Oracle SQL*Plus: The Definitive Guide

Why Master SQL*Plus?

SQL*Plus is a universal constant in the Oracle world. Every installation I have ever seen has this tool installed. For that reason alone it is worth learning. Even if you prefer to use other tools, such as Enterprise Manager or Clear Access, you may not always have them available. In my work as a consultant I frequently visit clients to help them with Oracle. Some clients use GUI-based query tools, some don’t. Some clients use Oracle Enterprise Manager, some don’t. The one universal constant I can count on is the availability of SQL*Plus. The last thing I want is to be at a client site needing to look up something mundane such as an index definition, and not be able to do it because I’m not familiar with their tools. SQL*Plus is always there.

If you are a database administrator, SQL*Plus is undoubtedly a tool you already use on a daily basis. Anything you use that often is worth learning and learning well. You undoubtedly use SQL*Plus to query Oracle’s data dictionary tables in order to understand the structure of your database. SQL*Plus can be used to automate that task. Sometimes it’s difficult to remember the specific data dictionary tables you need to join together in order to get the information you want. With SQL*Plus, you can figure this out once and encapsulate that query into a script. Next time you need the same information, you won’t have all the stress of trying to remember how to get it, and you won’t have to waste time rereading the manuals in ...