SQL*Plus Command Support

This article contains descriptions of the SQL*Plus commands available in dbForge Studio for Oracle. Use these commands just like usual SQL statements. The commands are supported in both full and short forms.

Command

Description

Support

@
Runs the SQL*PLus statements in the specified script. The script can be called from the local file system or from a web server.
Yes
@
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 script from which it was called.
Yes
Executes the SQL command or PL/SQL block.
Yes
ACCEPT
Reads a line of input and stores it in a given user variable.
Yes
APPEND
Adds specified text to the end of the current line in the buffer.
ARCHIVE LOG
Starts or stops the automatic archiving of online redo log files, manually (explicitly) archives specified redo log files, or 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.
Yes
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.
Connects a given user to Oracle.
Yes
COPY
Copies results from a query to a table in a local or remote database.
DEFINE
Specifies a user variable and assigns it a CHAR value, or lists the value and variable type of a single variable or all variables.
Yes
DEL
Deletes one or more lines of the buffer.
DESCRIBE
Lists the column definitions for the specified table, view, or synonym or the specifications for the specified function or procedure.
Yes
DISCONNECT
Commits pending changes to the database and logs the current user off Oracle, but does not exit SQL*Plus.
EDIT
Invokes a host 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.
Yes
EXIT
Terminates SQL*Plus and returns control to the operating system.
GET
Loads a host operating system file into the SQL buffer.
HELP
Accesses the SQL*Plus help system.
HOST
Executes a host 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 SQL buffer.
PASSWORD
Allows 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.
Yes
QUIT
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.
Yes
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 executes the SQL command or PL/SQL block currently stored in the SQL buffer.
SAVE
Saves the contents of the SQL buffer in a host 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 instance.
SPOOL
Stores query results in an operating system file and, optionally, sends the file to a printer.
START
Executes the contents of the specified script. The script can only be called from a url.
STARTUP
Starts an Oracle instance and optionally mounts and opens a database.
STORE
Saves attributes of the current SQL*Plus environment in a host operating system file (a 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 user 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.
Yes
WHENEVER OSERROR
Performs the specified action Exits SQL*Plus if an operating system command generates an error.
WHENEVER SQLERROR
Performs the specified action Exits SQL*Plus if a SQL command or PL/SQL block generates an error.

*Unlike SQL*Plus slash, it doesn't execute the statements but is presented as a statements delimiter.

**The command adds a new connection to the Database Explorer besides connecting to the server.