SQL*Plus User's Guide for Windows Platforms

**SQL*Plus in the Windows 3.1 Environment**

Operating System-Specific References

This chapter provides information on Windows-specific information cross-referenced in the SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference.

Operating System-Specific References

As you work through the examples in the SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference, note the references to the "Oracle installation and user's manual(s) provided for your operating system." Whenever you see one of these cross references, you can find the Windows-specific information in the following section.

For example, the description of the SET TIMING command in Chapter 6 of the SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference includes the following statement: "For information about the data SET TIMING ON displays, see the Oracle installation and user's manual(s) provided for your operating system". To get information on the operation of the SET TIMING command in the Windows environment, read the section, "The TIMING Command" later in this chapter.

Loading the Sample Data

The section "Access to Sample Tables" in Chapter 1 of SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference discusses the sample data that you must load into your database in order to work through the exercises.

Note If you access a database installed on another computer, your Database Administrator (DBA) should build these tables for you.

To load the data, log on to SQL*Plus with the user account you will use to work through the examples. The SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference refers to username `SCOTT' with password `TIGER,' but you may use any account that has the resource privilege. Enter the following command at the SQL*Plus prompt, substituting the drive and directory name of your Oracle home directory for C:\ORAWIN.

SQL> @C:\ORAWIN\DBS\DEMOBLD.SQL

Removing the Demonstration Tables

When you finish working through the examples, you may remove the sample data from the database, by entering the following command:

SQL> @C:\ORAWIN\DBS\DEMODROP.SQL

Key Assignments

"Using the Keyboard" in Chapter 2 of SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference describes the SQL*Plus keyboard functions. In SQL*Plus for Windows, keys have the same function in SQL*Plus as they do in Windows. In addition, SQL*Plus for Windows provides shortcut keys for copying and pasting text and for clearing the buffer. See Chapter 3 of this guide for more information.

Automatic Logon

"Shortcuts to Starting SQL*Plus" in Chapter 2 of SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference refers you to this guide for information about automatically logging on to SQL*Plus when you log on to your operating system. Since you do not log on to Windows, automatic logons do not apply to SQL*Plus for Windows.

The TIMING Command

The section "Collecting Timing Statistics on Commands You Run" in Chapter 2 and the sections "Set" and "Timing" in Chapter 6 of SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference discuss how to use the TIMING command and the TIMING parameter with the SET command to record timing data for an elapsed period. In SQL*Plus for Windows, the accumulated time is displayed in milliseconds.

Error Messages

"Interpreting Error Messages" in Chapter 2 of SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference refers you to the Oracle7 Server Messages and Codes Manual and this guide to find error codes that begin with the letters "ORA."If you do not find the error code in the Oracle7 Server Messages and Codes Manual, refer to the installation and user's guide provided with your Oracle database.

The LOGIN Files

"Setting Up Your SQL*Plus Environment" in Chapter 3 of SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference describes the use of the LOGIN files, LOGIN.SQL and GLOGIN.SQL. When you installed SQL*Plus, LOGIN.SQL was copied to the \DBS subdirectory of your Oracle home directory. GLOGIN.SQL was copied to \PLUS33, the SQL*Plus subdirectory. If you modify LOGIN.SQL or GLOGIN.SQL, make sure you do not add any ANSI escape sequences.

Note Some Oracle products use a LOGIN file named LOGIN.NEW. If this file exists on your computer, make sure you do not use it with SQL*Plus for Windows.

Sending Query Results to a File

"Sending Results to a File" in Chapter 4 of SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference describes the use of the SPOOL command. Note that this command is available as a menu option in the SQL*Plus for Windows File menu. (See the section, "File Menu", in Chapter 3 of this guide.)

When you use the SPOOL command from the File menu or from the SQL*Plus command line, SQL*Plus for Windows adds .LST to your filename if you do not specify an extension.

Note SQL*Plus for Windows does not support the use of the SPOOL OUT clause at the SQL*Plus command line.

Path Search and the @ and START Commands

The sections, "@ ("at" sign)," "@@(double "at" sign)," and "START" in Chapter 6 of SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference explain how SQL*Plus searches for a file when you use the @, @@, or START command. Under Windows, SQL*Plus searches the current default directory for the filename you specified with the @, @@, or START command. If SQL*Plus cannot find this file, the program searches a path to find the file.

You can specify the path that SQL*Plus searches by modifying the SQLPATH parameter in your ORACLE.INI. Refer to Appendix A of this guide for more information about the SQLPATH parameter.

Exit Command

The section, "EXIT" in Chapter 6 of SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference describes how to use the EXIT command to run SQL*Plus command files in batch mode. SQL*Plus for Windows does not support batch mode.

Host Command

As described in the section, "HOST" in Chapter 6 of SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference, you can access the DOS command line by entering the HOST command or the dollar sign ($) at the SQL*Plus prompt. To return to SQL*Plus, type EXIT at the DOS prompt.

RUNFORM Command

The section, "RUNFORM", in Chapter 6 of SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference describes how to use the RunForm command to invoke a SQL*Forms application from within SQL*Plus. SQL*Plus for Windows does not support RUNFORM.

MAXDATA Parameter of the SET Command

The function of the SET command parameter, MAXDATA, is described in the section "SET" in Chapter 6 of SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference. SQL*Plus for Windows can process a row width of up to 32K. The default value for the MAXDATA parameter is 32K.

Note You can "SET" the MAXDATA parameter by selecting the Set Options option from the Options menu.

Site Profile

The "SQLPLUS" section of Chapter 6 of SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference describes how to use the Site Profile command file. This command file is not applicable to the Windows environment.

PUPBLD.SQL

Appendix E of SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference describes the PRODUCT_USER_PROFILE table. To create this table, you or your DBA must run the PUPBLD.SQL file located in the \DBS subdirectory of your Oracle home directory.

Note If you are using SQL*Plus for Windows with a remote database, you may want to install the PRODUCT_USER_PROFILE on the remote database. To do this, run PUPBLD on the server directly. Alternatively, you can set the LOCAL parameter in your ORACLE.INI file to point to the remote database and then run PUPBLD. See Appendix A of this chapter for more information on setting the LOCAL parameter.

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