Oracle Enterprise Manager Administrator's

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DBA Command Reference

This appendix describes the Server Manager DBA commands available in line mode. These
commands can also be used in a SQL Worksheet, although some of these commands behave
differently when used in a worksheet.

DBA Commands
The DBA commands described in this appendix are:

 @ (at symbol)
 ARCHIVE LOG
 CONNECT
 DESCRIBE
 DISCONNECT
 EXECUTE
 EXIT
 PRINT
 RECOVER
 REMARK
 SET
 SHOW
 SHUTDOWN
 SPOOL
 STARTUP
 VARIABLE

Note:

If a reserved word is used as an object name in a DBA command, it must be enclosed in quotes.
For example, to start up a database that is named with the reserved word V7, issue the command
as follows:

STARTUP OPEN 'V7'

@ (at symbol)
Purpose

Run scripts containing SQL, PL/SQL, and DBA commands.

Prerequisites

You must have previously created the script and stored it as an operating system file.

Syntax

@ command ::=

where:

scriptname

The name of an operating system file that contains a script of statements recognized by Server
Manager.

Line Mode Behavior

If you omit the scriptname argument, you for are prompted for the script name.

Usage Notes

This command enables you to run scripts of statements. To insert Comments in the script, use the
REMARK command described in REMARK on page -17 . To spool the output, use the SPOOL
command before running or within the script. The SPOOL command is described in SPOOL on
page -30.

Do not use the @ command alone within a script unless you specify the full path name of the
script.

To run other scripts from within a script, you can use the @@ command. In the original script
include the line @@second_scriptname to run another script called second_scriptname. The
@@ command indicates that the second script is in the same directory as the original script.

Additional Information: For information about the standard file selection dialog box for your
system, see your operating system-specific documentation.

ARCHIVE LOG
Purpose

Start or stop automatic archiving of online redo log files, manually (explicitly) archive specified
redo log files, or display information about redo log files.

Note:

This command applies only to the current instance. To specify archiving for a different instance
or for all instances in a Parallel Server, use the SQL command ALTER SYSTEM.

Prerequisites

You must be connected to an open Oracle database as INTERNAL, SYSOPER, or SYSDBA.

Syntax

ARCHIVE LOG command ::=

where:

LIST

Requests a display that shows the range of redo log files to be archived, the current log file
group's sequence number, and the current archive destination (specified by either the optional
command text or by the initialization parameter LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST).
If you are using both ARCHIVELOG mode and automatic archiving, the display might appear
like:
Database log mode Archive Mode
Automatic archival Enabled
Archive destination DISK9:ARCH
Oldest online log sequence 30
Next log sequence to archive 33
Current log sequence 33

Because the log sequence number of the current log group and the next log group to archive are
the same, automatic archival has archived all log groups up to the current one.

If you are using ARCHIVELOG but have disabled automatic archiving, the last three lines might
look like:

Oldest online log sequence 30

Next log sequence to archive 30
Current log sequence 33
If you are using NOARCHIVELOG mode, the "next log sequence to archive" line is suppressed.

The log sequence increments every time LGWR begins to write to another redo log file group; it
does not indicate the number of logs being used. Every time an online redo log file group is
reused, the contents are assigned a new log sequence number.

STOP

Disables automatic archival. If the instance is still in ARCHIVELOG mode and all redo log file
groups fill, database operation is suspended until a redo log file is archived (for example, until
you enter the command ARCHIVE LOG NEXT or ARCHIVE LOG ALL).

START

Enables automatic archiving. Starts the background process ARCH, which performs automatic
archiving as required. If ARCH is started and a filename is supplied, the filename becomes the
new default archive destination.

ARCH automatically starts on instance startup if the initialization parameter

LOG_ARCHIVE_START is set to TRUE.

NEXT

Manually archives the next online redo log file group that has been filled but not yet archived.

ALL

Manually archives all filled, but not yet archived, online log file groups.

integer

Causes archival of the online redo log file group with log sequence number n. You can specify
any redo log file group that is still online. An error occurs if the log file cannot be found online
or the sequence number is not valid. This option can be used to re-archive a log file group.

`destination'

Specifies the destination device or directory in an operating system. Specification of archive

destination devices is installation-specific; see your platform-specific Oracle documentation for
examples of specifying archive destinations. On many operating systems, multiple log files can
be spooled to the same tape.

If not specified in the command line, the archive destination is derived from the initialization
parameter LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST. The command ARCHIVE LOG START 'destination' causes
the specified device or directory to become the new default archive destination for all future
automatic or manual archives. A destination specified with any other option is a temporary
destination that is in effect only for the current (manual) archive. It does not change the default
archive destination for subsequent automatic archives.

Additional Information: For information about specifying archive destinations, see your
platform-specific Oracle documentation.

Usage Notes

If an online redo log file group fills and none are available for reuse, database operation is
suspended. The condition can be resolved by archiving a log file group.

Examples

ARCHIVE LOG START

Starts up the archiver process and begins automatic archiving, using the archive destination
specified in LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST.

ARCHIVE LOG STOP

Stops automatic archiving.

ARCHIVE LOG 1001 'DISK9:[TEMPARCH]TEMP'

Archives the log file group with the sequence number 1001 to the destination specified. 'TEMP'
specifies the prefix of the filename on the destination device; the remainder of the filename is
dependent on the initialization parameter LOG_ARCHIVE_FORMAT, which specifies the
filename format for archived redo log files.

CONNECT
Purpose

Connect to a database using the specified username.

Prerequisites

Only valid username/password combinations can successfully connect. The AS clause allows
users to connect to an instance with a default schema of SYS for database administration. Users
connecting as SYSOPER or SYSDBA must have the necessary privileges to access the SYS
schema.

Syntax

CONNECT command ::=

where:

username

Any valid Oracle username for the current database. It can be a null string. If neither username
nor INTERNAL is specified, you are prompted for a username and password.

password

The password corresponding to the specified username. Password can be a null string.

instance-path

A valid specification for an instance/database combination. If an instance is specified, it becomes

the current instance for the duration of the connection. It does not become the default instance
for subsequent connections.

SYSOPER/SYSDBA

The AS clause allows privileged connections by users who have been granted SYSOPER or
SYSDBA system privileges, if using a password file, or their operating system equivalents, if
using OS authentication.

Uses operating system authentication.

INTERNAL

Connects as username SYS via keyword INTERNAL. Should be used rarely and only by the
DBA for certain maintenance purposes; requires operating system privileges. CONNECT
INTERNAL is supported for backwards compatibility only.

Line Mode Behavior

If you omit the password, you are prompted for one. If you omit both the username and
password, you are prompted for both.

SQL Worksheet Behavior

If you omit the username argument, the Connect dialog box displays.

Usage Notes
If only the Oracle username is specified, the password is requested using the prompt
"Password:". The entered password is not echoed.

CONNECT can be used without a DISCONNECT to connect to another username.

The connect is always accompanied by the opening of a cursor.

You can specify an instance path for a remote instance when connecting. If you attempt a
connection to a remote instance, authentication occurs on the remote node, so you must have the
appropriate privileges on the remote node.

Non-Secure ConnectionConnecting as SYSOPER or SYSDBA over a

To connect to Oracle as a privileged user over a non-secure connection, you must satisfy the
following conditions:

 The server to which you are connecting must have a password file.
 You must be granted the SYSOPER or SYSDBA system privilege.
 You must connect using a username and password.

For information about creating a password file, see the Oracle7 Server Concepts and the
Oracle7 Server Administrator's Guide, or Secure ConnectionConnecting as SYSOPER or
SYSDBA over a Local

To connect to Oracle as a privileged user over a local or a secure connection, you must satisfy
either of the following sets of conditions:

 You can connect using a password file, provided you meet the criteria outlined above.
 If the server is not using a password file, or you have not been granted SYSOPER or
SYSDBA and are therefore not in the password file, your operating system name must be
authenticated by the operating system for a privileged connection. This form of
authentication is system-specific.

Additional Information: For information about operating system authentication, see your
operating system-specific Oracle documentation.

Examples

To connect to an instance on the current default node, enter:

CONNECT

To connect to an instance on the current node as username SCOTT with password TIGER, enter:

CONNECT scott/tiger
To use a password file to connect to an instance on the current node as a privileged user named
SCOTT with password TIGER, enter:

CONNECT scott/tiger AS SYSDBA

Note that your default schema is now SYS, not SCOTT.

To perform the same connection using OS authentication, enter:

CONNECT / AS SYSDBA

To connect to an instance on a different node as username SCOTT with password TIGER, enter:

CONNECT scott/tiger@instance-path

Connecting as INTERNAL

Using Server Manager you can connect as INTERNAL to a release 7.0 database. CONNECT
INTERNAL is supported for backwards compatibility only. For information on how to use
CONNECT INTERNAL, refer to your Oracle7 Server Administrator's Guide.

DESCRIBE
Purpose

Describe a function, package, package body, procedure, table, or view.

Prerequisites

You must be currently connected to a database.

Syntax

DESCRIBE command ::=

where:

name

The name of the object to describe.

Usage Notes
If you do not specify an object type, Server Manager attempts to determine the object type. For
the statement

DESCRIBE emp

Server Manager describes the table or view if a table or view with the name EMP exists. If no
table or view with that name exists in the user's schema, Server Manager will search for a
PL/SQL function, procedure, or package with that name and describe it.

The shorthand DESC is now equivalent to the command DESCRIBE. This means that DESC has
been added to the list of Server Manager reserved words. If you have a database object named
DESC, you need to place quotes around the name to show that it is an object name. For example:

INSERT INTO 'DESC' VALUES('onetwothree', 123); )

Note:

Some versions of PL/SQL allow the user to describe a package by giving the package name, and
some versions require the user to specify an object in the package to describe. Server Manager
supports package description for those versions of PL/SQL which support this functionality.

Example

A command like

DESCRIBE scott.addemp

produces output similar to the following example:

PROCEDURE SCOTT.ADDEMP (EMPNO INTEGER, ENAME VARCHAR2, SAL NUMBER(9,2))

The use of the object type is no longer required. If you do not specify an object type, Server
Manager attempts to determine the object type. For the statement

DESCRIBE emp

Server Manager describes the table or view if a table or view with the name EMP exists.

If no table or view with that name exists in the user's schema, Server Manager searches for a
PL/SQL function, procedure, or package with that name and describes it. For the statement

DESCRIBE payroll.emp

Server Manager looks for a table or view in schema PAYROLL with the name EMP.

If there is no PAYROLL schema or no EMP table/view in the PAYROLL schema, Server

Manager will search the current schema for a package PAYROLL containing a function or
procedure EMP.
If both a table EMP in schema PAYROLL and a package PAYROLL with function/procedure
EMP in the current schema exist, the statement

DESCRIBE FUNCTION payroll.emp

This allows you to specify the type of the object you want to describe.

Server Manager now has the capability to describe both functions and procedures contained in
packages. Previously only functions and procedures not contained in packages could be
described.

Note:

Some versions of PL/SQL allow the user to describe a package by giving the package name, and
some versions require the user to specify an object in the package to describe. Server Manager
supports package description for those versions of PL/SQL which support this functionality.

DISCONNECT
Purpose

Disconnect from an Oracle server.

Prerequisites

You must be currently connected to a database.

Syntax

DISCONNECT command ::=

Usage Notes

Upon disconnection, line mode reverts to the current default host machine after closing all open
cursors and committing any uncommitted transactions.

Example

DISCONNECT

EXECUTE
Purpose

Executes a one-line PL/SQL statement.

Prerequisites

You must be currently connected to a database. You must also have privileges to use any stored
procedures, packages, package variables, and functions referenced with this command.

Syntax

EXECUTE command ::=

Usage Notes

You can execute only one line of PL/SQL code with the EXECUTE command. If you wish to
execute a PL/SQL block with many lines, you must use the format:

BEGIN
[PL/SQL BLOCK]
END;

You can reference any command line mode bind variables in PL/SQL statements by preceding
the variable name with a colon. The example below illustrates the use of bind variables with the
VARIABLE, EXECUTE, and PRINT commands.

Example

VARIABLE balance NUMBER

EXECUTE :balance := get_balance(34056)

PRINT balance
BALANCE
----------
4678.24

EXIT
Purpose

Exits Server Manager line mode or closes a SQL Worksheet.

Prerequisites

None.

Syntax

EXIT command ::=

Line Mode Behavior

The EXIT command leaves line mode unconditionally, commits the current transaction, and
returns to the operating system prompt.

SQL Worksheet Behavior

The EXIT command commits the current transaction and closes the worksheet.

Example

EXIT

PRINT
Purpose

Print the value of a variable defined with the VARIABLE command.

Prerequisites

None.

Syntax

PRINT command ::=

where:

variable

The name of a variable defined by the VARIABLE command.

Usage Notes

Bind variables referenced with the print command do not need to be preceded by a colon. You
can use the PRINT command to display variables defined only in the current line mode session.
The SET CHARWIDTH and SET NUMWIDTH commands can affect the display of the PRINT
command.

If no variable name is specified all currently defined variables are printed.

Examples
PRINT balance

BALANCE
----------
4687.24

SET CHARWIDTH 10
PRINT ename
ENAME
----------
SCOTT

RECOVER
Purpose

Performs media recovery on one or more tablespaces, one or more datafiles, or the entire
database.

Prerequisites

You must be connected to the Oracle server as INTERNAL, SYSOPER, or SYSDBA. You
cannot use the RECOVER command when connected via the multi-threaded server.

Syntax

RECOVER command ::=

UNTIL clause ::=

PARALLEL clause ::=

where:

DATABASE
Specifies recovering the entire database.

USING BACKUP CONTROL FILE

Specifies that a backup of the control file is being used instead of the current control file.

TABLESPACE tablespace

Specifies recovering a particular tablespace. Tablespace is the name of a tablespace in the current
database. You may recover up to 16 tablespaces in one statement.

DATAFILE filename

Specifies recovering a particular datafile. You can specify any number of datafiles.

UNTIL CANCEL

Specifies an incomplete, cancel-based recovery. Recovery proceeds by prompting you with the
suggested filenames of archived redo log files, and recovery completes when you specify
CANCEL instead of a filename.

UNTIL CHANGE integer

Specifies an incomplete, change-based recovery. The integer is the number of the SCN following
the last change to which you wish to recover. For example, if you want to restore your database
up to the transaction with an SCN of 9, you would specify UNTIL CHANGE 10.

UNTIL TIME date

Specifies an incomplete, time-based recovery. Use single quotes, and use the following format:
'YYYY-MM-DD:HH24:MI:SS'.
PARALLEL

DEGREE specifies the number of recovery processes used to apply redo entries to datafiles on
each instance. An integer specified for DEGREE overrides the initialization parameter
RECOVERY_PARALLELISM.
DEGREE DEFAULT indicates that twice the number of datafiles being recovered is the number
of recovery processes to use.
INSTANCES specifies the number of instances to use for parallel recovery. The number of
recovery processes specified with DEGREE is used on each instance, thus the total number of
recovery processes is the integer specified with DEGREE multiplied by the integer specified
with INSTANCES. INSTANCES is only pertinent for the Oracle Parallel Server.
INSTANCES DEFAULT or not including the INSTANCES keyword causes has operating
system-specific consequences. Consult your Oracle operating system documentation for a
description of the default behavior of the INSTANCES DEFAULT specification.
NOPARALLEL

Specifies that recovery is to proceed serially. Note that a specification of PARALLEL(DEGREE

1 INSTANCES 1) is equivalent to specifying the NOPARALLEL keyword.

The PARALLEL keyword overrides the RECOVERY_PARALLELISM initialization parameter.

The number specified with the PARALLEL keyword is the number of recovery processes used
to apply redo entries to datafiles.

SQL Worksheet Behavior

In a SQL Worksheet, if you issue the RECOVER command without arguments, Server Manager
brings up the Recover dialog box.

Usage Notes

To perform media recovery on an entire database (all tablespaces), the database must be mounted
EXCLUSIVE and closed.

To perform media recovery on a tablespace, the database must be mounted and open, and the
tablespace must be offline.

To perform media recovery on a datafile, the database can remain open and mounted with the
damaged datafiles offline (unless the file is part of the SYSTEM tablespace).

Before using the RECOVER command you must have restored good copies of the damaged
datafile(s) from a previous backup. Be sure you can access all archived and online redo log files
dating back to when that backup was made.

When another log file is required during recovery, a prompt suggests the names of files that are
needed. The name is derived from the values specified in the initialization parameters
LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST and LOG_ARCHIVE_FORMAT. You should restore copies of the
archived redo log files needed for recovery to the destination specified in
LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST, if necessary. You can override the initialization parameters by setting
the LOGSOURCE variable.

During recovery you can accept the suggested log name by hitting return, cancel recovery by
entering CANCEL instead of a log name, or enter AUTO for automatic file selection without
further prompting.

If you have enabled autorecovery (that is, SET AUTORECOVERY ON), recovery proceeds
without prompting you with filenames. Status messages are displayed when each log file is
applied.

When normal media recovery is done, a completion status is returned.

For more information on recovery and the RECOVER command, see the Oracle7 Server
Administrator's Guide.

Examples

RECOVER DATABASE

RECOVER DATABASE UNTIL TIME 30-AUG-90:04:32:00

RECOVER TABLESPACE ts_one, ts_two
RECOVER DATAFILE 'data1.db'

REMARK
Purpose

Enter a Comment, typically in SQL script files.

Prerequisites

None.

Syntax

REMARK command ::=

Usage Notes

Primarily for batch use of line mode. The Comment is ignored by line mode and by Oracle.
REMARK can be shortened to REM.

REM must be the first non-blank character string in the line.

Examples

Examples of valid Comments embedded in a SQL file follow:

REM This command file is used to create a

REM database. Edit it to fill in file names
REM and sizes, and invoke it from line mode.
REM
REM
CREATE DATABASE dbname ....
/* This is a SQL Comment */ ...
...
;
REMARKs are recognized by SQL*Plus, as well as by line mode. They are used to put
Comments between SQL statements, while SQL Comments (/*...*/) are used to place comments
within statements.

SET
Purpose

Set or change characteristics of the current command line mode session.

Prerequisites

None.

Syntax

SET command ::=

See next page for sytax diagram.

where:

APPINFO
Registers the Server Manager application through the database's DBMS_APPLICATION_INFO
package (Oracle 7.2 or later). By default, the APPINFO function is set to OFF.
Application registration allows DBAs to see what software is currently running to better monitor
resource utilization for database tuning. When APPINFO is turned on, application registration
proceeds normally. If a SQL script is not being run, the default registration text string is "Oracle
SQL Worksheet." Optionally, you can create a customized registration text string. If a script is
being run through Server manager, the script name is used as the registration text string.

Text String Registers as:

SET APPINFO abc abc

SET APPINFO abc def abc
SET APPINFO "abc def" abc def
SET APPINFO 'abc def' abc def
SET APPINFO "abc def Error
SET APPINFO 'abc def Error
AUTO- RECOVERY

Specifying ON causes the RECOVER command to automatically apply the default filenames of
archived redo log files needed during recovery. No interaction is needed when
AUTORECOVERY is set to ON, provided the necessary files are in the expected locations with
the expected names. The filenames used when AUTORECOVERY is ON are derived from the
values of the initialization parameters LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST and
LOG_ARCHIVE_FORMAT.

OFF, the default option, requires that you enter the filenames manually or accept the suggested
default filename given.

CHARWIDTH integer

Sets the column display width for CHAR data. If entered with no argument, returns the setting to
the default. The default is 80; the range of values is operating system-specific.

COMPATIBILITY

Sets compatibility mode to V6, V7, or NATIVE. The compatibility mode setting affects the
specification of character columns, integrity constraints, and rollback segment storage
parameters. NATIVE matches the version of the database.

CHAR Columns: When creating tables in Version 6 compatibility mode, CHAR columns are
variable length. In Oracle7, such column definitions are fixed length.

Integrity Constraints: In Version 6 compatibility mode, the Version 6 syntax is still recognized,
and the Oracle7 syntax is disabled. For V6 mode, table constraints on CREATE TABLE
statements are specified with V6 syntax:

CREATE TABLE {UNIQUE | PRIMARY KEY} CONSTRAINT ....

and specified constraints are disabled by default. For V7 mode, table constraints are specified
with Oracle7 syntax:

CREATE TABLE CONSTRAINT .... {UNIQUE | PRIMARY KEY}

and they are enabled.

Rollback Segment Parameters: Version 6 compatibility mode allows PCTINCREASE and

MAXEXTENTS to be specified for rollback segments, as well as for other segments. Although
the specifications are ignored, the syntax is allowed. (Use of these parameters is not
recommended. They exist only for backward compatibility.)

Bind Variables: Bind variables of type VARCHAR2 are given type CHAR in Version 6
compatibility mode.

DATEWIDTH integer

Sets the column display width for DATE data. If entered with no argument, the setting returns to
the default. The default is 9; the range of values is operating system-specific.

ECHO

ON enables echoing of commands entered from command files. OFF, the default, disables
echoing of commands.

FETCHROWS integer

Limits the number of rows returned by a query. Useful with ordered queries for finding the "top
ten" items in a category, for example. Also used with unordered queries to find the "first n"
records that satisfy a given criteria. integer must be in the range 1-999,999.

In a SQL Worksheet the default is ECHO ON.

INSTANCE instance-path

Changes the default instance for your session to the specified instance path. Does not connect to
a database. The default instance is used for commands when no instance is specified.

Any commands preceding the first use of SET INSTANCE communicate with the default
instance.

To reset the instance to the default value for your operating system, you can either enter SET
INSTANCE with no instance-name or SET INSTANCE LOCAL. See your operating system-
specific Oracle documentation for a description of how to set the initial default instance.

This command may only be issued when SQL*Net is running. You can use any valid SQL*Net
connect string as the specified instance path. See your operating system-specific Oracle
documentation for a complete description of how your operating system specifies SQL*Net
connect strings. The maximum length of the instance path is 64 characters.

LOGSOURCE pathname

Specifies the location from which archive logs are retrieved during recovery. The default value is
set by the LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST initialization parameter. Issuing the SET LOGSOURCE
command without a pathname restores the default location.

LONGWIDTH integer

Sets the column display width for LONG data. If entered with no argument, the setting returns to
the default. The default is 80; the range of values is operating system-specific.

MAXDATA integer

Sets the maximum data size. Indicates the maximum data that can be received in a single fetch
during a SELECT statement. The default is 20480 bytes (20K). The maximum is operating
system-specific.

NUMWIDTH integer

Sets the column display width for NUMBER data. If entered with no argument, the setting
returns to the default. The default is 10; the range of values is operating system-specific.

RETRIES
integer | INFINITE

Sets the number of tries that are attempted when the RETRY option is used with the STARTUP
command (see STARTUP on page -31 ). INFINITE, the default, specifies an infinite number of
retries.

SERVEROUTPUT

ON enables debugging output from stored procedures that use DBMS_OUTPUT PUT and
PUT_LINE commands. OFF disables output.

You can specify the size in bytes of the message buffer using the syntax SIZE n. That is the total
number of bytes of all messages sent that can be accumulated at one time. The minimum is 2,000
bytes. If the buffer fills before calls to the get-message routines make room for additional
message bytes, an error is returned to the message-sending program.

STOPONERROR

Specifying ON indicates that if a command file is running and an error occurs, execution should
terminate. OFF disables STOPONERROR.

TERMOUT
ON, the default, enables terminal output for SQL commands. OFF disables terminal output.
Useful for preventing output to terminal when spooling output to files. Note that nothing appears
on the terminal until SET TERMOUT ON is used.

TIMING

ON displays parse, execute, and fetch times (CPU and elapsed) for each SQL statement
executed. OFF, the default, does not display timing information.

Examples

SET INSTANCE D:DEV-PROD

SET TIMING ON
SET LONGWIDTH 132
SET NUMWIDTH 20
SET CHARWIDTH 5

Either of the following commands can be used to revert to the initial default host:

SET INSTANCE
SET INSTANCE LOCAL

SHOW
Purpose

Show settings currently in effect.

Prerequisites

None.

Syntax

SHOW command ::=

where:

ALL

Shows all settings except for ERRORS, PARAMETERS, and SGA.

APPINFO

Shows the current status (ON/OFF) and the application registration text.

CHARWIDTH

Shows the column display width for CHAR data.

COMPATIBILITY

Shows the sessions compatibility mode: V6, V7, or NATIVE.

DATEWIDTH

Shows the column display width for DATE data.

ECHO

Shows whether or not commands from command files are echoed.

ERRORS
Shows the errors generated from the last compilation of a procedure, package, or function, if any.
This option displays the line number, column number, and the error message generated. Use the
SHOW ERRORS command if line mode error 72 or 73 is returned after compiling a package.

The SET CHARWIDTH command can be used to expand or truncate the display from the
SHOW ERRORS command.

FETCHROWS

Shows the numerical limit set for the number of rows returned by a query.

INSTANCE

Shows the connect string for the default instance. SHOW INSTANCE returns the value LOCAL
if you have not used SET INSTANCE or if you have used the LOCAL option of the SET
INSTANCE command.

LOGSOURCE

Shows the current setting for archive log location. Displays DEFAULT if the default setting is in
effect, as specified by the LOG_ARCHIVE_DEST initialization parameter.

LONGWIDTH

Shows the column display width for LONG data.

MAXDATA

Shows the maximum data size.

NUMWIDTH

Shows column display width for NUMBER data.

PARAMETERS

Displays the current values for one or more initialization parameters. You can use a string after
the command to see a subset of parameters whose names include that string. For example, if you
enter:
SHOW PARAMETERS COUNT

you would see:

NAME TYPE VALUE

------------------- ------- -----
db_file_multiblock_read_count integer 12
spin_count integer 0
The SHOW PARAMETERS command, without any string following the command, displays all
initialization parameters.

RETRIES

Displays the number of retries that will be attempted when restarting an instance in parallel
mode. (See RETRY on page -34 . It is an option in "STARTUP". )

SERVEROUTPUT

Displays ON if output from stored procedures and functions is enabled. Otherwise, displays
OFF. SERVEROUTPUT is reset to OFF if you issue a CONNECT command.

SGA

Displays information about the current instance's System Global Area.

SPOOL

If spooling is enabled, displays the name of the output spool file. Otherwise, displays OFF.

STOPONERROR

Displays whether or not errors encountered during execution of command files should stop
execution of the file.

TERMOUT

Shows if output to the terminal is enabled.

TIMING

Shows whether or not the parse, execute, and fetch times (CPU and elapsed) for each SQL
statement executed are shown.

Usage Notes

SHOW with no arguments is the same as SHOW ALL.

Examples

SHOW TIMING

returns a display such as:

Timing OFF

SHOW ALL
returns a display like:

Instance local
Spool OFF
Timing OFF
Termout ON
Echo OFF
Stoponerror OFF
Autorecovery OFF
Logsource <default>
Maxdata 20480
Numwidth 10
Charwidth 80
Longwidth 80
Datewidth 9
Labwidth 32
Compatibility NATIVE
Retries infinite
Server Output OFF

SHOW SGA

returns a display like:

Total Shared Global Area 4612820 bytes

Fixed Size 36376 bytes
Variable Size 4445372 bytes
Database Buffers 122880 bytes
Redo Buffers 8192 bytes

SHOW ERRORS PACKAGE BODY name

returns a display like:

ERRORS FOR PACKAGE BODY name:

LINE/COL ERRORS
---------------------------------------------------------------
...

SHUTDOWN
Purpose

Shut down a currently running Oracle instance, optionally closing and dismounting a database.

Prerequisites

You must be connected to a database as INTERNAL, SYSOPER, or SYSDBA. You cannot be

connected via a multi-threaded server.

Syntax
SHUTDOWN command ::=

where:

ABORT

Proceeds with the fastest possible shutdown. Does not wait for calls to complete or users to
disconnect. Does not close or dismount the database, but does shut down the instance. Requires
instance recovery on next startup. You must use this option if a background process terminates
abnormally.

IMMEDIATE

Does not wait for current calls to complete, prohibits further connects, and closes and dismounts
the database. Finally, shuts down the instance. Does not wait for connected users to disconnect.
Does not require instance recovery on next startup.

NORMAL

Waits for currently connected users to disconnect from the database, prohibits further connects,
and closes and dismounts the database. Finally, shuts down the instance. Does not require
instance recovery on next startup. NORMAL is the
default option.

Attention:

In Server Manager, you can have several separate connections open at any time in multiple
windows. If you have any connections open, remember to close them before performing a
shutdown in normal mode. Otherwise, the shutdown will not complete.

Example

SHUTDOWN

Database closed.
Database dismounted.
Oracle instance shut down.

SPOOL
Purpose

Enable or disable spooling of output to a specified file.

Prerequisites

None.

Syntax

SPOOL command ::=

where:

filename

Any valid name for a spool file. If not specified, the file type or file extension is LOG. If a file by
the specified name exists, an error is generated.

OFF

Closes the previously opened spool file.

Usage Notes

If you do not specify a file, Server Manager prompts you for a filename.

Additional Information: The default filename is operating system specific. Refer to your
operating system-specific Oracle documentation for the default filename on your operating
system. To see whether you are currently spooling, enter SHOW SPOOL.

Note:

When long lines of text (usually from a table query) are written to a spool file or to a terminal,
newline codes are inserted in the text if the lines exceed the maximum line length for the
platform.

Example

To create a file named NOV2.LOG, enter:

SPOOL NOV2

STARTUP
Purpose

Start an Oracle instance with several options, including mounting and opening a database.
Prerequisites

You must be connected to a database as INTERNAL, SYSOPER, or SYSDBA. You cannot be

connected via a multi-threaded server.

Syntax

STARTUP command ::=

MOUNT_OPTIONS clause ::=

where:

FORCE

Shuts down the current Oracle instance (if it is running) with SHUTDOWN mode ABORT,
before restarting it. If the current instance is running and FORCE is not specified, an error
results. FORCE is useful while debugging and under abnormal circumstances. It should not
normally be used.

RESTRICT

Only allows Oracle users with the RESTRICTED SESSION system privilege to connect to the
database. Later, you can use the ALTER SYSTEM command to disable the restricted session
feature.

PFILE=filename

Causes the specified parameter file to be used while starting up the instance.

MOUNT

Mounts a database but does not open it.

OPEN

Mounts and opens the specified database.

NOMOUNT

Causes the database not to be mounted upon instance startup. Cannot be used with SHARED,
EXCLUSIVE, PARALLEL, MOUNT, or OPEN.

RECOVER

Specifies that media recovery should be performed, if necessary, before starting the instance.
STARTUP RECOVER has the same effect as issuing the RECOVER DATABASE command
and starting an instance. Only complete recovery is possible with the RECOVER option.

Recovery proceeds, if necessary, as if AUTORECOVERY is set to ON, regardless of whether or

not AUTORECOVERY is enabled. If a redo log file is not found in the expected location,
recovery continues as if AUTORECOVERY is disabled, by prompting you with the suggested
location and name of the subsequent log files that need to be applied. Refer to "RECOVER" for
Usage Notes on page -16 for a description of how to proceed with recovery when
AUTORECOVERY is disabled.

If recovery fails using the RECOVER option, the database remains mounted and closed.

database

The name of the database to mount or open. If no database name is specified, the database name
is taken from the initialization parameter DB_NAME.

EXCLUSIVE

Signifies that the database can only be mounted and opened by the current instance (it cannot be
opened simultaneously by multiple instances). Cannot be used with SHARED, PARALLEL, or
NOMOUNT. If no mounting option is specified, EXCLUSIVE is assigned by default.

PARALLEL

Must be specified if the database is to be mounted by multiple instances concurrently. Cannot be

used with EXCLUSIVE or NOMOUNT. Invalid if the initialization parameter
SINGLE_PROCESS is set to TRUE.

SHARED

Synonym for PARALLEL.

RETRY

Specifies that opening the database should be attempted every five seconds if the instance is busy
being recovered by another instance. When an instance is being recovered by another instance,
the down instance cannot open the database until recovery is complete. If the database cannot be
opened for any other reason, RETRY does not attempt to open the database again. This option is
only available for instances operating in PARALLEL mode. The number of times RETRY
attempts to start the database can be set with the SET RETRIES command (refer to "SET" for
the option, RETRIES integer | INFINITE on page -23 ).

Examples

To start an instance using the standard parameter file, mount the default database in exclusive
mode, and open the database, enter:

STARTUP

or enter:

STARTUP OPEN databasename EXCLUSIVE

To start an instance using the standard parameter file, mount the default database in parallel
mode, and open the database, enter:

STARTUP PARALLEL
STARTUP OPEN databasename PARALLEL

To restart an instance that went down in parallel mode and may not yet have been recovered by
other instances, use the RETRY option:

STARTUP PARALLEL RETRY

To shut down the current instance, immediately restart it without mounting or opening, and allow
only database administrators to connect, enter:

STARTUP FORCE NOMOUNT RESTRICT

To start an instance using the parameter file TESTPARM without mounting the database, enter:

STARTUP PFILE=testparm NOMOUNT

To shut down a particular database, immediately restart and open it in parallel mode, allow
access only to database administrators, and use the parameter file MYINIT.ORA. enter:

STARTUP OPEN databasename PFILE=myinit.ora FORCE SHARED RESTRICT

To start up an instance and mount but not open a database, you can use the following sequence
of commands (the system's response is also shown):

CONNECT INTERNAL
Connected.

STARTUP NOMOUNT
Oracle instance started.
ALTER DATABASE MOUNT
Statement processed.

At this point, you could run a maintenance command and then open the database, as shown in the
following commands:

ALTER DATABASE ARCHIVELOG;

Statement processed.

ALTER DATABASE OPEN;

Statement processed.

VARIABLE
Purpose

Declare a bind variable for use in the current session with the EXECUTE or PRINT command,
or for use with a PL/SQL block.

Prerequisites

None.

Syntax

VARIABLE command ::=

where:

name

The name of the bind variable you wish to define.

type

The datatype of the bind variable. The valid datatypes are NUMBER, CHAR, and VARCHAR2.
You can specify a length from 1 to 255 for CHAR, and from 1 to 2,000 for VARCHAR2. If you
do not specify a length, CHAR and VARCHAR2 default to the current setting of CHARWIDTH.

Usage Notes

Bind variables defined with the VARIABLE command exist until the end of the session.
Variables defined in your session cannot be accessed or changed by a different session.

Warning:
CHAR variables are fixed length, padded with blanks. VARCHAR2 variables are variable
length. You must use CHAR when passing a character variable to a PL/SQL procedure that
defines a CHAR parameter. Otherwise, a conversion error results. A PL/SQL procedure that
expects a VARCHAR2 variable, on the other hand, will automatically convert a CHAR
parameter to the proper form. (In general, it is a good idea to avoid the use of CHAR variables in
PL/SQL procedures unless blank-padding is an absolute requirement.)

Note:

In V6 compatibility mode, a CHAR variable is variable length, rather than fixed.

Examples

VARIABLE balance NUMBER

VARIABLE ename CHAR(20)

Copyright © 1997 Oracle Corporation.

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