Preface

SQL*Plus Getting Started for Windows provides information about the SQL*Plus product specific to Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, and Windows 95 operating systems.

Notes:
In the remainder of this guide, SQL*Plus for Windows, will be referred to as SQL*Plus.

This preface contains these topics:

Audience

SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference is intended for business and technical users and system administrators who want to use SQL*Plus in the Windows 2000, Windows NT or Windows 95/98 operating environments.

This guide assumes that you are familiar with:

SQL*Plus commands and general features. You should refer to the generic SQL*Plus documentation set before using this guide. See "Related Documentation" later in this chapter.
Commands for deleting and copying files and the concepts of the search path, subdirectories, and path names.
Fundamentals of the Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows NT or Windows 95/98 operating systems.

To use this guide, you need a basic understanding of the SQL database language. If you do not have any familiarity with this database tool, you should refer to the Oracle9i SQL Reference. If you plan to use the PL/SQL database language in conjunction with SQL*Plus, refer to the PL/SQL User's Guide and Reference for information on using PL/SQL.

Organization

This guide contains:

Chapter 1, "Introducing SQL*Plus"

Provides introductory information to help you get started with SQL*Plus.

Chapter 2, "Installing SQL*Plus Help and Demonstration Tables"

Explains how to install and access SQL*Plus Help and Demonstration tables.

Chapter 3, "Using SQL*Plus"

Explains how to start and use SQL*Plus from the command line interface and the graphical user interface, and describes the graphical user interface menu options.

Chapter 4, "Operating System-Specific References"

Provides command information specific to the Windows NT/95/98 environments which are cross-referenced in SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference.

Appendix A, "Customizing Operating System Parameters"

Conventions

This section describes the conventions used in the text and code examples of this documentation set. It describes:

Conventions in Text

We use various conventions in text to help you more quickly identify special terms. The following table describes those conventions and provides examples of their use.

Convention Meaning Example

Bold

Bold typeface indicates terms that are defined in the text or terms that appear in a glossary, or both.

When you specify this clause, you create an index-organized table.

Italics

Italic typeface indicates book titles or emphasis.

Oracle9i Database Concepts
Ensure that the recovery catalog and target database do not reside on the same disk.

UPPERCASE monospace (fixed-width font)

Uppercase monospace typeface indicates elements supplied by the system. Such elements include parameters, privileges, datatypes, RMAN keywords, SQL keywords, SQL*Plus or utility commands, packages and methods, as well as system-supplied column names, database objects and structures, usernames, and roles.

You can specify this clause only for a NUMBER column.
You can back up the database by using the BACKUP command.
Query the TABLE_NAME column in the USER_TABLES data dictionary view.
Use the DBMS_STATS.GENERATE_STATS procedure.

lowercase monospace (fixed-width font)

Lowercase monospace typeface indicates executables, filenames, directory names, and sample user-supplied elements. Such elements include computer and database names, net service names, and connect identifiers, as well as user-supplied database objects and structures, column names, packages and classes, usernames and roles, program units, and parameter values.
Note: Some programmatic elements use a mixture of UPPERCASE and lowercase. Enter these elements as shown.

Enter sqlplus to open SQL*Plus.
The password is specified in the orapwd file.
Back up the datafiles and control files in the /disk1/oracle/dbs directory.
The department_id, department_name, and location_id columns are in the hr.departments table.
Set the QUERY_REWRITE_ENABLED initialization parameter to true.
Connect as oe user.
The JRepUtil class implements these methods.

lowercase monospace (fixed-width font) italic

Lowercase monospace italic font represents placeholders or variables.

You can specify the managed_clause.
Run old_release.SQL where old_release refers to the release you installed prior to upgrading.

Convention	Meaning	Example
Bold	Bold typeface indicates terms that are defined in the text or terms that appear in a glossary, or both.	When you specify this clause, you create an index-organized table.
Italics	Italic typeface indicates book titles or emphasis.	Oracle9i Database Concepts Ensure that the recovery catalog and target database do not reside on the same disk.
`UPPERCASE monospace (fixed-width font)`	Uppercase monospace typeface indicates elements supplied by the system. Such elements include parameters, privileges, datatypes, RMAN keywords, SQL keywords, SQL*Plus or utility commands, packages and methods, as well as system-supplied column names, database objects and structures, usernames, and roles.	You can specify this clause only for a `NUMBER` column. You can back up the database by using the `BACKUP` command. Query the `TABLE_NAME` column in the `USER_TABLES` data dictionary view. Use the `DBMS_STATS`.`GENERATE_STATS` procedure.
`lowercase monospace (fixed-width font)`	Lowercase monospace typeface indicates executables, filenames, directory names, and sample user-supplied elements. Such elements include computer and database names, net service names, and connect identifiers, as well as user-supplied database objects and structures, column names, packages and classes, usernames and roles, program units, and parameter values. Note: Some programmatic elements use a mixture of UPPERCASE and lowercase. Enter these elements as shown.	Enter `sqlplus` to open SQL*Plus. The password is specified in the `orapwd` file. Back up the datafiles and control files in the `/disk1/oracle/dbs` directory. The `department_id`, `department_name`, and `location_id` columns are in the `hr.departments` table. Set the `QUERY_REWRITE_ENABLED` initialization parameter to `true.` Connect as `oe` user. The `JRepUtil` class implements these methods.
`lowercase monospace (fixed-width font) italic`	Lowercase monospace italic font represents placeholders or variables.	You can specify the `managed_clause`. Run `old_release``.SQL` where `old_release` refers to the release you installed prior to upgrading.

Conventions in Code Examples

Code examples illustrate SQL, PL/SQL, SQL*Plus, or other command-line statements. If users are expected to type them into the system, they are identified by the keyboard icon shown in the margin following. They are displayed in a monospace (fixed-width) font and separated from normal text as shown in this example:


SHOW PAGESIZE

Similarly, output from an example is identified by a computer screen icon in the margin as shown in the margin following.


PAGESIZE 24

Where both icons occur together, it implies interactive entry and output.


1 
  1* SELECT LAST_NAME, SALARY
APPEND , COMMISSION_PCT;

The following table describes typographic conventions used in code examples and provides examples of their use.

Convention Meaning Example

[ ]

Brackets enclose one or more optional items. Do not enter the brackets.

DECIMAL (digits [ , precision ])

{ }

Braces enclose two or more items, one of which is required. Do not enter the braces.

{ENABLE | DISABLE}

|

A vertical bar represents a choice of two or more options within brackets or braces. Enter one of the options. Do not enter the vertical bar.

{ENABLE | DISABLE}
[COMPRESS | NOCOMPRESS]

...

Horizontal ellipsis points indicate either:

That we have omitted parts of the code that are not directly related to the example

That you can repeat a portion of the code

CREATE TABLE ... AS subquery;

SELECT col1, col2, ... , coln FROM employees;

.
.
.

Vertical ellipsis points indicate that we have omitted several lines of code not directly related to the example.

Other notation

You must enter symbols other than brackets, braces, vertical bars, and ellipsis points as shown.

acctbal NUMBER(11,2);
acct CONSTANT NUMBER(4) := 3;

Italics

Italicized text indicates placeholders or variables for which you must supply particular values.

CONNECT SYSTEM/system_password
DB_NAME = database_name

UPPERCASE

Uppercase typeface indicates elements supplied by the system. We show these terms in uppercase in order to distinguish them from terms you define. Unless terms appear in brackets, enter them in the order and with the spelling shown. However, because these terms are not case sensitive, you can enter them in lowercase.

SELECT last_name, employee_id FROM employees;
SELECT * FROM USER_TABLES;
DROP TABLE hr.employees;

lowercase

Lowercase typeface indicates programmatic elements that you supply. For example, lowercase indicates names of tables, columns, or files.
Note: Some programmatic elements use a mixture of UPPERCASE and lowercase. Enter these elements as shown.

SELECT last_name, employee_id FROM employees;
sqlplus hr/<your_secret_password>
CREATE USER mjones IDENTIFIED BY ty3MU9;

Convention	Meaning	Example
[ ]	Brackets enclose one or more optional items. Do not enter the brackets.	`DECIMAL (``digits` `[ ,` `precision` `])`
{ }	Braces enclose two or more items, one of which is required. Do not enter the braces.	`{ENABLE \| DISABLE}`
\|	A vertical bar represents a choice of two or more options within brackets or braces. Enter one of the options. Do not enter the vertical bar.	`{ENABLE \| DISABLE}` `[COMPRESS \| NOCOMPRESS]`
`...`	Horizontal ellipsis points indicate either: That we have omitted parts of the code that are not directly related to the example That you can repeat a portion of the code	`CREATE TABLE ... AS` `subquery``;` `SELECT` `col1``,` `col2``, ... ,` `coln` `FROM employees;`
. . .	Vertical ellipsis points indicate that we have omitted several lines of code not directly related to the example.
Other notation	You must enter symbols other than brackets, braces, vertical bars, and ellipsis points as shown.	`acctbal NUMBER(11,2);` `acct CONSTANT NUMBER(4) := 3;`
`Italics`	Italicized text indicates placeholders or variables for which you must supply particular values.	`CONNECT SYSTEM/``system_password` `DB_NAME =` `database_name`
`UPPERCASE`	Uppercase typeface indicates elements supplied by the system. We show these terms in uppercase in order to distinguish them from terms you define. Unless terms appear in brackets, enter them in the order and with the spelling shown. However, because these terms are not case sensitive, you can enter them in lowercase.	`SELECT last_name, employee_id FROM employees;` `SELECT * FROM USER_TABLES;` `DROP TABLE hr.employees;`
`lowercase`	Lowercase typeface indicates programmatic elements that you supply. For example, lowercase indicates names of tables, columns, or files. Note: Some programmatic elements use a mixture of UPPERCASE and lowercase. Enter these elements as shown.	`SELECT last_name, employee_id FROM employees;` `sqlplus hr/<your_secret_password>` `CREATE USER mjones IDENTIFIED BY ty3MU9;`

Conventions for Windows Operating Systems

The following table describes conventions for Windows operating systems and provides examples of their use.

Convention Meaning Example

Choose Start >

How to start a program. For example, to start Oracle Database Configuration Assistant, you must click the Start button on the taskbar and then choose Programs > Oracle - HOME_NAME > Database Administration > Database Configuration Assistant.

Choose Start > Programs > Oracle - HOME_NAME > Database Administration > Database Configuration Assistant

C:\>

Represents the Windows command prompt of the current hard disk drive. Your prompt reflects the subdirectory in which you are working. Referred to as the command prompt in this guide.

C:\oracle\oradata>

HOME_NAME

Represents the Oracle home name.
The home name can be up to 16 alphanumeric characters. The only special character allowed in the home name is the underscore.

C:\> net start OracleHOME_NAMETNSListener

ORACLE_HOME and ORACLE_BASE

In releases prior to 8.1, when you installed Oracle components, all subdirectories were located under a top level ORACLE_HOME directory that by default was:

C:\orant for Windows NT

C:\orawin95 for Windows 95

C:\orawin98 for Windows 98

or whatever you called your Oracle home.
In this Optimal Flexible Architecture (OFA)-compliant release, all subdirectories are not under a top level ORACLE_HOME directory. There is a top level directory called ORACLE_BASE that by default is C:\oracle. If you install release 9.0 on a computer with no other Oracle software installed, the default setting for the first Oracle home directory is C:\oracle\ora90. The Oracle home directory is located directly under ORACLE_BASE.
All directory path examples in this guide follow OFA conventions.
See Oracle9i Database Getting Started for Windows for additional information on OFA compliances and for information on installing Oracle products in non-OFA compliant directories.

Go to the ORACLE_BASE\ORACLE_HOME\rdbms\admin directory.

Convention	Meaning	Example
Choose Start >	How to start a program. For example, to start Oracle Database Configuration Assistant, you must click the Start button on the taskbar and then choose Programs > Oracle - HOME_NAME > Database Administration > Database Configuration Assistant.	Choose Start > Programs > Oracle - HOME_NAME > Database Administration > Database Configuration Assistant
`C:\>`	Represents the Windows command prompt of the current hard disk drive. Your prompt reflects the subdirectory in which you are working. Referred to as the command prompt in this guide.	`C:\oracle\oradata>`
HOME_NAME	Represents the Oracle home name. The home name can be up to 16 alphanumeric characters. The only special character allowed in the home name is the underscore.	`C:\> net start Oracle``HOME_NAME``TNSListener`
`ORACLE_HOME` and `ORACLE_BASE`	In releases prior to 8.1, when you installed Oracle components, all subdirectories were located under a top level `ORACLE_HOME` directory that by default was: `C:\orant` for Windows NT `C:\orawin95` for Windows 95 `C:\orawin98` for Windows 98 or whatever you called your Oracle home. In this Optimal Flexible Architecture (OFA)-compliant release, all subdirectories are not under a top level `ORACLE_HOME` directory. There is a top level directory called `ORACLE_BASE` that by default is `C:\oracle`. If you install release 9.0 on a computer with no other Oracle software installed, the default setting for the first Oracle home directory is `C:\oracle\ora90`. The Oracle home directory is located directly under `ORACLE_BASE`. All directory path examples in this guide follow OFA conventions. See Oracle9i Database Getting Started for Windows for additional information on OFA compliances and for information on installing Oracle products in non-OFA compliant directories.	Go to the `ORACLE_BASE``\``ORACLE_HOME``\rdbms\admin` directory.

Documentation Accessibility

Oracle's goal is to make our products, services, and supporting documentation accessible to the disabled community with good usability. To that end, our documentation includes features that make information available to users of assistive technology. This documentation is available in HTML format, and contains markup to facilitate access by the disabled community. Standards will continue to evolve over time, and Oracle is actively engaged with other market-leading technology vendors to address technical obstacles so that our documentation can be accessible to all of our customers. For additional information, visit the Oracle Accessibility Program Web site at

http://www.oracle.com/accessibility/

JAWS, a Windows screen reader, may not always correctly read the code examples in this document. The conventions for writing code require that closing braces should appear on an otherwise empty line; however, JAWS may not always read a line of text that consists solely of a bracket or brace.