HOST

Syntax

HO[ST] [command]

Executes a host operating system command without leaving SQL*Plus.

Terms

Refer to the following for a description of the term or clause:

command

Represents a host operating system command.

Enter HOST without command to display an operating system prompt. You can then enter multiple operating system commands. For information on returning to SQL*Plus, refer to the Oracle installation and user's manual(s) provided for your operating system.

Note: Operating system commands entered from a SQL*Plus session using the HOST command do not effect the current SQL*Plus session. For example, setting an operating system environment variable does not effect the current SQL*Plus session, it only effects SQL*Plus sessions started subsequently. You can suppress access to the HOST command. For more information about suppressing the HOST command see Appendix E, "Security".

Usage

With some operating systems, you can use a "$" (VMS), "!" (UNIX), or another character instead of HOST. See the Oracle installation and user's manual(s) provided for your operating system for details.

You may not have access to the HOST command, depending on your operating system. See the Oracle installation and user's manual(s) provided for your operating system or ask your DBA for more information.

SQL*Plus removes the SQLTERMINATOR (a semicolon by default) before the HOST command is issued. A workaround for this is to add another SQLTERMINATOR. See the SQLTERMINATOR variable of the SET command in this chapter for more information on the SQLTERMINATOR.

Examples

To execute a UNIX operating system command, ls *.sql, enter

HOST ls *.sql

To execute a Windows operating system command, dir *.sql, enter

HOST dir *.sql