPATH is a colon separated
list of directories. There is no default value set in UNIX installations.

In Windows, SQLPATH is defined in a registry entry during installation.

For more information about the SQLPATH registry entry, see SQLPATH
Registry Entry.

SQLPLUS Environment variable to specify the location of SQL*Plus message files in

Windows. This environment variable is set during installation. It has a
default value of:

ORACLE_HOME\SQLPLUS\MESG

Not applicable to UNIX.

TNS_ADMIN Environment variable to specify the location of the tnsnames.ora file. If not
specified, $ORACLE_HOME/network/admin is used

Example

h:\network
/var/opt/oracle

TWO_TASK UNIX environment variable to specify a connection string. Connections

that do not specify a database will connect to the database specified in
TWO_TASK.

Example
Parameter or Variable Description
TWO_TASK=MYDB
export TWO_TASK
sqlplus hr

is the same as:

sqlplus hr@MYDB

1.1.3.2 SQL*Plus Configuration -

Profile Scripts affecting SQL*Plus User Interface Settings
You can set up your SQL*Plus environment to use the same settings with each session.
There are two operating system files to do this:
• The Site Profile file, glogin.sql, for site wide settings.
• Additionally, the User Profile, login.sql, sets user specific settings.

1.1.3.3 Site Profile

A Site Profile script is created during installation. It is used by the database administrator to configure
session-wide behavior for SQL*Plus Command-line connections. The Site Profile script installed
during installation is an empty script.
The Site Profile script is generally named glogin.sql. SQL*Plus executes this script whenever a user
starts a SQL*Plus session and successfully establishes the Oracle Database connection.
The Site Profile enables the DBA to set up site wide SQL*Plus environment defaults for all users of a
particular SQL*Plus installation
Users cannot directly access the Site Profile.
Default Site Profile Script
The Site Profile script is $ORACLE_HOME/sqlplus/admin/glogin.sql in UNIX, and
ORACLE_HOME\sqlplus\admin\glogin.sql in Windows. If a Site Profile already exists at this location,
it is overwritten when you install SQL*Plus. If SQL*Plus is removed, the Site Profile script is deleted.

1.1.3.4 User Profile

For SQL*Plus command-line connections, SQL*Plus also supports a User Profile script. The User
Profile is executed after the Site Profile and is intended to allow users to specifically customize their
session. The User Profile script is generally named login.sql. SQL*Plus searches for the User Profile
in your current directory, and then the directories you specify with the SQLPATH environment variable.
SQL*Plus searches this colon-separated list of directories and their subdirectories in the order they are
listed.
You can add any SQL commands, PL/SQL blocks, or SQL*Plus commands to your user profile. When
you start SQL*Plus, it automatically searches for your user profile and runs the commands it contains.
1.1.3.5 Storing and Restoring SQL*Plus System Variables
STORE SET file_name
START file_name

STORE SET plusenv

START plusenv

1.1.3.6 Installing Command-line Help

Command-line help is usually installed during Oracle Database installation. If not, the database
administrator can create the SQL*Plus command-line help tables and populate them with SQL*Plus
help data by running a supplied SQL script from SQL*Plus.
The database administrator can also remove the SQL*Plus command-line help tables by running a SQL
script from SQL*Plus.
Before you can install or remove SQL*Plus help, ensure that:
• SQL*Plus is installed.
• The ORACLE_HOME environment variable is set.
• The SQL*Plus help script files exist:
• HLPBLD.SQL - to drop and create new help tables.
• HELPDROP.SQL - to drop existing help tables.
• HELPUS.SQL - to populate the help tables with the help data.
•
Example:

1.1.3.6.1 Running the hlpbld.sql Script to Install Command-line Help

Run the provided SQL script, HLPBLD.SQL, to load command-line help.
1. Log in to SQL*Plus as the SYSTEM user with:
SQLPLUS SYSTEM
You are prompted to enter the password you have defined for the SYSTEM user.
2. In UNIX run the SQL script, HLPBLD.SQL, from SQL*Plus with:
@$ORACLE_HOME/SQLPLUS/ADMIN/HELP/HLPBLD.SQL HELPUS.SQL
In Windows run the SQL script, HLPBLD.SQL, from SQL*Plus with:
@ORACLE_HOME\SQLPLUS\ADMIN\HELP\HLPBLD.SQL HELPUS.SQL
The HLPBLD.SQL script creates and loads the help tables.

1.1.4 Starting SQL*Plus

Changing your Password

In the command-line interface, you can change your password with the PASSWORD command.
Secure External Password Store
As a command-line alternative for large-scale deployments where applications use password
credentials to connect to databases, it is possible to store such credentials in a client-side Oracle wallet.
An Oracle wallet is a secure software container that is used to store authentication and signing
credentials.
Storing database password credentials in a client-side Oracle wallet eliminates the need to embed
usernames and passwords in application code, batch jobs, or scripts. This reduces the risk of exposing
passwords in the clear in scripts and application code, and simplifies maintenance because you need not
change your code each time usernames and passwords change. In addition, not having to change
application code also makes it easier to enforce password management policies for these user accounts.
When you configure a client to use the external password store, applications can use the following
syntax to connect to databases that use password authentication:
CONNECT /@database_alias

Note that you need not specify database login credentials in this CONNECT statement. Instead your
system looks for database login credentials in the client wallet.

See Also:
Oracle Database Administrator's Guide for information about configuring your client to use secure
external password store and for information about managing credentials in it.

1.1.4.1 Compatibility
A new command line argument (-c) has been added to allow the SQLPLUSCOMPATIBILITY option
to be specified such that "sqlplus -c 9.2" equates to "SET SQLPLUSCOMPATIBILITY 9.2".

1.1.4.2 Connecting to a Database

See the Oracle Database Net Services Reference and the Oracle Database Net Services Administrator's
Guide for more information about database connections and net service name definitions.

In the command-line interface, it is possible to start SQL*Plus without connecting to a database.

SQLPLUS /NOLOG

SqExample:
sqlplus hr/hr@(DESCRIPTION= (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=siva-pc)(PORT=1521))
(CONNECT_DATA= (SERVICE_NAME=siva-pc))) ( Not tested )

c:\Users\skandan> sqlplus /nolog

SQL> connect hr/hr@(DESCRIPTION= (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=siva-pc)
(PORT=1521)) (CONNECT_DATA= (SERVICE_NAME=orcl))) # Tested Working

sqlplus demantra/demantra@( DESCRIPTION= (ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=ace2748-

zone02.east.sun.com)(PORT=1521)) (CONNECT_DATA= (SERVICE_NAME=DMTRPRD))) #
Tested

sqlplus hr/hr@siva-pc:1521/orcl
When connecting to SQL*Plus from the command line as a privileged user it is no longer necessary to
use quotes, meaning both of the following are valid:

sqlplus "/ AS SYSDBA"

sqlplus / AS SYSDBA

1.1.4.3 Getting Command-line Help

HELP ACCEPT

1.1.4.4 Notes on Placing Comments

• Do not put comments within the first few keywords of a statement. For example:
CREATE OR REPLACE
2 /* HELLO */
3 PROCEDURE HELLO AS
4 BEGIN
5 DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('HELLO');
6 END;
7 /

Warning: Procedure created with compilation errors.

The location of the comment prevents SQL*Plus from recognizing the command as a command.
SQL*Plus submits the PL/SQL block to the server when it sees the slash "/" at the beginning of the
comment, which it interprets as the "/" statement terminator. Move the comment to avoid this error. For
example:
CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE
2 /* HELLO */
3 HELLO AS
4 BEGIN
5 DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('HELLO');
6 END;
7 /

Procedure created.

• Do not put comments after statement terminators (period, semicolon or slash). For example, if
you enter:
SELECT 'Y' FROM DUAL; -- TESTING

You get the following error:

SELECT 'Y' FROM DUAL; -- TESTING
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-00911: invalid character

SQL*Plus expects no text after a statement terminator and is unable to process the command.
• Do not use ampersand characters '&' in comments in a SQL statement or PL/SQL block. For
example, if you enter a script such as:
SELECT REGION_NAME, CITY
/* THIS & THAT */
FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE SALARY>12000;

1.1.4.5 Running Scripts

START, @ and @@ leave the last SQL command or PL/SQL block of the script in the buffer.

@@ (double at sign)
START file_name
@SALES
http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B28359_01/server.111/b31189/ch12003.htm#BACIEHDJ

Examples
Suppose that you have the following script named PRINTRPT:
SELECT DEPARTMENT_ID, CITY FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW WHERE SALARY>12000;
@EMPRPT.SQL
@@ WKRPT.SQL

When you START PRINTRPT and it reaches the @ command, it looks for the script named EMPRPT
in the current working directory and runs it. When PRINTRPT reaches the @@ command, it looks for
the script named WKRPT in the same path as PRINTRPT and runs it.
Suppose that the same script PRINTRPT was located on a web server and you ran it with START
HTTP://machine_name.domain:port/PRINTRPT. When it reaches the @ command, it looks for the
script named EMPRPT in the current working directory and runs it. When PRINTRPT reaches the @@
command, it looks for the script named WKRPT in the same url as PRINTRPT,
HTTP://machine_name.domain:port/WKRPT.SQL and runs it.

1.1.4.6 Exiting from a Script with a Return Code

You can include an EXIT command in a script to return a value when the script finishes. See the EXIT
command for more information.

You can include a WHENEVER SQLERROR command in a script to automatically exit SQL*Plus
with a return code should your script generate a SQL error. Similarly, you can include a WHENEVER
OSERROR command to automatically exit should an operating system error occur. In iSQL*Plus, the
script is stopped and focus is returned to the Workspace. See the WHENEVER SQLERROR command,
and the WHENEVER OSERROR command for more information.

C:\OraHome1\bin>type x.bat
@echo off
sqlplus -silent scott/tiger @x.sql
echo ERRORLEVEL is %ERRORLEVEL%

C:\OraHome1\bin>type x.sql
WHENEVER OSERROR EXIT OSCODE;
SPOOL invalid_dir/output.lst;
SELECT 'X' FROM DUAL;
SPOOL OFF;
EXIT 0;

C:\OraHome1\bin>x
SP2-0332: Spoolfil kan ikke oprettes.
O/S-meddelelse: No such file or directory
Format: { EXIT | QUIT } [ SUCCESS | FAILURE | WARNING | n |
<variabel> | :<tilknytningsvariabel> ] [ COMMIT | ROLLBACK ]
ERRORLEVEL is 3

Code:
sqlplus vikas/vikas << END
WHENEVER SQLERROR EXIT;
WHENEVER OSERROR EXIT;
spool /oracle/vikas/output.txt
desc WHITELIST;
desc USERS;
desc TRANSACTION;
desc computer;
spool off;
!echo ALL SUCCESSFUL
END
if [ $? -ne 0 ];
then
echo "ERROR! SQL*Plus failed..."; exit 1
else
echo "\n\nOne or more query has failed if --- ALL SUCCESSFUL -- is not
echoed !!!"
fi

sqlplus vikas/vikas <<END

WHENEVER SQLERROR EXIT 41;
WHENEVER OSERROR EXIT 99;
spool /oracle/vikas/output.txt
select SYSDATE from dual;
exit 0
END
case $? in
0) echo "\n\nALL SUCCESSFUL!";;
 41) echo "ERROR! SQL*Plus failed..."; exit 1;;
99) echo "ERROR! OS failure..."; exit 2;;
*) echo "Warning! Unexplained exit code: $?;;
fi

See SET for more information about system variables.

1.1.4.7 Passing Parameters through the START Command

For example, you could include the following commands in a script called MYFILE:
SELECT * FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE JOB_ID='&1'
AND SALARY='&2';

In the following START command, SQL*Plus would substitute PU_CLERK for &1 and 3100 for &2 in
the script MYFILE:

START MYFILE PU_CLERK 3100

INPUT

PROMPT Enter a valid employee ID

PROMPT For Example 145, 206

ACCEPT ENUMBER NUMBER PROMPT 'Employee ID. :'

SELECT FIRST_NAME, LAST_NAME, SALARY

FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE EMPLOYEE_ID=&ENUMBER;

Save this file as PROMPT2. Next, run this script. SQL*Plus prompts for the value of ENUMBER
using the text you specified with PROMPT and ACCEPT:
START PROMPT2

CLEAR SCREEN

Before continuing to the next section, reset all columns to their original formats and headings by
entering the following command:
CLEAR COLUMNS

1.1.4.8 Creating Bind Variables

You create bind variables in SQL*Plus with the VARIABLE command. For example
VARIABLE ret_val NUMBER

You reference bind variables in PL/SQL by typing a colon (:) followed immediately by the name of the
variable. For example
:ret_val := 1;

To change this bind variable in SQL*Plus, you must enter a PL/SQL block. For example:
BEGIN
:ret_val:=4;
END;
/

PRINT RET_VAL

Using REFCURSOR Bind Variables

VARIABLE employee_info REFCURSOR

BEGIN
OPEN :employee_info FOR SELECT EMPLOYEE_ID, SALARY
FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW WHERE
JOB_ID='SA_MAN' ;
END;
/

PRINT employee_info

Using REFCURSOR Variables in Stored Procedures

CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE EmpPack AS

TYPE EmpInfoTyp IS REF CURSOR;
PROCEDURE EmpInfoRpt (emp_cv IN OUT EmpInfoTyp);
END EmpPack;
/

CREATE OR REPLACE PACKAGE BODY EmpPack AS

PROCEDURE EmpInfoRpt (emp_cv IN OUT EmpInfoTyp) AS
BEGIN
OPEN emp_cv FOR SELECT EMPLOYEE_ID, SALARY
FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE JOB_ID='SA_MAN' ;
END;
END;
/

VARIABLE cv REFCURSOR
EXECUTE EmpPack.EmpInfoRpt(:cv)

PRINT cv

1.1.5 Formatting SQL*Plus Reports

Reset the column's format with
COLUMN column_name CLEAR
To reset all column display attributes to their default values, enter:
CLEAR COLUMNS

Default Display
The default width of datatype columns is the width of the column in the database. The column width of
a LONG, BLOB, BFILE, CLOB, NCLOB or XMLType defaults to the value of SET
LONGCHUNKSIZE or SET LONG, whichever is the smaller.
The default width and format of unformatted DATE columns in SQL*Plus is determined by the
database NLS_DATE_FORMAT parameter. Otherwise, the default format width is A9. See the
FORMAT clause of the COLUMN command for more information on formatting DATE columns.
Left justification is the default for datatypes.

Formatting an XMLType Column

CREATE TABLE warehouses (
warehouse_id NUMBER(3),
warehouse_spec SYS.XMLTYPE,
warehouse_name VARCHAR2 (35),
location_id NUMBER(4));

To insert a new record containing warehouse_id and warehouse_spec values into the new warehouses
table, enter
INSERT into warehouses (warehouse_id, warehouse_spec)
VALUES (100, sys.XMLTYPE.createXML(
'<Warehouse whNo="100">
<Building>Owned</Building>
</Warehouse>'));

To set the XMLType column width to 20 characters and then select the XMLType column, enter
COLUMN Building FORMAT A20
SELECT
w.warehouse_spec.extract('/Warehouse/Building/text()').getStringVal()
"Building"
FROM warehouses w;

To compute the sum of salaries for departments 10 and 20 without printing the
compute label:
COLUMN DUMMY NOPRINT;
COMPUTE SUM OF SALARY ON DUMMY;
BREAK ON DUMMY SKIP 1;

SELECT DEPARTMENT_ID DUMMY,DEPARTMENT_ID, LAST_NAME, SALARY

FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE SALARY>12000
ORDER BY DEPARTMENT_ID;
To compute the salaries just at the end of the report:
COLUMN DUMMY NOPRINT;
COMPUTE SUM OF SALARY ON DUMMY;
BREAK ON DUMMY;

SELECT NULL DUMMY,DEPARTMENT_ID, LAST_NAME, SALARY

FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE SALARY>12000
ORDER BY DEPARTMENT_ID;

Computing Multiple Summary Lines on the Same Break Column

To compute the average and sum of salaries for the sales department, first enter the following BREAK
and COMPUTE commands:
BREAK ON DEPARTMENT_ID
COMPUTE AVG SUM OF SALARY ON DEPARTMENT_ID

Now, enter and run the following query:

SELECT DEPARTMENT_ID, LAST_NAME, SALARY
FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE DEPARTMENT_ID = 30
ORDER BY DEPARTMENT_ID, SALARY;

Sending Query Results to a Printer

To generate a final report and spool and print the results, create a script named EMPRPT containing the
following commands.
First, use EDIT to create the script with your operating system text editor.
EDIT EMPRPT

Next, enter the following commands into the file, using your text editor:
SPOOL TEMP
CLEAR COLUMNS
CLEAR BREAKS
CLEAR COMPUTES

COLUMN DEPARTMENT_ID HEADING DEPARTMENT

COLUMN LAST_NAME HEADING 'LAST NAME'
COLUMN SALARY HEADING 'MONTHLY SALARY' FORMAT $99,999

BREAK ON DEPARTMENT_ID SKIP 1 ON REPORT

COMPUTE SUM OF SALARY ON DEPARTMENT_ID
COMPUTE SUM OF SALARY ON REPORT

SET PAGESIZE 24
SET NEWPAGE 0
SET LINESIZE 70

TTITLE CENTER 'A C M E W I D G E T' SKIP 2 -

LEFT 'EMPLOYEE REPORT' RIGHT 'PAGE:' -
FORMAT 999 SQL.PNO SKIP 2
BTITLE CENTER 'COMPANY CONFIDENTIAL'

SELECT DEPARTMENT_ID, LAST_NAME, SALARY

FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE SALARY>12000
ORDER BY DEPARTMENT_ID;

SPOOL OFF

If you do not want to see the output on your screen, you can also add SET TERMOUT OFF to the
beginning of the file and SET TERMOUT ON to the end of the file. Save and close the file in your text
editor (you will automatically return to SQL*Plus). Now, run the script EMPRPT:
@EMPRPT

1.1.6 Generating HTML Reports from SQL*Plus

1.1.6.1 Creating a Report using the SQLPLUS Command

Enter the following command at the operating system prompt:

Example01:
SQLPLUS -S -M "HTML ON TABLE 'BORDER="2"'" hr/hr@orcl @depart.sql > depart.html

where depart.sql contains:

SELECT DEPARTMENT_NAME, CITY
FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE SALARY>12000;
EXIT

Example02:

SET MARKUP HTML ON SPOOL ON PREFORMAT OFF ENTMAP ON -

HEAD "<TITLE>Department Report</TITLE> -

<STYLE type='text/css'> -
<!-- BODY {background: #FFFFC6} --> -
</STYLE>" -
BODY "TEXT='#FF00Ff'" -
TABLE "WIDTH='90%' BORDER='5'"

COLUMN DEPARTMENT_NAME HEADING 'DEPARTMENT' ENTMAP OFF

COLUMN CITY HEADING 'CITY'

SPOOL report.html

SELECT '<A HREF="http://oracle.com/'||DEPARTMENT_NAME||'.html">'||

DEPARTMENT_NAME||'</A>' DEPARTMENT_NAME, CITY
FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE SALARY>12000;

SPOOL OFF

The </BODY> and </HTML> tags are appended to the spool file, report.html, before it
is closed.

1.1.7 Tuning SQL*Plus

1.1.7.1 Tracing Statements - Controlling the Autotrace Report

You can control the report by setting the AUTOTRACE system variable.
Autotrace Setting Result
SET AUTOTRACE OFF No AUTOTRACE report is generated. This is the default.
SET AUTOTRACE ON The AUTOTRACE report shows only the optimizer execution path.
EXPLAIN
SET AUTOTRACE ON The AUTOTRACE report shows only the SQL statement execution
STATISTICS statistics.
SET AUTOTRACE ON The AUTOTRACE report includes both the optimizer execution path and
the SQL statement execution statistics.
SET AUTOTRACE Like SET AUTOTRACE ON, but suppresses the printing of the user's
TRACEONLY query output, if any. If STATISTICS is enabled, query data is still fetched,
but not printed.

To use this feature, you must create a PLAN_TABLE table in your schema and then have the
PLUSTRACE role granted to you. DBA privileges are required to grant the PLUSTRACE role. For
information on how to grant a role and how to create the PLAN_TABLE table, see the Oracle Database
SQL Language Reference.
For more information about the roles and the PLAN_TABLE, see the Oracle Database SQL Language
Reference and the AUTOTRACE variable of the SET command.
Creating a PLAN_TABLE
Run the following commands from your SQL*Plus session to create the PLAN_TABLE in the HR
schema:
CONNECT HR
@%ORACLE_HOME%/rdbms/admin/utlxplan.sql

Creating the PLUSTRACE Role

-- Creates a role PLUSTRACE with access to Dynamic Performance Tables
-- for the SQL*Plus SET AUTOTRACE ... STATISTICS command.
CONNECT / AS SYSDBA
@$ORACLE_HOME/sqlplus/admin/plustrce.sql
@%ORACLE_HOME%/sqlplus/admin/plustrce.sql
#SET command display all environment variable.
myWindows.odt
drop role plustrace;
create role plustrace;

grant plustrace to dba with admin option;

Granting the PLUSTRACE Role

CONNECT / AS SYSDBA
GRANT PLUSTRACE TO HR;

Execution Plan
The Execution Plan shows the SQL optimizer's query execution path. Execution Plan output is
generated using EXPLAIN PLAN and DBMS_XPLAN.
For information about interpreting the output of DBMS_XPLAN, see the Oracle Database Performance
Tuning Guide.

Statistics
The statistics are recorded by the server when your statement executes and indicate the system
resources required to execute your statement. The results include the following statistics.

Database Statistic
Name Description
recursive calls Number of recursive calls generated at both the user and system level. Oracle
Database maintains tables used for internal processing. When Oracle Database
needs to make a change to these tables, it internally generates an internal SQL
statement, which in turn generates a recursive call.
db block gets Number of times a CURRENT block was requested.
consistent gets Number of times a consistent read was requested for a block
physical reads Total number of data blocks read from disk. This number equals the value of
"physical reads direct" plus all reads into buffer cache.
redo size Total amount of redo generated in bytes
bytes sent through Total number of bytes sent to the client from the foreground processes.
SQL*Net to client
bytes received Total number of bytes received from the client over Oracle Net.
through SQL*Net
from client
SQL*Net round- Total number of Oracle Net messages sent to and received from the client
trips to/from client
sorts (memory) Number of sort operations that were performed completely in memory and did
not require any disk writes
sorts (disk) Number of sort operations that required at least one disk write
rows processed Number of rows processed during the operation
To monitor disk reads and buffer gets.
SET AUTOTRACE TRACEONLY STATISTICS

How does one trace (and explain) SQL statements from SQL*Plus?
Method 1: Autotrace Facility
When the AUTOTRACE setting is enabled, SQL*Plus will print an EXPLAIN PLAN and execution
statistics after each SQL statement. Look at this example:
SQL> set autotrace on
SQL> select * from dept where deptno = 40;
DEPTNO DNAME LOC
---------- -------------- -------------
40 OPERATIONS BOSTON

Execution Plan
----------------------------------------------------------
0 SELECT STATEMENT Optimizer=CHOOSE (Cost=1 Card=1 Bytes=18)
1 0 TABLE ACCESS (BY INDEX ROWID) OF 'DEPT' (Cost=1 Card=1 Bytes=18)
2 1 INDEX (UNIQUE SCAN) OF 'PK_DEPT' (UNIQUE)

Statistics
----------------------------------------------------------
0 recursive calls
0 db block gets
2 consistent gets
0 physical reads
0 redo size
499 bytes sent via SQL*Net to client
503 bytes received via SQL*Net from client
2 SQL*Net roundtrips to/from client
0 sorts (memory)
0 sorts (disk)
1 rows processed

Follow these steps to enable this feature:

• Run the PLUSTRCE.SQL script from the SYS database user. This script is located in the
$ORACLE_HOME/sqlplus/admin directory.
• Create a PLAN_TABLE table by running the UTLXPLAN.SQL script. This script is in
$ORACLE_HOME/rdbms/admin.
• Use the "SET AUTOTRACE ON" command to trace SQL execution. This will print an explain
plan and high level trace information after your query results.
Method 2: DBMS_XPLAN Package
SQL> EXPLAIN PLAN FOR select * from dept where deptno = 40;
Explained.

SQL> set linesize 132

SQL> SELECT * FROM TABLE( dbms_xplan.display);

PLAN_TABLE_OUTPUT
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Plan hash value: 2852011669

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
| Id | Operation | Name | Rows | Bytes | Cost (%CPU)| Time
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
| 0 | SELECT STATEMENT | | 1 | 20 | 1 (0)|
00:00:01 |
| 1 | TABLE ACCESS BY INDEX ROWID| DEPT | 1 | 20 | 1 (0)|
00:00:01 |
|* 2 | INDEX UNIQUE SCAN | PK_DEPT | 1 | | 0 (0)|
00:00:01 |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

Predicate Information (identified by operation id):

---------------------------------------------------

2 - access("DEPTNO"=40)

14 rows selected.

1.1.8 SQL*Plus Security

PRODUCT_USER_PROFILE Table
SQL*Plus uses the PRODUCT_USER_PROFILE (PUP) table, a table in the SYSTEM account, to
provide product-level security that supplements the user-level security provided by the SQL GRANT
and REVOKE commands and user roles.
DBAs can use the PUP table to disable certain SQL and SQL*Plus commands in the SQL*Plus
environment on a per-user basis. SQL*Plus—not Oracle Database—enforces this security. DBAs can
even restrict access to the GRANT, REVOKE, and SET ROLE commands to control users' ability to
change their database privileges.
SQL*Plus reads restrictions from the PUP table when a user logs in to SQL*Plus and maintains those
restrictions for the duration of the session. Changes to the PUP table will only take effect the next time
the affected users log in to SQL*Plus.
When SYSTEM, SYS, or a user authenticating with SYSDBA or SYSOPER privileges connects or
logs in, SQL*Plus does not read the PUP table. Therefore, no restrictions apply to these users.
The PUP table applies only to the local database. If accessing objects on a remote database through a
database link, the PUP table for the remote database does not apply. The remote database cannot extract
the username and password from the database link in order to determine that user's profile and
privileges.
Creating the PUP Table
You can create the PUP table by running the script named PUPBLD with the extension SQL as
SYSTEM. The exact format of the file extension and the location of the file are system dependent. See
your DBA for more information.
Note:
If the table is created incorrectly, all users other than privileged users will see a warning when
connecting to Oracle Database that the PUP table information is not loaded.
PUP Table Structure
The PUP table has the following columns:
PRODUCT NOT NULL VARCHAR2 (30)
USERID VARCHAR2(30)
ATTRIBUTE VARCHAR2(240)
SCOPE VARCHAR2(240)
NUMERIC_VALUE NUMBER(15,2)
CHAR_VALUE VARCHAR2(240)
DATE_VALUE DATE
LONG_VALUE LONG

Description and Use of PUP Columns

The following list describes each column in the PUP table:
PUP Column Description
PRODUCT Must contain the product name (in this case "SQL*Plus"). You cannot enter
wildcards or NULL in this column.
USERID Must contain the username (uppercase) of the user for whom you wish to disable
the command. To disable the command for more than one user, use SQL wild
cards (%) or make multiple entries. Thus, all of the following entries are valid:

• HR

• CLASS1

• CLASS% (all users whose names start with CLASS)

• % (all users)

ATTRIBUTE Must contain the name (in uppercase) of the SQL, SQL*Plus, or PL/SQL
command to disable (for example, RUN). If you are disabling a role, it must
contain the character string "ROLES". You cannot enter a wildcard. See PUP
Table Administration for a list of SQL and SQL*Plus commands you can
disable. See Creating and Controlling Roles for information on how to disable a
role.
SCOPE Not used, it is recommended that you enter NULL. Other products may store
specific file restrictions or other data in this column.
NUMERIC_VALUE Not used, it is recommended that you enter NULL. Other products may store
numeric values in this column.
PUP Column Description
CHAR_VALUE Must contain the character string "DISABLED" to disable a SQL, SQL*Plus, or
PL/SQL command. If you are disabling a role, it must contain the name of the
role you wish to disable. You cannot use a wildcard. See Disabling Commands
with SQLPLUS -RESTRICT for information on disabling a role.
DATE_VALUE Not used, it is recommended that you enter NULL. Other products may store
DATE values in this column.
LONG_VALUE Not used, it is recommended that you enter NULL. Other products may store
LONG values in this column.

PUP Table Administration

The DBA username SYSTEM owns and has all privileges on the PUP table. Other Oracle Database
usernames should have only SELECT access to this table, which enables a view of restrictions for that
username and those restrictions assigned to PUBLIC. The script PUPBLD.SQL, when run, grants
SELECT access on the PUP table to PUBLIC.

1.1.8.1 Disabling SQL*Plus, SQL, and PL/SQL Commands

To disable a SQL or SQL*Plus command for a given user, insert a row containing the user's username
in the Userid column, the command name in the Attribute column, and DISABLED in the Char_Value
column. The Scope, Numeric_Value, and Date_Value columns should contain NULL. For example:
PRODUCT USERID ATTRIBUTE SCOPE NUMBERIC CHAR DATE LONG
VALUE VALUE VALUE VALUE
------- ------ --------- ----- -------- ------ ----- -----
SQL*Plus HR HOST DISABLED
SQL*Plus % INSERT DISABLED
SQL*Plus % UPDATE DISABLED
SQL*Plus % DELETE DISABLED

To re-enable commands, delete the row containing the restriction.

1.1.8.2 SQL*Plus Commands

SQL*Plus Commands That Can Be Disabled

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B28359_01/server.111/b31189/ch12001.htm

ACCEPT DEFINE PASSWORD SHUTDOWN

APPEND DEL PAUSE SPOOL
ARCHIVE LOG DESCRIBE PRINT START (@, @@)
ATTRIBUTE DISCONNECT PROMPT STARTUP
BREAK EDIT RECOVER STORE
BTITLE EXECUTE REMARK TIMING
SQL*Plus Commands That Can Be Disabled

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B28359_01/server.111/b31189/ch12001.htm

CHANGE EXIT/QUIT REPFOOTER TTITLE

CLEAR GET REPHEADER UNDEFINE
COLUMN HELP (?) RUN VARIABLE
COMPUTE HOST SAVE WHENEVER OSERROR
CONNECT INPUT SET WHENEVER SQLERROR
COPY LIST (;) SHOW XQUERY

Example:
DEFINE _EDITOR=vi

1.1.8.3 SQL Commands

SQL Commands That Can Be Disabled
ALTER DELETE MERGE SET CONSTRAINTS
ANALYZE DISASSOCIATE NOAUDIT SET ROLE
ASSOCIATE DROP PURGE SET TRANSACTION
AUDIT EXPLAIN RENAME TRUNCATE
CALL FLASHBACK REVOKE UPDATE
COMMENT GRANT ROLLBACK VALIDATE
COMMIT INSERT SAVEPOINT na
CREATE LOCK SELECT na

You can disable the following PL/SQL commands:

PL/SQL Commands That Can Be Disabled
BEGIN DECLARE na na

Example 9-1 Setting Restrictions in the PUP Table

This is an example of how to insert a row into the PUP table to restrict the user HR from using the
SELECT statement:
1. Log in as SYSTEM with the command
SQLPLUS SYSTEM

2. Insert a row into the PUP table with the command:

INSERT INTO PRODUCT_USER_PROFILE
 VALUES ('SQL*Plus', 'HR', 'SELECT', NULL, NULL, 'DISABLED', NULL, NULL);

3. Connect as HR and try to SELECT something:

CONNECT HR
SELECT * FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW;

This command causes the following error message:

SP2-0544: Command SELECT disabled in Product User Profile

4. To delete this row and remove the restriction from the user HR, CONNECT again as SYSTEM
and enter:
DELETE FROM PRODUCT_USER_PROFILE WHERE USERID = 'HR';

1.1.8.4 Disabling SET ROLE

From SQL*Plus, users can submit any SQL command. In certain situations, this can cause security
problems. Unless you take proper precautions, a user could use SET ROLE to access privileges
obtained through an application role. With these privileges, they might issue SQL statements from
SQL*Plus that could wrongly change database tables.
To prevent application users from accessing application roles in SQL*Plus, you can use the PUP table
to disable the SET ROLE command. You also need to disable the BEGIN and SQL*Plus EXECUTE
commands to prevent application users setting application roles through a PL/SQL block. This gives a
SQL*Plus user only those privileges associated with the roles enabled when they started SQL*Plus.
For more information about the creation and usage of user roles, see your Oracle Database SQL
Language Reference and Oracle Database Administrator's Guide.

1.1.8.5 Disabling User Roles

To disable a role for a given user, insert a row in the PUP table containing the user's username in the
Userid column, "ROLES" in the Attribute column, and the role name in the Char_Value column.

Note:
When you enter "PUBLIC" or "%" for the Userid column, you disable the role for all users. You should
only use "%" or "PUBLIC" for roles which are granted to "PUBLIC". If you try to disable a role that
has not been granted to a user, none of the roles for that user are disabled.

The Scope, Numeric_Value, and Date_Value columns should contain NULL. For example:
PRODUCT USERID ATTRIBUTE SCOPE NUMERIC CHAR DATE LONG
VALUE VALUE VALUE VALUE
------- ------ --------- ----- -------- ------ ----- -----
SQL*Plus HR ROLES ROLE1
SQL*Plus PUBLIC ROLES ROLE2
During login, these table rows are translated into the command
SET ROLE ALL EXCEPT ROLE1, ROLE2

To ensure that the user does not use the SET ROLE command to change their roles after login, you can
disable the SET ROLE command.
To re-enable roles, delete the row containing the restriction.

1.1.8.6 Disabling Commands with SQLPLUS -RESTRICT

Refer the command.
$sqlplus /?
The following table shows which commands are disabled in each restriction level.
Command Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
EDIT disabled disabled disabled
GET     disabled
HOST disabled disabled disabled
SAVE   disabled disabled
SPOOL   disabled disabled
START     disabled
STORE   disabled disabled

1.1.8.7 Introduction to Database Startup and Shutdown

An Oracle database may not always be available to all users. To open or close a database, or to start up
or shut down an instance, you must have DBA privileges or be connected as SYSOPER or SYSDBA.
Other users cannot change the current status of an Oracle database.
Database Startup
Starting a database involves three steps:
1. Starting an instance
An instance controls the background processes and the allocation of memory area to access an
Oracle database.
2. Mounting the database
Mounting the database associates it with a previously started instance.
3. Opening the database
Opening the database makes it available for normal database operations.

For more information about database startup, see the Oracle Database Concepts guide. For more
information about starting a database, see the STARTUP command.
Example 10-1 Starting an Instance
To start an Oracle Database instance, without mounting the database, enter
STARTUP NOMOUNT

Example 10-2 Mounting the Database

To start an instance, mount the database, but leave the database closed, enter
STARTUP MOUNT

Example 10-3 Opening the Database

To start an instance using the Oracle Database Server parameter file INITSALES.ORA, mount and
open the database named SALES, and restrict access to database administrators, enter
STARTUP OPEN sales PFILE=INITSALES.ORA RESTRICT

where SALES is the database name specified in the DB_NAME parameter in the INITSALES.ORA
parameter file.

1.1.9 Database Administration with SQL*Plus.

Shutting down a database involves three steps:
1. Closing the database
When a database is closed, all database and recovery data in the SGA are written to the datafiles
and redo log files, and all online datafiles are closed.
2. Dismounting the database
Dismounting the database disassociates the database from an instance and closes the control
files of the database.
3. Shutting down the instance
Shutting down an instance reclaims the SGA from memory and terminates the background
Oracle Database processes that constitute an Oracle Database instance.
For more information about database shutdown, see the Oracle Database Concepts guide. For
information about stopping a database, see the SHUTDOWN command.
Example 10-4 Shutting Down the Database
To shut down the database normally after it has been opened and mounted, enter
SHUTDOWN

Database closed.
Database dismounted.
ORACLE instance shut down.

1.1.9.1 ARCHIVELOG Mode

sqlplus sys/oracle@orcl as sysdba

To automatically begin archiving, enter
ARCHIVE LOG START

To list the details of the current log file being archived, enter
ARCHIVE LOG LIST

ARCHIVE LOG {LIST | STOP} | {START | NEXT | ALL | integer } [TO destination]

1.1.10 SQL*Plus Globalization Support

SELECT * FROM NLS_SESSION_PARAMETERS;

Example 11-1 Configuring Japanese Support in SQL*Plus on Windows

1. Ensure you have exited your current SQL*Plus session.
2. Open System from Start > Settings > Control Panel.
3. Click the Advanced tab and select Environment Variables.
4. Create a new environment variable, NLS_LANG, with a value of Japanese_Japan.JA16SJIS.
5. You may need to restart Windows for this setting to take effect.

Example 11-3 Configuring Japanese Support in Oracle Database

To store data in the Japanese character set using UTF-8 character encoding, ensure that the Oracle
database has been created with the AL32UTF8 character set. See your Oracle Database Installation
Guide for information about creating your database in a character set other than US7ASCII.

1.1.11 SQL*Plus Command Reference.

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B28359_01/server.111/b31189/ch12001.htm

ARCHIVE LOG
ARCHIVE LOG {LIST | STOP} | {START | NEXT | ALL | integer } [TO destination]
ARCHIVE LOG LIST

1.1.12 SQL*Plus Error MEssage

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B28359_01/server.111/b31189/ch13.htm#CIHGGEEC

1.1.13 COPY Command.

COPY {FROM database | TO database | FROM database TO database} {APPEND|CREATE|INSERT|
REPLACE} destination_table [(column, column, column, ...)] USING query
where database has the following syntax:
username[/password]@connect_identifier
Copies data from a query to a table in the same or another database. COPY supports the following
datatypes:
CHAR
DATE
LONG
NUMBER
VARCHAR2

The following command copies the entire EMPLOYEES table to a table named WESTEMPLOYEES.
Note that the tables are located in two different databases.
COPY FROM HR@HQ TO JOHN@WEST -
REPLACE WESTEMPLOYEES -
USING SELECT * FROM EMPLOYEES

The following command copies selected records from EMPLOYEES to the database to
which SQL*Plus is connected. SQL*Plus creates SALESMEN through the copy. SQL*Plus
copies only the columns EMPLOYEE_ID and LAST_NAME, and at the destination names
them EMPLOYEE_ID and SA_MAN.

COPY FROM HR@ORACLE01 -

CREATE SALESMEN (EMPLOYEE_ID, SA_MAN) -
USING SELECT EMPLOYEE_ID, LAST_NAME FROM EMPLOYEES -
WHERE JOB_ID='SA_MAN';

Note:
In general, the COPY command was designed to be used for copying data between Oracle and non-
Oracle databases. You should use SQL commands (CREATE TABLE AS and INSERT) to copy data
between Oracle databases.

Controlling Treatment of the Destination Table

You control the treatment of the destination table by entering one of four control clauses—REPLACE,
CREATE, INSERT, or APPEND.
The REPLACE clause names the table to be created in the destination database and specifies the
following actions:
• If the destination table already exists, COPY drops the existing table and replaces it with a table
containing the copied data.
• If the destination table does not already exist, COPY creates it using the copied data.
You can use the CREATE clause to avoid accidentally writing over an existing table. CREATE
specifies the following actions:
• If the destination table already exists, COPY reports an error and stops.
• If the destination table does not already exist, COPY creates the table using the copied data.
Use INSERT to insert data into an existing table. INSERT specifies the following actions:
• If the destination table already exists, COPY inserts the copied data in the destination table.
 • If the destination table does not already exist, COPY reports an error and stops.
Use APPEND when you want to insert data in an existing table, or create a new table if the destination
table does not exist. APPEND specifies the following actions:
• If the destination table already exists, COPY inserts the copied data in the destination table.
• If the table does not already exist, COPY creates the table and then inserts the copied data in it.

1.1.14 SQL*Plus Instant Client

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B28359_01/server.111/b31189/apd.htm#CHDCHJJJ

1.1.15 Refernces

1.1.15.1 SET Commands

Command Desc

SET APPINFO OFF Sets automatic registering of scripts through the

DBMS_APPLICATION_INFO package. Setting APPINFO OFF prevents
administrators monitoring the performance and resource usage of scripts.
If many SQL scripts are being called, then turning APPINFO OFF stops
internal SQL*Plus calls to the database DBMS_APPLICATION_INFO
package.

SET ARRAYSIZE Sets the number of rows that SQL*Plus will fetch from the database at one
time. Valid values are 1 to 5000.
The effectiveness of setting ARRAYSIZE depends on how well Oracle
Database fills network packets and your network latency and throughput. In
recent versions of SQL*Plus and Oracle Database, ARRAYSIZE may have
little effect. Overlarge sizes can easily take more SQL*Plus memory which
may decrease overall performance.

SET TERMOUT SET TERMOUT OFF suppresses the display so that you can spool output
from a script without seeing it on the screen.

SET TRIMOUT ON SET TRIMOUT ON or SET TRIMSPOOL ON removes trailing blanks at the
SET TRIMSPOOL ON end of each displayed or spooled line.

SET EDITFILE SET EDITFILE "afiedt.buf"

Command Desc

1.1.15.1.1 SET APPI[NFO]{ON | OFF | text}

SET APPINFO ON
SHOW APPINFO

To change the default text, enter

SET APPINFO 'This is SQL*Plus'

To make sure that registration has taken place, enter

VARIABLE MOD VARCHAR2(50)
VARIABLE ACT VARCHAR2(40)
EXECUTE DBMS_APPLICATION_INFO.READ_MODULE(:MOD, :ACT);

PRINT MOD

To change APPINFO back to its default setting, enter

SET APPINFO OFF

1.1.15.1.2 SET ARRAY[SIZE] {15 | n}

Sets the number of rows that SQL*Plus will fetch from the database at one time.
Valid values are 1 to 5000. A large value increases the efficiency of queries and subqueries that fetch
many rows, but requires more memory. Values over approximately 100 provide little added
performance. ARRAYSIZE has no effect on the results of SQL*Plus operations other than increasing
efficiency.

1.1.15.1.3 SET AUTORECOVERY [ON | OFF]

No interaction is needed, provided the necessary files are in the expected locations with the expected
names. The filenames used are derived from the values of the initialization parameters
LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST and LOG_ARCHIVE_FORMAT.

To set the recovery mode to AUTOMATIC, enter

SET AUTORECOVERY ON
RECOVER DATABASE
1.1.15.1.4 SET DESCRIBE
SET DESCRIBE [DEPTH {1 | n | ALL}] [LINENUM {ON | OFF}] [INDENT {ON | OFF}]
To create an object type ADDRESS, enter
CREATE TYPE ADDRESS AS OBJECT
( STREET VARCHAR2(20),
CITY VARCHAR2(20)
);
/

To create the table EMPLOYEE that contains a nested object, EMPADDR, of type ADDRESS, enter
CREATE TABLE EMPLOYEE
(LAST_NAME VARCHAR2(30),
EMPADDR ADDRESS,
JOB_ID VARCHAR2(20),
SALARY NUMBER(7,2)
);
/

SET DESCRIBE DEPTH 2 LINENUM ON INDENT ON

DESCRIBE employee

Name Null? Type

------------------------------- -------- --------------------------
1 LAST_NAME VARCHAR2(30)
2 EMPADDR ADDRESS
3 2 STREET VARCHAR2(20)
4 2 CITY VARCHAR2(20)
5 JOB_ID VARCHAR2(20)
6 SALARY NUMBER(7,2)

1.1.15.1.5 SET ECHO

Controls whether or not to echo commands in a script that is executed with @, @@ or START. ON
displays the commands on screen. OFF suppresses the display.

'tst.sql :
PROMPT Enter a valid employee ID
PROMPT For Example 145, 206

ACCEPT ENUMBER NUMBER PROMPT 'Employee ID. :'

SELECT FIRST_NAME, LAST_NAME, SALARY

FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE EMPLOYEE_ID=&ENUMBER;
SQL> set echo off
SQL> @tst
Enter a valid employee ID
For Example 145, 206
Employee ID. :145
old 3: WHERE EMPLOYEE_ID=&ENUMBER
new 3: WHERE EMPLOYEE_ID= 145

FIRST_NAME LAST_NAME SALARY

-------------------- ------------------------- ----------
John Russell 14000

SQL>
SQL>
SQL> set echo on
SQL> @tst
SQL> PROMPT Enter a valid employee ID
Enter a valid employee ID
SQL> PROMPT For Example 145, 206
For Example 145, 206
SQL>
SQL> ACCEPT ENUMBER NUMBER PROMPT 'Employee ID. :'
Employee ID. :145
SQL>
SQL> SELECT FIRST_NAME, LAST_NAME, SALARY
2 FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
3 WHERE EMPLOYEE_ID=&ENUMBER;
old 3: WHERE EMPLOYEE_ID=&ENUMBER
new 3: WHERE EMPLOYEE_ID= 145

FIRST_NAME LAST_NAME SALARY

-------------------- ------------------------- ----------
John Russell 14000

1.1.15.1.6 SET ERRORL

SET ERRORL[OGGING] {ON | OFF} [TABLE [schema.]tablename] [TRUNCATE] [IDENTIFIER identifier]

SET ERRORLOGGING ON
@myfile

To view the errror log written to the default error log table, SPERRORLOG, enter:

SELECT TIMESTAMP, USERNAME, SCRIPT, IDENTIFIER, STATEMENT, MESSAGE

FROM SPERRORLOG;

1.1.15.1.7 SET ESC

SET ESC[APE] {\ | c | ON | OFF}
SET ESCAPE !

ACCEPT v1 PROMPT 'Enter !&1:'

1.1.15.1.8 SET ESCCHAR

SET ESCCHAR {@ | ? | % | $ | OFF}
Specifies a character to be escaped and not interpreted when used in a file name for the SPOOL,
START, @, RUN and EDIT commands

Example
If you include the character '$' in your filename, then
SET ESCCHAR $
RUN MYFILE$

1.1.15.1.9 SET FEED

SET FEED[BACK] {6 | n | ON | OFF}
Displays the number of records returned by a script when a script selects at least n records.

1.1.15.1.10 SET MARK

SET MARK[UP] HTML [ON | OFF] [HEAD text] [BODY text] [TABLE text] [ENTMAP {ON |
OFF}] [SPOOL {ON | OFF}] [PRE[FORMAT] {ON | OFF}]

Use the SHOW MARKUP command to view the status of MARKUP options.

Example
SET MARKUP HTML ON SPOOL ON HEAD "<TITLE>SQL*Plus Report</title> -
<STYLE TYPE='TEXT/CSS'><!--BODY {background: ffffc6} --></STYLE>"
SET ECHO OFF
SPOOL employee.htm
SELECT FIRST_NAME, LAST_NAME, SALARY
FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE SALARY>12000;
SPOOL OFF
SET MARKUP HTML OFF
SET ECHO ON

As this script contains SQL*Plus commands, do not attempt to run it with / (slash) from the buffer
because it will fail. Save the script in your text editor and use START to execute it:
START employee.sql

1.1.15.1.11 SET SQLBLANKLINES

SET SQLBLANKLINES ON
REM Using the SQLTERMINATOR (default is ";")
REM Could have used the BLOCKTERMINATOR (default is ".")
SELECT *
FROM

DUAL

1.1.15.2 SQL*Plus Command.

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B28359_01/server.111/b31189/ch12001.htm

1.1.15.2.1 CLEAR
CLEAR CL[EAR] option ...
where option represents one of the following clauses:
BRE[AKS]
BUFF[ER]
COL[UMNS]
COMP[UTES]
SCR[EEN]
SQL
TIMI[NG]
Resets or erases the current value or setting for the specified option.

Clears the text from SQL buffer. CLEAR SQL has the same effect as CLEAR BUFFER,
unless you are using multiple buffers.

1.1.15.2.2 BREAK

Example
BREAK ON DEPARTMENT_ID SKIP PAGE ON JOB_ID -
SKIP 1 ON SALARY SKIP 1

SELECT DEPARTMENT_ID, JOB_ID, SALARY, LAST_NAME

FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE SALARY > 12000
ORDER BY DEPARTMENT_ID, JOB_ID, SALARY, LAST_NAME;

BREAK ON DEPARTMENT_ID ON JOB_ID DUPLICATES

COMPUTE SUM OF SALARY ON DEPARTMENT_ID
COMPUTE AVG OF SALARY ON JOB_ID
SELECT DEPARTMENT_ID, JOB_ID, LAST_NAME, SALARY
FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE JOB_ID IN ('SH_CLERK', 'SA_MAN')
AND DEPARTMENT_ID IN (50, 80)
ORDER BY DEPARTMENT_ID, JOB_ID;

Examples
To set a bottom title with CORPORATE PLANNING DEPARTMENT on the left and a date on the
right, enter
BTITLE LEFT 'CORPORATE PLANNING DEPARTMENT' -
RIGHT '1 JAN 2001'

To set a bottom title with CONFIDENTIAL in column 50, followed by six spaces and a date, enter
BTITLE COL 50 'CONFIDENTIAL'
TAB 6
'1 JAN 2001'

1.1.15.2.3 COMPUTE

BREAK ON JOB_ID SKIP 1;

COMPUTE SUM LABEL 'TOTAL' OF SALARY ON JOB_ID;

SELECT JOB_ID, LAST_NAME, SALARY

FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE JOB_ID IN ('AC_MGR', 'SA_MAN')
ORDER BY JOB_ID, SALARY;

Table 12-2 COMPUTE Functions

To calculate the total of salaries greater than 12,000 on a report, enter

COMPUTE SUM OF SALARY ON REPORT
BREAK ON REPORT
COLUMN DUMMY HEADING ''
SELECT ' ' DUMMY, SALARY, EMPLOYEE_ID
FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE SALARY > 12000
ORDER BY SALARY;

To sum salaries for departments <= 20 without printing the compute label, enter
COLUMN DUMMY NOPRINT
COMPUTE SUM OF SALARY ON DUMMY
BREAK ON DUMMY SKIP 1
SELECT DEPARTMENT_ID DUMMY, DEPARTMENT_ID, LAST_NAME, SALARY
FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE DEPARTMENT_ID <= 20
ORDER BY DEPARTMENT_ID;

Function Computes Applies to Datatypes

AVG Average of non-null NUMBER
Function Computes Applies to Datatypes
values

COU[NT] Count of non-null values all types

MIN[IMUM] Minimum value NUMBER, CHAR, NCHAR, VARCHAR2 (VARCHAR),

NVARCHAR2 (NCHAR VARYING)

MAX[IMUM] Maximum value NUMBER, CHAR, NCHAR, VARCHAR2 (VARCHAR),

NVARCHAR2 (NCHAR VARYING)

NUM[BER] Count of rows all types

SUM Sum of non-null values NUMBER

STD Standard deviation of NUMBER

non-null values

VAR[IANCE] Variance of non-null NUMBER

values

1.1.15.2.4 INPUT

Syntax
I[NPUT] [text]

Examples
Assume the SQL buffer contains the following command:
SELECT LAST_NAME, DEPARTMENT_ID, SALARY, COMMISSION_PCT
FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW

To add an ORDER BY clause to the query, enter

LIST 2

2* FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW

INPUT ORDER BY LAST_NAME

LIST 2 ensures that line 2 is the current line. INPUT adds a new line containing the ORDER BY clause
after the current line. The SQL buffer now contains the following lines:
1 SELECT LAST_NAME, DEPARTMENT_ID, SALARY, COMMISSION_PCT
2 FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
3* ORDER BY LAST_NAME

To add a two-line WHERE clause, enter

LIST 2

2* FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW

INPUT
3 WHERE JOB_ID = 'SA_MAN'
4 AND COMMISSION_PCT=.25
5

INPUT prompts you for new lines until you enter an empty line or a period. The SQL buffer now
contains the following lines:
SELECT LAST_NAME, DEPARTMENT_ID, SALARY, COMMISSION_PCT
FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE JOB_ID = 'SA_MAN'
AND COMMISSION_PCT = .25
ORDER BY LAST_NAME

1.1.15.2.5 LIST
Term Description
n Lists line n.
nm Lists lines n through m.
n* Lists line n through the current line.
n LAST Lists line n through the last line.
* Lists the current line.
*n Lists the current line through line n.
* LAST Lists the current line through the last line.
LAST Lists the last line.

Examples
To list the contents of the buffer, enter
LIST

or enter
;
1 SELECT LAST_NAME, DEPARTMENT_ID, JOB_ID
2 FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
3 WHERE JOB_ID = 'SH_CLERK'
4* ORDER BY DEPARTMENT_ID

The asterisk indicates that line 4 is the current line.

To list the second line only, enter
LIST 2

The second line is displayed:

2* FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW

To list from the current line (now line 2) to the last line, enter
LIST * LAST

You will then see this:

2 FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
3 WHERE JOB_ID = 'SH_CLERK'
4* ORDER BY DEPARTMENT_ID

1.1.15.2.6 PRINT

VARIABLE n NUMBER
BEGIN
:n := 1;
END;
/

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

PRINT n

N
----------
1

1.1.15.2.7 REPFOOTER
Examples
To define "END EMPLOYEE LISTING REPORT" as a report footer on a separate page and to center
it, enter:
REPFOOTER PAGE CENTER 'END EMPLOYEE LISTING REPORT'
TTITLE RIGHT 'Page: ' FORMAT 999 SQL.PNO
SELECT LAST_NAME, SALARY
FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE SALARY > 12000;

LAST_NAME SALARY
------------------------- ----------
King 24000
Kochhar 17000
De Haan 17000
Russell 14000
Partners 13500
Hartstein 13000
----------
sum 98500

Page: 2
END EMPLOYEE LISTING REPORT

6 rows selected.

To suppress the report footer without changing its definition, enter

REPFOOTER OFF

REPHEADER

REPHEADER PAGE CENTER 'EMPLOYEE LISTING REPORT'

TTITLE RIGHT 'Page: ' FORMAT 999 SQL.PNO
SELECT LAST_NAME, SALARY
FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE SALARY > 12000;

1.1.15.2.8 SET
http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/B28359_01/server.111/b31189/ch12040.htm

1.1.15.2.9 SPOOL

Examples of SPOOL Command

To record your output in the new file DIARY using the default file extension, enter
SPOOL DIARY CREATE

To append your output to the existing file DIARY, enter

SPOOL DIARY APPEND
To record your output to the file DIARY, overwriting the existing content, enter
SPOOL DIARY REPLACE

To stop spooling and print the file on your default printer, enter
SPOOL OUT

1.1.15.2.10 START

To run this script, enter

START PROMOTE ST_MAN 7000

or if it is located on a web server, enter a command in the form:

START HTTP://machine_name.domain:port/PROMOTE.SQL ST_MAN 7000

1.1.15.2.11 STARTUP

Syntax
STARTUP options | upgrade_options
where options has the following syntax:
[FORCE] [RESTRICT] [PFILE=filename] [QUIET] [ MOUNT [dbname] | [ OPEN [open_options]
[dbname] ] | NOMOUNT ]
where open_options has the following syntax:
READ {ONLY | WRITE [RECOVER]} | RECOVER
and where upgrade_options has the following syntax:
[PFILE=filename] {UPGRADE | DOWNGRADE} [QUIET]
Starts an Oracle Database instance with several options, including mounting and opening a database.

Terms

FORCE
Shuts down the current Oracle Database instance (if it is running) with SHUTDOWN mode ABORT,
before restarting it. If the current instance is running and FORCE is not specified, an error results.
FORCE is useful while debugging and under abnormal circumstances. It should not normally be used.

RESTRICT
Only enables Oracle Database users with the RESTRICTED SESSION system privilege to connect to
the database. Later, you can use the ALTER SYSTEM command to disable the restricted session
feature.
PFILE=filename
Causes the specified parameter file to be used while starting up the instance. If PFILE is not specified,
then the default STARTUP parameter file is used. The default file used is platform specific. For
example, the default file is $ORACLE_HOME/dbs/init$ORACLE_SID.ora on UNIX, and
ORACLE_HOME\database\initORCL.ora on Windows.

QUIET
Suppresses the display of System Global Area information for the starting instance.

MOUNT dbname
Mounts a database but does not open it.
dbname is the name of the database to mount or open. If no database name is specified, the database
name is taken from the initialization parameter DB_NAME.

OPEN
Mounts and opens the specified database.

NOMOUNT
Causes the database not to be mounted upon instance startup.
Cannot be used with MOUNT, or OPEN.

RECOVER
Specifies that media recovery should be performed, if necessary, before starting the instance.
STARTUP RECOVER has the same effect as issuing the RECOVER DATABASE command and
starting an instance. Only complete recovery is possible with the RECOVER option.

Recovery proceeds, if necessary, as if AUTORECOVERY is set to ON, regardless of whether or not

AUTORECOVERY is enabled. If a redo log file is not found in the expected location, recovery
continues as if AUTORECOVERY is disabled, by prompting you with the suggested location and name
of the subsequent log files that need to be applied.

UPGRADE
Starts the database in OPEN UPGRADE mode and sets system initialization parameters to specific
values required to enable database upgrade scripts to be run. UPGRADE should only be used when a
database is first started with a new version of the Oracle Database Server.
See the Oracle Database Upgrade Guide for details about preparing for, testing and implementing a
database version upgrade.
When run, upgrade scripts transform an installed version or release of an Oracle database into a later
version, for example, to upgrade an Oracle9i database to Oracle Database 10g. Once the upgrade
completes, the database should be shut down and restarted normally.
DOWNGRADE
Starts the database in OPEN DOWNGRADE mode and sets system initialization parameters to specific
values required to enable database downgrade scripts to be run.
See the Oracle Database Upgrade Guide for details about preparing for, testing and implementing a
database version downgrade.
When run, downgrade scripts transform an installed version or release of Oracle Database into a
previous version, for example, to downgrade an Oracle10g database to an Oracle9i database. Once the
downgrade completes, the database should be shut down and restarted normally.

Usage
You must be connected to a database as SYSOPER, or SYSDBA. You cannot be connected to a shared
server via a dispatcher.
STARTUP with no arguments is equivalent to STARTUP OPEN.
STARTUP OPEN RECOVER mounts and opens the database even when recovery fails.

Examples
To start an instance using the standard parameter file, mount the default database, and open the
database, enter
STARTUP

or enter
STARTUP OPEN database

To start an instance using the standard parameter file, mount the default database, and open the
database, enter
STARTUP FORCE RESTRICT MOUNT

To start an instance using the parameter file TESTPARM without mounting the database, enter
STARTUP PFILE=testparm NOMOUNT

To shutdown a particular database, immediately restart and open it, allow access only to users with the
RESTRICTED SESSION privilege, and use the parameter file MYINIT.ORA. enter
STARTUP FORCE RESTRICT PFILE=myinit.ora OPEN database

To startup an instance and mount but not open a database, enter

CONNECT / as SYSDBA
Connected to an idle instance.

STARTUP MOUNT

ORACLE instance started.

Total System Global Area 7629732 bytes

Fixed Size 60324 bytes
Variable Size 6627328 bytes
Database Buffers 409600 bytes
Redo Buffers 532480 bytes

1.1.15.2.12 VARIABLE

Syntax
VAR[IABLE] [variable [type] ]
where type represents one of the following:
NUMBER
CHAR
CHAR (n [CHAR | BYTE])
NCHAR
NCHAR (n)
VARCHAR2 (n [CHAR | BYTE])
NVARCHAR2 (n)
BLOB
BFILE
CLOB
NCLOB
REFCURSOR
BINARY_FLOAT
BINARY_DOUBLE

To free resources used by BLOB, BFILE, CLOB and NCLOB bind variables, you may need to
manually free temporary LOBs with:
EXECUTE DBMS_LOB.FREETEMPORARY(:cv)

Example.
The following example illustrates automatically displaying a bind variable:
SET AUTOPRINT ON
VARIABLE a REFCURSOR
BEGIN
OPEN :a FOR SELECT LAST_NAME, CITY, DEPARTMENT_ID
FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
 WHERE SALARY > 12000
ORDER BY DEPARTMENT_ID;
END;
/

Example:
VARIABLE ret_val NUMBER

BEGIN
:ret_val:=4;
END;
/

PRINT ret_val

Example.

VARIABLE rc REFCURSOR
BEGIN
OPEN :rc FOR SELECT DEPARTMENT_NAME, LAST_NAME, SALARY
FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE SALARY > 12000
ORDER BY DEPARTMENT_NAME, LAST_NAME;
END;
/

SET PAGESIZE 100 FEEDBACK OFF

TTITLE LEFT '*** Departmental Salary Bill ***' SKIP 2
COLUMN SALARY FORMAT $999,990.99 HEADING 'Salary'
COLUMN DEPARTMENT_NAME HEADING 'Department'
COLUMN LAST_NAME HEADING 'Employee'
COMPUTE SUM LABEL 'Subtotal:' OF SALARY ON DEPARTMENT_NAME
COMPUTE SUM LABEL 'Total:' OF SALARY ON REPORT
BREAK ON DEPARTMENT_NAME SKIP 1 ON REPORT SKIP 1
PRINT rc

Example.
The following example illustrates producing a report containing a CLOB column, and then displaying
it with the SET LOBOFFSET command.

create table clob_tab ( clob_col CLOB );

insert into clob_tab values ( 'Remember to run the Departmental Salary Bill report each month. This
report contains confidential information.');
select * from clob_tab ;

VARIABLE T CLOB
BEGIN
SELECT CLOB_COL INTO :T FROM CLOB_TAB;
END;
/
To print 200 characters from the column clob_col, enter

SET LINESIZE 70
SET LONG 200
PRINT T

T
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Remember to run the Departmental Salary Bill report each month This r
eport contains confidential information.

To set the printing position to the 21st character, enter

SET LOBOFFSET 21
PRINT T

T
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Departmental Salary Bill report each month This report contains confi
dential information.

1.1.15.2.13 XQUERY
The SQL*Plus XQUERY command enables you to perform an XQuery 1.0 query on a specified
database.

XML output from the XQUERY command is displayed as native XML according to the active SET
command options. SET LONG typically needs to be set. It may be useful to consider the following
settings:
• Linesize for rows longer than the default 80 characters (SET LINESIZE).
• LOB, LONG and XML Type Size for rows longer than the default 80 characters (SET LONG).
• Output Page Setup to match output (SET PAGESIZE).
• Display Headings to repress the "Result Sequence" column heading (SET HEADING OFF).

Bind variables are not supported in the XQUERY command.

There are four SET commands specific to the XQUERY command. The SHOW XQUERY command
gives the status of these settings. They are:
Table 12-6 XQUERY SET commands
SET Command
SET XQUERY BASEURI
SET XQUERY ORDERING
SET XQUERY NODE
SET XQUERY CONTEXT
For more information about the SET XQUERY commands, see :
• SET XQUERY BASEURI {text}
• SET XQUERY ORDERING {UNORDERED | ORDERED | DEFAULT}
• SET XQUERY NODE {BYVALUE | BYREFERENCE | DEFAULT}
• SET XQUERY CONTEXT {text}

Examples
The XQuery statement in the following script queries the EMP_DETAILS_VIEW view of the HR
schema:
set long 160
set linesize 160
xquery for $i in
ora:view("EMP_DETAILS_VIEW")
return $i
/