Oracle SQL*Plus: The Definitive Guide, 2nd Edition

Running SQL Queries

Executing a SQL query or statement is as simple as typing it into the text box in the iSQL*Plus Workspace and pressing the Execute button. When executing a single SQL statement, you do not need to worry about terminating your statement with any special character such as the semicolon. For example, you can execute:

SELECT * FROM dual;

or you can execute:

SELECT * FROM dual

Any output from SQL statements that you execute will be displayed below the Execute button.

Paging Through Results

When a SQL statement brings back a large number of rows, iSQL*Plus displays results a page at a time. The number of rows displayed per "page" is determined by the PAGESIZE setting and defaults to 24. iSQL*Plus places a page break in between successive queries. Figure 3-8 shows two queries executed with one click of the Execute button. You can see that iSQL*Plus has displayed the result of the first query and has followed that result with a Next Page button. Click that button to see the next page with the result from the second query.

Figure 3-8. Paging through query results

One thing worth noticing about Figure 3-8 is that the first of the two statements was terminated with a semicolon. When executing multiple SQL statements in one go, you must terminate all but the final one.

Tip

Use SET PAGESIZE n to specify a page size other than the default of 24 rows. Use SET PAGESIZE 0 to turn off pagination ...