Syntax

WHENEVER SQLERROR {EXIT [SUCCESS | FAILURE | WARNING | n | variable  | :BindVariable] [COMMIT | ROLLBACK] | CONTINUE [COMMIT | ROLLBACK | NONE]}

Performs the specified action (exits SQL*Plus by default) if a SQL command or PL/SQL block generates an error.

Terms

 [SUCCESS | FAILURE | WARNING | n | variable | :BindVariable]

Directs SQL*Plus to perform the specified action as soon as it detects a SQL command or PL/SQL block error (but after printing the error message). SQL*Plus will not exit on a SQL*Plus error.

EXIT [SUCCESS | FAILURE | WARNING | n | variable | :BindVariable]

Directs SQL*Plus to exit as soon as it detects a SQL command or PL/SQL block error (but after printing the error message). SQL*Plus will not exit on a SQL*Plus error. The EXIT clause of WHENEVER SQLERROR follows the same syntax as the EXIT command. See EXIT for more information.

CONTINUE

Turns off the EXIT option.

COMMIT

Directs SQL*Plus to execute a COMMIT before exiting or continuing and save pending changes to the database.

ROLLBACK

Directs SQL*Plus to execute a ROLLBACK before exiting or continuing and abandon pending changes to the database.

NONE

Directs SQL*Plus to take no action before continuing.

Usage

The WHENEVER SQLERROR command is triggered by SQL command or PL/SQL block errors, and not by SQL*Plus command errors.

Examples

The commands in the following script cause SQL*Plus to exit and return the SQL error code if the SQL UPDATE command fails:

WHENEVER SQLERROR EXIT SQL.SQLCODE
UPDATE EMP_DETAILS_VIEW SET SALARY = SALARY*1.1;

The following examples show that the WHENEVER SQLERROR command is not executed after errors with SQL*Plus commands, but it is executed if SQL commands or PL/SQL blocks cause errors:

WHENEVER SQLERROR EXIT SQL.SQLCODE
column LAST_name headIing "Employee Name"

Unknown COLUMN option "headiing"

SHOW non_existed_option

The following PL/SQL block error causes SQL*Plus to exit and return the SQL error code:

WHENEVER SQLERROR EXIT SQL.SQLCODE
begin
  SELECT COLUMN_DOES_NOT_EXIST FROM DUAL;
END;
/

SELECT COLUMN_DOES_NOT_EXIST FROM DUAL;
       *
ERROR at line 2:
ORA-06550: line 2, column 10:
PLS-00201: identifier 'COLUMN_DOES_NOT_EXIST' must be declared
ORA-06550: line 2, column 3:
PL/SQL: SQL Statement ignored

Disconnected from Oracle.....