SQL*Plus(TM) Getting Started for Windows NT and Windows 95
Release 8.0

A53633-01

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3
SQL*Plus in the Windows NT and
Windows 95 Environment

This chapter describes the operation of SQL*Plus in the Windows NT/95 environment and provides the Windows NT/95-specific information cross-referenced in the SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference.

These topics are covered:

Operating System-Specific References
Attention:

Examples in this chapter use the Oracle default home directory (ORANT) for Windows NT. The default for Windows 95 users is ORAWIN95.  

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 references, you can find the Windows NT and Windows 95 -specific information in the following section.

Loading the Sample Data

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

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:\ORANT (or \ORAWIN95).

SQL> @C:\<HOME DIRECTORY>\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:\<HOME DIRECTORY>\DBS\DEMODROP.SQL  

Key Assignments

"Using the Keyboard" in Chapter 2 in the SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference describes the SQL*Plus keyboard functions. In SQL*Plus for Windows NT and Windows 95, keys have the same function in SQL*Plus as they do in Windows NT and Windows 95. In addition, SQL*Plus for Windows NT and Windows 95 provides shortcut keys for copying and pasting text and for clearing the buffer. See Chapter 2 of this Guide for more information.

Automatic Logon

"Shortcuts to Starting SQL*Plus" in Chapter 2 in the 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. When connecting to an Oracle database on the same Windows NT and Windows 95 workstation/server, you can setup SQL*Plus for Windows NT and Windows 95 to do an automatic login by following these steps:

  1. Create an account in the database <PREFIX>USERX for every Windows NT and Windows 95 user (USERX) who needs access to the database. <PREFIX> is the init.ora parameter OS_AUTHENT_PREFIX for the database (the default is OPS$).
  2. Log on to Windows NT or Windows 95 as USERX, and assuming you connect using the connect string 2:<sid>, you can log in as /.

The TIMING Command

The section "Collecting Timing Statistics on Commands You Run" in Chapter 2 and the sections "Set" and "Timing" in Chapter 6 in the 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 NT and Windows 95, the accumulated time is displayed in milliseconds.

Error Messages

"Interpreting Error Messages" in Chapter 2 refers you to the Oracle8 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 Oracle8 Server Messages and Codes Manual, refer to the server user's guide provided with your Oracle database.

The LOGIN Files

"Setting Up Your SQL*Plus Environment" in Chapter 3 in the 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 \PLUS80, 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 NT and Windows 95.  

Sending Query Results to a File

"Sending Results to a File" in Chapter 4 in the SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference describes the use of the SPOOL command.

This command is available as a menu option in the SQL*Plus for Windows NT and Windows 95 File menu. (See the section, "File Menu", in Chapter 2 of this guide.)

When you use the SPOOL command from the File menu or from the SQL*Plus command line, SQL*Plus for Windows NT and Windows 95 adds .LST to your filename if you do not specify an extension.

SQL*Plus for Windows NT and Windows 95 does not support the use of the SPOOL OUT clause at the SQL*Plus command line.

Path Search, the @, and START Commands

The sections, "@ ("at" sign)," "@@(double "at" sign)," and "START" in Chapter 6 in the SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference explain how SQL*Plus searches for a file when you use the @, @@, or START command. Under Windows NT and Windows 95, 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 Windows NT and Windows 95 Registry (in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ORACLE). Refer to Appendix A of this Guide for more information about the SQLPATH parameter.

Exit Command

The section, "EXIT" in Chapter 6 describes how to use the EXIT command to run SQL*Plus command files in batch mode. SQL*Plus for Windows NT and Windows 95 does not support batch mode.

Host Command

As described in the section, "HOST" in Chapter 6 in the 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.

RUNFORM Command

The section, "RUNFORM", in Chapter 6 in the 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 NT and Windows 95 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 in the SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference. SQL*Plus for Windows NT and Windows 95 can process a row width of up to 60K. The default value for the MAXDATA parameter is 60K.

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 in the 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 NT and Windows 95 environment.

PUPBLD.SQL

Appendix E in the 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 NT and Windows 95 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 Windows NT and Windows 95 Registry (in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\SOFTWARE\ORACLE) to point to the remote database and then run PUPBLD. See Appendix A of this guide for more information on setting the LOCAL parameter.




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