Help Commands

The ttIsql utility has an online version of command syntax definitions and descriptions for all built-in ttIsql commands.

To access this online help from within ttIsql, use the help command from the shell's command prompt:
$ ttIsql -help
Usage: ttIsql [-h | -help | -helpcmds | -helpfull | -V]
       ttIsql [-f <filename>] [-v <verbosity>] [-e <commands>]
              [-interactive] [-N <ncharEncoding>] [-wait]
              [{<DSN> | -connstr <connStr>}]

 -h                 Prints this message and exits.

 -help              Prints this message and exits.

 -helpcmds          Prints a brief description of ttIsql commands and exits.

 -helpfull          Prints a full description of ttIsql commands and exits.

 -V                 Prints version information and exits.

 <DSN>, <connStr>   The ODBC connection string or DSN to use as an
                    argument to the connect command. The connect command
                    will then be the first command executed when
                    starting ttIsql.

 -f <filename>      Specifies an input file of ttIsql commands to be
                    executed on start up.

 -v <verbosity>     Specifies the output verbosity level. The output
                    verbosity level argument takes a value of 0, 1, 2,
                    3 or 4.

                    If verbosity = 0 then only error messages are displayed.

                    If verbosity = 1 then the basic output generated by
                    commands is displayed.

                    Verbosity = 2 is the default verbosity level. At this level
                    simplified SQL error and information messages are
                    displayed. Command output includes additional information,
                    and commands that are read from an external file are
                    echoed to the display.

                    If verbosity = 3 then more detailed SQL error and
                    information messages are displayed.

                    If verbosity = 4 then the most detailed SQL error and
                    information messages are displayed. At this level
                    additional informational messages are displayed depending
                    upon the command executed.

 -e <commands>      Specifies a semicolon-separated list of ttIsql commands
                    to execute on start up.

 -N <ncharEncoding> Specifies the character encoding method for native
                    character input/output. Valid values are ASCII,
                    and LOCALE. The default encoding method (LOCALE)
                    is derived from the current environment locale settings.

 -wait              Forces the program to wait during a connection attempt
                    until the connection attempt is successful.

 -interactive       Forces interactive mode. This is useful when running from
                    an emacs comint buffer.

       Default command line options can be set by exporting an environment
       variable called TTISQL. The value of the TTISQL environment variable
       is a string with the same syntax requirements as the ttIsql command
       line. If the same option is present in the TTISQL environment
       variable and the command line, then the command line version always
       takes precedence.

       Examples:

           ttIsql -connStr "DSN=mydsn" -v 4
           ttIsql -helpfull
           ttIsql -connStr "DSN=mydsn" -e "autocommit 0; showplan 1;"
           ttIsql -connStr "DSN=mydsn" -f script.sql -N ASCII

To view the list of available commands displayed by the help command:

Command> help

Use "help all" to get a description of all commands or use "help <cmd>" to

limit it to that command. 

?                         fetchnext                 spool                   
!                         free                      sqlcolumns              
@@                        functions                 sqlgetinfo              
accept                    getenv                    sqlquerytimeout         
allfunctions              grid                      sqlquerytimeoutmsec     
allindexes                help                      sqlstatistics           
allpackages               history                   sqltables               
allprocedures             host                      statsclear              
allsequences              if                        statsestimate           
allsynonyms               indexes                   statsupdate             
alltables                 isolation                 synonyms                
allviews                  monitor                   tables                  
autocommit                multipleconnections       tblsize                 
builtins                  ncharencoding             timing                  
cachegroups               noecho                    tryhash                 
cachesqlget               optfirstrow               trymaterialize          
cd                        optprofile                trymergejoin            
clearhistory              packages                  trynestedloopjoin       
clienttimeout             passthrough               tryrowid                
close                     prefetchcount             tryrowlocks             
closeall                  prepare                   tryserial               
cmdcache                  print                     trytbllocks             
columnlabels              procedures                trytmphash              
commit                    putenv                    trytmptable             
commitdurable             prompt                    trytmprange             
compact                   remark                    tryrange                
compare                   repschemes                undefine                
connect                   retryconnect              unsetjoinorder          
createandloadfromoraquery rollback                  unsetuseindex           
define                    rpad                      use                     
describe                  run                       variable                 
disconnect                savehistory               verbosity               
dssize                    sequences                 version                 
e:                        set                       vertical                
edit                      setjoinorder              views                   
exec                      setuseindex               waitfor                 
execandfetch              setvariable               waitforresult           
exit                      show                      whenever                
explain                   showjoinorder             xlabookmarkdelete       
fetchall                  showplan                  <sql_statement>         
fetchone                  sleep     

To view a detailed description of any built-in ttIsql commands, type the help command followed by one or more ttIsql commands to display help for. The example below displays the online description for the connect and disconnect commands:

Command>help connect disconnect
 
Arguments in <> are required.
Arguments in [] are optional.
 
Command Usage: connect [DSN|connection_string] [as <connection_id>]
Command Aliases: (none)
Description: Connects to the data source specified by the optional DSN or 
connection string argument. If an argument is not given, then the DSN or 
connection string from the last successful connection is used. A connection ID 
may optionally be specified, for use in referring to the connection when multiple 
connections are enabled. The DSN is used as the default connection ID. If that ID 
is already in use, the connection will be assigned the ID "conN", where N is some 
number larger than 0.
Requires an active connection: NO
Requires autocommit turned off: NO
Reports elapsed execution time: YES
Works only with a TimesTen data source: NO
Example: connect; -or- connect RunData; -or- connect "DSN=RunData";
-or- connect RunData as rundata1;
 
Command Usage: disconnect [all]
Command Aliases: (none)
Description: Disconnects from the currently connected data source or all 
connections when the "all" argument is included. If a transaction is active when 
disconnecting then the transaction will be rolled back automatically. If a 
connection exists when executing the "bye", "quit" or "exit" commands then the 
"disconnect" command will be executed automatically.
Requires an active connection: NO
Requires autocommit turned off: NO
Reports elapsed execution time: YES
Works only with a TimesTen data source: NO
Example: disconnect;

In case of attributes, you can view and set attributes with the show and set commands and in case of commands, you can run built-in commands from the ttIsql utility. See View and Set Attributes.

To view the list of attributes:
Command>help attributes
Known attributes:
  - autoprint
  - autovariables
  - autocommit
  - clienttimeout
  - columnlabels
  - connstr
  - define
  - distribution
  - dynamicloadenable
  - dynamicloaderrormode
  - echo
  - editline
  - failovermessage
  - errors
  - feedback
  - isolation
  - long
  - longchunksize
  - multipleconnections
  - ncharencoding
  - optfirstrow
  - optprofile
  - passthrough
  - prefetchcount
  - prompt
  - querythreshold
  - rowdelimiters
  - sqlquerytimeout
  - sqlquerytimeoutmsec
  - serveroutput
  - session_action
  - session_client_info
  - session_module
  - showcurrenttime
  - showplan
  - termout
  - timing
  - tryhash
  - trymaterialize
  - trymergejoin
  - trynestedloopjoin
  - tryrange
  - tryrowid
  - tryrowlocks
  - tryserial
  - trytbllocks
  - trytmphash
  - trytmprange
  - trytmptable
  - verbosity
  - vertical

For detailed attribute help, do "help attribute <attributename>"
To view help for a specific attribute:
Command>help attribute showcurrenttime;

Attribute usage: showcurrenttime

Attribute Usage: showcurrenttime [0|off|1|on]
Description: The current time is printed just after the command is read and
before the command is executed.
Used with Set: YES
Used with Show: YES