Command-Line SQL*Plus

SQL*Plus comes in three flavors. It can be a command-line program that you execute from your operating-system prompt. Under Microsoft Windows, SQL*Plus can also be a command-line application wrapped inside a rudimentary, graphical user interface (GUI). I refer to that as Windows SQL*Plus , and it's only slightly different from standard, command-line SQL*Plus. Finally, beginning with Oracle9 i Database, SQL*Plus can be a three- tier application, known as i SQL*Plus, that you access through a web browser.

This chapter shows you how to interact with the two command-line versions. You'll learn how to start them, how to enter and execute commands, and how to take advantage of the built-in line-editing features. i SQL*Plus is different enough to be covered separately in Chapter 3.