13.1 SQL*Plus Command Summary

Command Description
@ (at sign)

Runs SQL*Plus statements in the specified script. The script can be called from the local file system or from a web server.

@@ (double at sign)

Runs a script. This command is similar to the @ (at sign) command It is useful for running nested scripts because it looks for the specified script in the same path as the calling script.

/ (slash)

Executes the SQL command or PL/SQL block.

ACCEPT

Reads a line of input and stores it in a given substitution variable.

APPEND

Adds specified text to the end of the current line in the buffer.

ARCHIVE LOG

Displays information about redo log files.

ATTRIBUTE

Specifies display characteristics for a given attribute of an Object Type column, and lists the current display characteristics for a single attribute or all attributes.

BREAK

Specifies where and how formatting will change in a report, or lists the current break definition.

BTITLE

Places and formats a specified title at the bottom of each report page, or lists the current BTITLE definition.

CHANGE

Changes text on the current line in the buffer.

CLEAR

Resets or erases the current clause or setting for the specified option, such as BREAKS or COLUMNS.

COLUMN

Specifies display characteristics for a given column, or lists the current display characteristics for a single column or for all columns.

COMPUTE

Calculates and prints summary lines, using various standard computations, on subsets of selected rows, or lists all COMPUTE definitions.

CONNECT

Connects a given user to Oracle Database.

COPY

Copies results from a query to a table in the same or another database.

DEFINE

Specifies a substitution variable and assigns it a CHAR value, or lists the value and variable type of a single variable or all variables.

DEL

Deletes one more lines of the buffer.

DESCRIBE

Lists the column definitions for the specified table, view, or synonym or the specifications for the specified function procedure.

DISCONNECT

Commits pending changes to the database and logs the current user off Oracle Database, but does not exit SQL*Plus.

EDIT

Invokes an operating system text editor on the contents of the specified file or on the contents of the buffer.

EXECUTE

Executes a single PL/SQL statement.

EXIT

Terminates SQL*Plus and returns control to the operating system.

GET

Loads an operating system file into the buffer.

HELP

Accesses the SQL*Plus command-line help system.

HISTORY

Recalls the history of commands, SQL*Plus commands, and SQL or PL/SQL statements issued in the current SQL*Plus session.

HOST

Executes an operating system command without leaving SQL*Plus.

INPUT

Adds one or more new lines after the current line in the buffer.

LIST

Lists one or more lines of the buffer.

PASSWORD

Enables a password to be changed without echoing the password on an input device.

PAUSE

Displays the specified text, then waits for the user to press Return.

PRINT

Displays the current value of a bind variable.

PROMPT

Sends the specified message to the user's screen.

EXIT

Terminates SQL*Plus and returns control to the operating system QUIT is identical to EXIT.

RECOVER 

Performs media recovery on one or more tablespaces, one or more datafiles, or the entire database.

REMARK

Begins a comment in a script.

REPFOOTER

Places and formats a specified report footer at the bottom of each report, or lists the current REPFOOTER definition.

REPHEADER

Places and formats a specified report header at the top of each report, or lists the current REPHEADER definition.

RUN

Lists and runs the SQL command or PL/SQL block currently stored in the SQL buffer.

SAVE

Saves the contents of the buffer in an operating system file (a script).

SET

Sets a system variable to alter the SQL*Plus environment for your current session.

SHOW

Shows the value of a SQL*Plus system variable or the current SQL*Plus environment.

SHUTDOWN 

Shuts down a currently running Oracle Database instance.

SPOOL

Stores query results in an operating system file and, optionally, sends the file to a printer.

START

Runs the SQL statements in the specified script. The script can be called from a local file system or a web server in SQL*Plus command-line.

STARTUP 

Starts an Oracle Database instance and optionally mounts and opens a database.

STORE

Saves attributes of the current SQL*Plus environment in an operating system script.

TIMING

Records timing data for an elapsed period of time, lists the current timer's title and timing data, or lists the number of active timers.

TTITLE

Places and formats a specified title at the top of each report page, or lists the current TTITLE definition.

UNDEFINE

Deletes one or more substitution variables that you defined either explicitly (with the DEFINE command) or implicitly (with an argument to the START command).

VARIABLE

Declares a bind variable that can be referenced in PL/SQL, or lists the current display characteristics for a single variable or all variables.

WHENEVER OSERROR

Exits SQL*Plus if an operating system command generates an error.

WHENEVER SQLERROR

Exits SQL*Plus if a SQL command or PL/SQL block generates an error.

XQUERY

Runs an XQuery 1.0 statement.