Basic Introduction To SQL PLUS: Getting Started

Basic Introduction to SQL*PLUS
The SQL*PLUS (pronounced "sequel plus") program allows you to store and retrieve data in the relational database management system ORACLE. Databases consists of tables which can be manipulated bystructured query language (SQL) commands. A table is made up of columns (vertical) and rows (horizontal). A row is made up of fields which contain a data value at the intersection of a row and a column. Be aware that SQL*PLUS is a program and not a standard query language.
Getting Started
It is a prerequisite that users are registered for ORACLE, an ORACLE account is needed. On Unix platforms you must start the script oraenv to set the ORACLE environment. Enter the command . oraenv and press <Return;>. Don't forget to type a blanc between the dot and oraenv. If you are working with a PC using MS Windows, simply use Netinstall to install the product. You can find the software in the database folder. Enter sqlplus on unix systems or run it on Windows from the start menue. Answer the displayed prompts by entering your ORACLE user-name and password. The SQL*PLUS command prompt SQL > indicates that you are ready to work.
Some elementary Commands

alter user user identified by newpassword help exit, quit ho[st] ho[st] command ho[st] oerr enables user to change the password accesses the SQL*PLUS help system terminates SQL*PLUS leads to the operating system without leaving SQL*PLUS executes a host operating system command accesses the ORACLE error help for unix
Editing and Executing

All entered input is stored as a single SQL*PLUS statement in the command buffer. Pressing the <Return> key while editing will either open a new numbered line or, if the previous line ends with a semicolon or consists of a single slash, will execute the SQL*PLUS command. Opening new numbered lines allows you to structure statements and enables you to refer to particular lines by later using edit functions. l[ist] ln or n ln m a text c/oldstring/newstring i del r[un] lists command buffer (the current line is marked with a star) makes line n the current line and lists it lists lines n through m appends text to current line changes oldstring to newstring in current line inserts a line after current line deletes the current line runs and lists command buffer
/ ;
runs command buffer lists command buffer
If you use substitution variables, like &variable, instead of values or names in your SQL statement, SQL*PLUS will prompt you and substitute the entered value. A substitution variable is a user variable name preceded by an ampersand.
Working with Command Files

You can use command files to save complex commands. After creating a command file you can retrieve, edit, and run it. The default file extension is .sql . If you use other file extensions you must write the full file name like name.extension. ed[it] overwrites a scratch file with the contents of the command buffer edit enables you to edit this file with the defined host operating system editor. The name of the scratch file is afiedt.buf . After leaving the editor the buffer is listed and you can execute it. ed[it] filename enables you to edit an existing or new file filename.sql sav[e] filename creates file filename and stores the command buffer into it sav[e] filename [option] stores command buffer into file filename Possible options are cre[ate], app[end], rep[lace]. get filename loads the host operating system file filename into the command buffer sta[rt] filename [arg1 arg2 ..] executes file filename arg1 arg2 .. are arguments you wish to pass to the command file
If you run a command file in which a substitution variable like &1 is used, you will be prompted for that value. You can avoid being prompted by passing an argument to the command file.
Queries and Subqueries

Retrieving data from the database is the most common SQL operation. A query is an SQL command (specifically a select) that retrieves information from one or more tables. A subquery is a select which is nested in another SQL command.
The Describe Command

desc[ribe] name lists the column definition for table or view name
Basic Select Commands

The basic select command consists of two parts, called clauses: select some data from table. Examples select * from tabname selects all columns and rows from table tabname select distinct col from tabname selects column col from table tabname
and returns only one copy of duplicate rows select col1, col2 ... from tabname selects specified columns from table tabname select col1, col2*3 from tabname selects col1,col2 from table tabname and lists col1, col2 multiplied by 3 select 2*3 from dual calculates 2*3 and will display the result
Selecting Rows and Ordering

To retrieve specific rows from a table you need to add a where clause. A where clause consists of one or more search conditions which can be connected by logical operators. To display the retrieved data in a specific order you need to add an order by clause. Examples select col1,col2 from tabname where col1 < col2 and col2 !=0 order by col2 Columns col1, col2 are selected from table tabname and all rows where col2 is not equal to zero and col1 is less than col2 are displayed in an ascending order (ordered by col2). select col1,col2 from tabname where col1 like '_A%' or col1 like '+++' order by col2 desc Columns col1,col2 are selected from table tabname and all rows where col1 is equal to '+++' or where the second letter in col1 is an 'A' are displayed in a descending order. In this example two different escape characters are used. The underscore matches exactly one character whereas the percent sign can match zero or more characters. select col1,col2 from tabname where col1 in ( value1,value2 ) Columns col1,col2 are selected from table tabname and all rows where col1 is equal to value1 or to value2 are displayed. select col1,col2 from tabname where col1 not between value1 and value2 Columns col1,col2 are selected from table tabname and all rows where col1 is not in the range between value1 and value2 are displayed.
Using Set Operator

Set operators combine the results of two queries into a single result. If a statement contains multiple set operators, they will be evaluated from left to right. set operator union union all intersect minus
returns all distinct rows selected by either query returns all rows selected by either query, including all duplicates returns all distinct rows selected by both queries returns all distinct rows selected by the first query but not the second
Example select * from table1 union all select * from table2 This will combine all rows, columns of table1 and table2.
Querying Multiple Tables

If you want to retrieve information from different tables, you can do this by issuing different queries or a single JOIN query. In a JOIN query, you list the names of the tables you are querying in the from clause and the names of the linking columns in the where clause. The omission of the linking where clause causes a cartesian product of both tables. A JOIN combines rows from two or more tables where columns which the tables have in common match. If a column name is not unique, you must use a prefix to make clear which column from which table you want to select (e.g. tablename.columnname).
Simple Join
select col1,tab1.col2,col3 from tab1,tab2 where tab1.col2=tab2.col2 This is the most common type of join. It returns rows from two tables based on an equality condition, therefore it is also called an equi-join.
Non-Equi Join
select tab1.col1,tab2.col2 from tab1,tab2 where tab1.col1 between lowval and highval Since this join doesn't return rows based on a equality condition, it is called a non-equi join.
Self Join
select alias1.col1,alias2.col1 "Header 2" from tabname alias1,tabname alias2 where alias1.col2=alias2.col3 In this example the table tabname is joined with itself. Using of two different alias names for the same table allows you to refer to it twice. Since the names of the resulting columns in this example are the same, the second column gets a new header.
Outer Join
select col1,col2 from tab1,tab2 where tab1.col1=tab2.col2(+) Suppose you want to retrieve information from two tables where not all rows match but the result should contain all values from one or more columns. A simple join will select only matching rows whereas the outer join extends the result. All matching rows will be selected and when you append the outer join operator (+) to a column name, those rows which do not match will also be selected. In the example the number of rows which are selected is the number of rows in table tab2. If rows match, the outer join works as a simple join, if not, the values from tab2.col2 and a NULL value for the non existing value of tab1.col1 will be selected.
Data Definition Language DDL

DDL commands allow you to create, alter and delete objects (e.g tables, views) and also to grant and revoke privileges. create table tabname (col1 type1,col2 type2,...) creates table tabname col1 ... coln are the column names, type1,type2.. specifies the datatype of a column which can be number, date, char, varchar. number(p,s) specifies a fixed point number having precision p (total number of digits) and scale s (number of digits to the right of the decimal point).
number(p) specifies a fixed point number. number specifies a floating point number. char(size) specifies fixed length (max 255) character data of length size. varchar2(size) specifies variable length (max 2000) character string having a maximum length of size bytes. create table tabname as subquery creates table tabname subquery inserts rows into the table upon its creation. A subquery is a form of the select command which enables you to select columns from an existing table. create view viewname as subquery creates view viewname A view is a logical table based on one or more tables. drop table tabname alter table tabname add (col1 type1,col2 type2,...) alter table tabname modify (col1 type1,col2 type2,...) rename oldname to newname alter user user identified by newpassword; grant privilege on object to user revoke privilege on object from user removes table tabname from the database adds columns to table tabname modifies column definitions renames table oldname enables user to change the password to newpassword grants a privilege to user revokes a privilege from user
Data Manipulation Language DML

DML commands manipulate and query data in existing tables. These commands do not commit current actions. insert into tabname (col1,col2...) values (val1,val 2...) inserts rows into table tabname insert into tabname subquery inserts rows(selected by a subquery) into &table tabname update tabname set col1=expr1,col2=expr2... where cond updates rows in table tabname columns are set to values of expressions if condition cond is true update tabname set (col1,col2...)=(subquery) where cond updates rows in table tabname columns are set to selected values if condition cond is true delete from tabname [where cond] either deletes all rows from table tabname or rows where cond is true
Schema
When you select data from a table or you insert data into a table then this object has to be in your own schema. In other words, you must be the owner. If you are not the owner of the object, but the owner granted some privileges to you, you have to specify schema.tabname.
Example
select * from scott.emp
Transaction Control Commands

Transaction Control Commands manage changes made by Data Manipulation Language commands. A transaction (or logical unit of work) is a sequence of SQL statements that ORACLE treats as a single unit. A transaction ends with a commit, rollback , exit, or any DDL statement which issues an implicit commit. In most cases transactions are implicitly controlled. commit rollback rollback to savepoint savep savepoint savep makes all changes since the beginning of a transaction permanent rolls back (undoes) all changes since the beginning of a transaction rolls back to savepoint savep defines savepoint savep

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Basic Introduction to SQL*PLUS

Some elementary Commands

Editing and Executing

runs command buffer lists command buffer

Working with Command Files

Queries and Subqueries

The Describe Command

Basic Select Commands

Selecting Rows and Ordering

Using Set Operator

Querying Multiple Tables

Data Definition Language DDL

Data Manipulation Language DML

Transaction Control Commands

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