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Introducing SQL*Plus

This chapter provides introductory information to help you get started with SQL*Plus.

Specific topics discussed are:

• Overview
• Basic Concepts
• Installing SQL*Plus

Overview

You can use the SQL*Plus program in conjunction with the SQL database language and its procedural language extension, PL/SQL. These database languages allow you to store and retrieve data in Oracle databases. PL/SQL allows you to link several SQL commands through procedural logic.

SQL*Plus enables you to manipulate SQL commands and PL/SQL blocks, and to perform many additional tasks. With SQL*Plus, you can:

• Enter, edit, store, retrieve, and run SQL commands and PL/SQL blocks.
• Format, perform calculations on, store, and print query results in the form of reports.
• List column definitions for any table.
• Access and copy data between databases.
• Send messages to and accept responses from an end user.
• Perform database administration.

 

SQL*Plus provides both a command line interface and a graphical user interface (GUI). See Chapter 2, "Using SQL*Plus" for more information.

Note: After release 8.1.3, all Server Manager text and examples were replaced with SQL*Plus equivalents. Although Server Manager will continue to be shipped with 8.1.x releases, Oracle Corporation strongly recommends that you migrate to SQL*Plus as soon as possible.

Basic Concepts

The following definitions explain concepts central to SQL*Plus:

Concept	Definition
command	An instruction you give SQL*Plus or Oracle.
SQL command	A command to execute SQL statements.
SQL*Plus command	A command to execute SQL*Plus statements.
block	A group of SQL and PL/SQL commands related to one another through procedural logic.
table	The basic unit of storage in Oracle.
query	A SQL command (specifically, a SQL SELECT command) that retrieves information from one or more tables.
query results	The data retrieved by a query.
report	Query results formatted by you through SQL*Plus commands.
SQL buffer	A buffer to store the last SQL statement that has been executed in SQL*Plus.
screen buffer	A buffer to store the data in the SQL*Plus application window.

For definitions of other concepts that are relevant to SQL*Plus, see the glossary in SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference.

Installing SQL*Plus

The CD-ROM insert that accompanies your product CD-ROM includes the following information about SQL*Plus:

• System requirements
• Installation instructions

 

Note: Before installing any Oracle product, refer to the various Release Notes and Readme files on the CD-ROM for late-breaking information.