Scripts can include all of these components. An Oracle programmer in the appropriately configured software environment can launch SQL Plus, for example, by entering: $ sqlplus scott/tiger where the Oracle user scott has the password tiger. SQL Plus then presents a prompt with the default form of: SQL> Interactive use can then start by entering a SQL statement, a PL/SQL block, or another command. For example: SQL> select 'Hello world' as example from dual; EXAMPLE -------------------------------- Hello world
History
The first version of SQL Plus was called UFI. UFI appeared in Oracle database releases up to Version 4. After Oracle programmers had added new features to UFI, its name became Advanced UFI. The name "Advanced UFI" changed to "SQL Plus" with the release of the version 5 of Oracle.
Usage
Graphical interfaces from Oracle or third parties have diminished the proportion of Oracle database end-users who depend on the SQL Plus environment. Oracle shops typically continue to use SQL Plus scripts for batch updating or simple reports. Oracle Corporation's wrappers/gui-fications/replacements for SQL Plus include:
Starting from Oracle database 11g, iSqlplus and sqlplus GUI no longer ship with Oracle database software. The command-line SQL Plus interface continues in use, mostly for non-interactive scripting or for administrative purposes. The Server Manager Command Line -a replacement of SQL*DBA- is obsolete and SQL Plus 8i and later allows the user to issue statements like STARTUP and SHUTDOWN when connected as SYSDBA. Server Manager 7.1 introduced the command CONNECT / AS SYSDBA to replace CONNECT INTERNAL. SQL Plus 8i and later allows the use of CONNECT / AS SYSDBA
Compatibility
Other vendors have made their software somewhat compatible with SQL Plus script commands or offer a SQL Plus mode of operation. Relevant products include TOAD from Quest Software.
Integration
Variables
SQL Plus-internal variables, accessible within an SQL Plus session, include:
user variables, displayable with the DEFINE command and referenceable with one or two cases of a prefixed character. Oracle Corporationcalls these variables "substitution variables". Programmers can use them anywhere in a SQL or PL/SQL statement or in SQL Plus commands. They can be populated by a literal using DEFINE or from the database using the column command.
* predefined variables, prefixed with an underscore
* substitution variables, useful for interacting with user-input
bind variables, prefixed by a colon, which can interact with the PL/SQL environment. Displayable with the VARIABLE and PRINT commands
The WHENEVER command specifies an action to perform in the event of the system detecting an SQL error or an operating-system error while running a subsequent SQL Plus command.
