PROMPT

Syntax

PRO[MPT] [text]

Sends the specified message or a blank line to the user's screen.

Terms

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

text

Represents the text of the message you wish to display. If you omit text, PROMPT displays a blank line on the user's screen.

Usage

You can use this command in command files to give information to the user.

Examples

The following example shows the use of PROMPT in conjunction with ACCEPT in a command file called ASKFORDEPT. ASKFORDEPT contains the following SQL*Plus and SQL commands:

PROMPT
PROMPT Please enter a valid department
PROMPT For example:  10, 20, 30, 40
ACCEPT NEWDEPT NUMBER PROMPT 'Department ID?> '
SELECT DEPARTMENT_NAME FROM EMP_DETAILS_VIEW
WHERE DEPARTMENT_ID = &NEWDEPT

Assume you run the file using START or @:

@ASKFORDEPT


Please enter a valid department
For example:  10, 20, 30, 40
Department ID?>

You can enter a department number at the prompt Department ID?>. By default, SQL*Plus lists the line containing &NEWDEPT before and after substitution, and then displays the department name corresponding to the number entered at the Department ID?> prompt. You can use SET VERIFY OFF to prevent this behavior.