SQL*Plus User's Guide for Windows Platforms

**Introduction to SQL*Plus**

Overview
Using SQL*Plus for Windows NT/95/3.1

Overview

You can use the SQL*Plus (pronounced "sequel plus") program in conjunction with the SQL database language and its procedural language extension, PL/SQL. The SQL database language allows you to store and retrieve data in an Oracle database. PL/SQL allows you to link several SQL commands through procedural logic.

SQL*Plus enables you to manipulate SQL commands and PL/SQL blocks, and to perform many additional tasks as well. Through SQL*Plus, you can:

enter, edit, store, retrieve, and run SQL commands and PL/SQL blocks
format, perform calculations on, store, and print query results in the form of reports
list column definitions for any table
access and copy data between SQL databases
send messages to and accept responses from end users

SQL*Plus for Windows NT and SQL*Plus for Windows 95 provide a command line interface in addition to the graphical user interface (GUI). SQL*Plus for Windows 3.1 provides a graphical user interface only.

New Features

This release of SQL*Plus includes new features. To learn about these new features, see the New Features section in SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference.

Basic Concepts

The following definitions explain concepts central to SQL*Plus:

Concept	Definition
command	An instruction you give SQL*Plus or the Oracle database.
block	A group of SQL and PL/SQL commands related to one another through procedural logic.
table	The basic unit of storage in the Oracle database.
query	A SQL command (specifically a SQL SELECT command) that retrieves information from one or more tables.
query results	The data retrieved by a query.
report	Query results formatted by you through SQL*Plus commands.

Who Can Use SQL*Plus?

The SQL*Plus, SQL, and PL/SQL command languages are powerful enough to serve the needs of users with some database experience, yet straightforward enough for new users who are just learning to work with Oracle databases.

The design of the SQL*Plus command language makes it easy to use. For example, to give a column labelled ENAME in the database the clearer heading "Employee", you might enter the following command:

COLUMN ENAME HEADING EMPLOYEE

Similarly, to list the column definitions for a table called EMP, you might enter this command:

DESCRIBE EMP

Using SQL*Plus for Windows NT/95/3.1

Oracle has combined the power of its SQL*Plus command language with the graphical environment of Microsoft Windows NT, Windows 95, and Windows 3.1.

As a SQL*Plus for Windows NT or SQL*Plus for Windows 95 user, you have access to the command-line functionality of the character-mode DOS version of SQL*Plus, as well as the menu-based features of a Windows NT/95 application. For Windows 3.1, you have access only to menu-based features.

For instance, with the menu-based Windows NT/95/3.1 application you can select SQL*Plus menu items to perform tasks such as these:

saving and opening SQL scripts
copying and pasting text to and from the Windows NT/95/3.1 clipboard and the SQL*Plus application window
invoking a Windows NT/95/3.1 text editor, such as Notepad or Microsoft Word
searching for text in the SQL*Plus application window
changing the size of the SQL*Plus screen buffer
selecting parameters from a dialog box to customize the SQL*Plus environment

Other advantages of using SQL*Plus for Windows NT/95 include the following:

SQL*Plus for Windows NT/95 is a 32-bit Windows NT/95 application. It is not restricted by Windows 16-bit limitations (such as Cooperative Multitasking).
a resizable application window with Windows NT/95 elements, such as scroll bars, minimize and maximize buttons, and the control-menu box
mouse support

Other advantages of using SQL*Plus for Windows 3.1 include the following:

additional memory management capabilities, including resources, discardable code segments, and virtual memory in 386 enhanced mode
multi-tasking among SQL*Plus and other Windows applications
a resizable application window with Windows elements, such as scroll bars, minimize and maximize buttons, and the control-menu box
mouse support

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