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PL/SQL Interpreter

The PL/SQL Interpreter is your debugging workspace, where you can display source code, create debug actions, run program units, and execute Interpreter commands, PL/SQL, and SQL statements.

By default, two panes are always open in the PL/SQL Interpreter: Source pane and Interpreter pane.

Standard toolbar buttons  

All panes in the PL/SQL Interpreter share one toolbar. With the exception of Close, the following buttons are only activated during suspended execution of a program unit and are used for debugging.

Step Into

the Step Into button

Resumes execution of the suspended program unit to the next executable statement.

Step Over

the Step Over button

Resumes execution of the suspended program unit to the next executable statement, stepping over any calls to nested subprograms.

Step Out

the Step Out button

Resumes execution of a nested subprogram, suspending execution at the next executable statement in the calling program unit.

Go

the Go button

Resumes execution of the suspended program unit to the end of the program unit, or to the next debug action.

Reset

the Reset button

Exits the current debug level. If the current debug level is 1, suspended execution is abandoned.

Close

the Close button

Closes the PL/SQL Interpreter window.

 

Source pane

The Source pane displays a read-only copy of the currently selected program unit. Keywords, comments, strings, and symbols are colored differently. The first column in the left margin is reserved for icons or symbols. Source lines are numbered in the second column.

The following icons may appear:

yellow arrow

Specifies the current execution location or PC (program counter).

red ball

Specifies enabled breakpoint or trigger.

grey ball

Specifies disabled breakpoint or trigger.

 

The following symbols may also display in the Source pane:

|

Specifies the current source location.   The current source location changes as a result of PL/SQL Interpreter commands (for example, LIST) or when program unit execution is interrupted by a debug action (for example, a breakpoint).

=>

Specifies the current scope location.

B(n)

Specifies the location of a breakpoint, where n is the corresponding debug action ID.

T(n)

Specifies the location of a debug trigger, where n is the corresponding debug action ID.

 

The Source pane provides the following commands from a pop-up menu (right-click in Windows):

Breakpoint

Displays the Breakpoint dialog box, where you can define a new breakpoint.

Trigger

Displays the Trigger dialog box, where you can define a new debug trigger.

PL/SQL Editor

Displays the Program Unit editor, where you can edit the current program unit.


Note:
Not all systems provide support for pop-up menus. The above commands are also available with Programright arrowBreakpoints, Programright arrowDebugging Trigger, and Toolsright arrowPL/SQL Editor.

Split bars   Split bars enable you to change the relative amount of space occupied by each pane in the Interpreter. When the Interpreter initially appears, a split bar is located between the Source pane and the Interpreter pane. If you are using the modal Interpreter, or have inserted the Navigator pane in the modeless Interpreter, a second split bar appears.

Interpreter pane  

The Interpreter pane provides a command line interface to PL/SQL and SQL. You can enter PL/SQL statements or blocks, Interpreter commands, or SQL statements after the PL/SQL> prompt. (SQL*Plus statements and syntax are not supported.)

Multiline commands. While entering PL/SQL syntax at the PL/SQL> prompt, you can press the Enter key at any time to get a secondary prompt in the form +>. You can display as many subsequent secondary prompts as you need before executing the code with a terminating semicolon (;).

Debug levels. When program execution is suspended by a debug action, the Interpreter establishes a debug level. At a debug level you can enter commands and PL/SQL statements, which may in turn be interrupted, resulting in nested debug levels. The current debug level is reflected by a new prompt in the Interpreter pane, which includes a prefix containing the current debug level number. For example, the Interpreter prompt at debug level 1 appears as:

(debug 1)PL/SQL>

Pop-up menu. The Interpreter pane provides the following commands from a pop-up menu (right-click in Windows):

Clear

Discards all of the text in the Interpreter pane and issues a new prompt.

New Prompt

Issues a new prompt in the Interpreter pane. Any input after the previous prompt is ignored.

Note: Not all systems provide support for a pop-up menu.

Navigator pane

The Navigator pane enables you to view the current call stack, as well as view and optionally modify the values of local variables and parameters at the current scope location while you are debugging.

You can insert a Navigator pane between the Source pane and the Interpreter pane if you want to work entirely in the Interpreter while debugging your program units. To insert a Navigator pane, choose Viewright arrowChange Viewright arrowNavigator. To hide the Navigator pane, choose the same command again. You can also hide any other pane by choosing from Viewright arrowChange View.

Navigator toolbar   If the Navigator pane is displayed, the following also appear in the button bar:

Create

the Create button

Creates a new instance of the currently selected object or node.

Delete

the Delete button

Deletes the selected object with confirmation.

Expand

the Expand button

Expands the first level of subnode for the currently selected node.

Collapse

the Collapse button

Collapses the current level of subnode of the currently selected node.

Expand All

the Expand All button

Expands all level of subnodes for the currently selected node.

Collapse All

the Collapse All button

Collapses all level of subnode for the currently selected node.

Search Forward

the Search Forward button

Finds the next occurrence of the search criteria specified in the Find text box.

Search Backward

the Search Backward button

Finds the previous occurrence of the search criteria specified in the Find text box.