Oracle SQL: the Essential Reference

6.2. SQL*Plus Editing Commands

When a SQL*Plus session is started, you are presented with the SQL*Plus prompt, which indicates that SQL*Plus is ready to accept input. The default prompt is SQL>. Input is free-form, and can consist of: SQL statements (DML or DDL), PL/SQL code, and SQL*Plus commands.

SQL*Plus commands are executed immediately and not saved. SQL statements and PL/SQL blocks are stored in a memory buffer known as the SQL*Plus buffer. Buffer contents are organized into lines. As you enter a SQL statement or a PL/SQL block, a new buffer line is created each time you press the Enter key. The commands described in this section allow editing and related operations on the contents of the SQL*Plus buffer, and may be entered directly from the SQL> prompt. They may also be included in a SQL*Plus script.

Most editing commands operate on what is termed the current line. The current line is always the line that was most recently entered or displayed, and SQL*Plus always marks it with an asterisk. If the line you want to edit is not current, you can use the LIST command to make it so. Then you can execute other editing commands to enter changes that you wish to make.

APPEND

A[PPEND] text

Adds (appends) text to the end of the current line.

CHANGE

C[HANGE] /old/[new/]

Changes old to new in the current line. To delete text, supply an old value without a corresponding new value. ...