SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference

**Overview of SQL*Plus**

You can use the SQL*Plus program in conjunction with the SQL database language and its procedural language extension, PL/SQL . The SQL database language allows you to store and retrieve data in Oracle. PL/SQL allows you to link several SQL commands through procedural logic.

SQL*Plus enables you to manipulate SQL commands and PL/SQL blocks, and to perform many additional tasks as well. Through SQL*Plus, you can

enter, edit, store, retrieve, and run SQL commands and PL/SQL blocks

format, perform calculations on, store, and print query results in the form of reports

list column definitions for any table

access and copy data between SQL databases

send messages to and accept responses from an end user

Basic Concepts

The following definitions explain concepts central to SQL*Plus:

command An instruction you give SQL*Plus or Oracle.
block A group of SQL and PL/SQL commands related to one another through procedural logic.
table The basic unit of storage in Oracle.
query A SQL command (specifically, a SQL SELECT command) that retrieves information from one or more tables.
query results The data retrieved by a query.
report Query results formatted by you through SQL*Plus commands.

**Who Can Use SQL*Plus**

The SQL*Plus, SQL, and PL/SQL command languages are powerful enough to serve the needs of users with some database experience, yet straightforward enough for new users who are just learning to work with Oracle.

The design of the SQL*Plus command language makes it easy to use. For example, to give a column labelled ENAME in the database the clearer heading "Employee", you might enter the following command:

COLUMN ENAME HEADING EMPLOYEE

Similarly, to list the column definitions for a table called EMP, you might enter this command:

DESCRIBE EMP

Other Ways of Working with Oracle

Oracle serves as the foundation for a complete set of application development, and office automation tools. These tools support every phase of a system's development and life cycle, from analysis and design through implementation and maintenance.

Designer/2000 a set of second generation client/server design tools
Developer/2000 a set of second generation client/server development tools
Discoverer/2000 a set of end-user query tools
Programmer/2000 a set of 3GL programming language interfaces
Text Server Option an option to include full text storage and retrieval in databases
Spatial Data Option an option to include multi-dimensional (spatial) data in databases
Mobile Agents a tool for applications using mobile and/or detached clients
WebServer Option a tool which enables database access through Web browsers and the Internet
Gateways a tool which enables access to data in non-Oracle databases
Media Objects a development tool for object-oriented multimedia applications
Oracle Office an electronic messaging (Email), calendar and scheduling system

command	An instruction you give SQL*Plus or Oracle.
block	A group of SQL and PL/SQL commands related to one another through procedural logic.
table	The basic unit of storage in Oracle.
query	A SQL command (specifically, a SQL SELECT command) that retrieves information from one or more tables.
query results	The data retrieved by a query.
report	Query results formatted by you through SQL*Plus commands.

Designer/2000	a set of second generation client/server design tools
Developer/2000	a set of second generation client/server development tools
Discoverer/2000	a set of end-user query tools
Programmer/2000	a set of 3GL programming language interfaces
Text Server Option	an option to include full text storage and retrieval in databases
Spatial Data Option	an option to include multi-dimensional (spatial) data in databases
Mobile Agents	a tool for applications using mobile and/or detached clients
WebServer Option	a tool which enables database access through Web browsers and the Internet
Gateways	a tool which enables access to data in non-Oracle databases
Media Objects	a development tool for object-oriented multimedia applications
Oracle Office	an electronic messaging (Email), calendar and scheduling system