Producing Readable Output

with iSQL*Plus
Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be abke to do the following

•Producing queries that require a substitutuin variable

•Customize the iSQL*Plus environment
•Produce more readable output
•Create and Execute script file
 Subtitution Variables

I want to query
different values.
…SAL = ?
…DEPTNO =?
..,JOB=?
Using iSQL*Plus, you can create reports that prompt the user to supply their own
values to restrict the range of data returned by using substitution variables.

You can embed substitution variables in a command file or in a single SQL statement.

A varaible can be thought as a container in which the values are temporarily stored.
When the statement is run, the value is substituded.

Use iSQL*Plus substitution variables to :

Store values temporarily

Single ampersand &
Double ampersand &&
DEFINE command
Pass variable values between SQL statements.
Dynamically alter headers and footers
 Using the & substitution variable
Use a variable prefixed with an ampersand (&) to prompt the user for a value

Number Values with Substitution Variables

SELECT empno,ename,sal,deptno
FROM emp Variable as a number
WHERE empno=&employee number;
 Character and Date Values with Substitution Variables

SELECT empno,ename,sal,deptno
FROM emp Variable as a Character or Date
WHERE job='&job';
 Specifying Column Names, Expressions, and Text

Use substitution variables to supplement the

following :

•WHERE conditions
•ORDER BY clauses
•Column Expressions
•Table names
•Entire SELECT statements

Not only can you use the substitution variables in the WHERE clause of an SQL
Statement, but these variables can also be used to substitute for column names,
Expressions, or text.
SELECT empno,&COLUMN_NAME
FROM emp
WHERE &CONDITION ;
SELECT empno,ename,job,&COLUMN_NAME
FROM emp
WHERE &CONDITION
ORDER BY &ORDER_COLUMN;
SELECT empno,ename,job,&COLUMN_NAME
FROM emp
WHERE &CONDITION
ORDER BY &ORDER_COLUMN;
 Defining Substitution Variables

You can predefine variables using the iSQL*Plus DEFINE command.

DEFINE variable = value creates a user variable with the CHAR data type

If you need to predefine a variable that includes spaces, you must enclose
the value within single quotation marks when using the DEFINE command.

A Define variable is available for the session.

Command Description

DEFINE variable=value Create a user variable with the CHAR data and
assigns a value to it.
DEFINE variable Displays the variable, its value,and its data type

DEFINE Displays all user variables with their values,and data

types
DEFINE SALARY=800

SELECT ENAME,SAL FROM EMP WHERE SAL=&SALARY

 UNDEFINE command
Variables are defined until you either :
•Issue the UNDEFINED command on a variable,
•Exit iSQL*Plus
 Using the && Substitution Variable
Use the double-ampersand (&&) if you want to reuse the variable value without
prompting the user each time.

SELECT empno, ename,&&COLUMN_NAME FROM emp order by &COLUMN_NAME;

 Using the VERIFY Command

SET VERIFY ON
SELECT empno,ename,sal,deptno
FROM emp
WHERE empno=&employee_number;

This is displayed if
VERIFY is ON
 Using the VERIFY Command

SET VERIFY OFF

SELECT empno,ename,sal,deptno
FROM emp
WHERE empno=&employee_number;
 iSQL*Plus Format Commands

COLUMN
TTITLE
BTITLE
BREAK
 The COLUMN command

OPTIONS DESCRIPTIONS
CLEAR Clears any column formats
HEADING Sets the column heading
FORMAT Changes the display of the column data
NOPRINT Hide the columns
NULL Specifies text to be displayed for null values
PRINT Shows the columns
 COLUMN FORMAT MODEL

ELEMENT DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE

9 Single Zero-suppression digit 999999

0 Enforces leading zero 099999

$ Floating dollar sign $99999

L Local currency L99999

. Position of decimal point 9999.99

, Thousand seperator 9,9999

 Using BREAK command

Use the BREAK command to suppress duplicates.

Break on deptno ;

Select * from emp order by deptno ;

CLEAR BREAK
HEADERS AND FOOTERS

DISPLAY HEADERS AND FOOTERS

TITLE ON BTITLE ON
TTITLE OFF BTITLE OFF

Set the Report Header

TTITLE ‘EMPLOYEE LIST’

Set the Report Footer

BTITLE ‘CONFIDENTAL’
TTITLE 'EMPLOYEES LIST'
BTITLE 'CONFIDENTAL'
SELECT * FROM EMP;
 TASKS
1-Determine whether the following two statements are true or false
DEFINE & X =100
TRUE FALSE
2-DEFINE command is an SQL command
TRUE FALSE
3-Write a script to display the ename, job , and hiredates for all employees who started
within a given range of dates. Concatenate the name and job together, separated by a
space and comma, and label the column Employees. Use the DEFINE command to
provide the two ranges. Use the format DD/MON/YYYY
DEFINE lowdate=01/JAN/1980
DEFINE highdate=01/JAN/1981
4-Write a script to display the ename, job, and department names for every employee in
a given location. Search condition should allow for case-intensive searches of the
department location.

5-Modiyf the code of task 4 to create a report containing the department name,
employee name, hiredate, salary and, and ANNUAL SALARY.