Oracle PL/SQL/PL SQL/Define

DEFINE command with no arguments: list all variables defined

SQL>
SQL> -- DEFINE command and specifying no arguments: list all variables defined
SQL>
SQL> DEFINE V_STUDENT_NBR = "1000";
SQL>
SQL> DEFINE
DEFINE _DATE           = "10-SEP-06" (CHAR)
DEFINE _CONNECT_IDENTIFIER = "XE" (CHAR)
DEFINE _USER           = "sqle" (CHAR)
DEFINE _PRIVILEGE      = "" (CHAR)
DEFINE _SQLPLUS_RELEASE = "1002000100" (CHAR)
DEFINE _EDITOR         = "Notepad" (CHAR)
DEFINE _O_VERSION      = "Oracle Database 10g Express Edition Release 10.2.0.1.0 - Production" (CHAR)
DEFINE _O_RELEASE      = "1002000100" (CHAR)
DEFINE _RC             = "0" (CHAR)
DEFINE V_STUDENT_NBR   = "1000" (CHAR)
SQL>
SQL>
SQL>

Define variable

SQL>
SQL> -- examine the contents of a variable created using the DEFINE command by typing DEFINE
SQL> -- and specifying the variable name:
SQL>
SQL> DEFINE V_STUDENT_NBR = "1000";
SQL>
SQL> DEFINE v_student_nbr;
DEFINE V_STUDENT_NBR   = "1000" (CHAR)
SQL>
SQL> DEFINE V_STUDENT_NBR   = "1000" (CHAR);
SQL>
SQL>

The DEFINE command can be used to create substitution variables and assign them values

SQL>
SQL> CREATE TABLE EMP (EMPNO NUMBER(4) NOT NULL,
  2                    ENAME VARCHAR2(10),
  3                    JOB VARCHAR2(9),
  4                    MGR NUMBER(4),
  5                    HIREDATE DATE,
  6                    SAL NUMBER(7, 2),
  7                    COMM NUMBER(7, 2),
  8                    DEPTNO NUMBER(2));
Table created.
SQL>
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7369, "SMITH", "CLERK",    7902, TO_DATE("17-DEC-1980", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 800, NULL, 20);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7499, "ALLEN", "SALESMAN", 7698, TO_DATE("20-FEB-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1600, 300, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7521, "WARD",  "SALESMAN", 7698, TO_DATE("22-FEB-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1250, 500, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7566, "JONES", "MANAGER",  7839, TO_DATE("2-APR-1981",  "DD-MON-YYYY"), 2975, NULL, 20);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7654, "MARTIN", "SALESMAN", 7698,TO_DATE("28-SEP-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1250, 1400, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7698, "BLAKE", "MANAGER", 7839,TO_DATE("1-MAY-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 2850, NULL, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7782, "CLARK", "MANAGER", 7839,TO_DATE("9-JUN-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 2450, NULL, 10);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7788, "SCOTT", "ANALYST", 7566,TO_DATE("09-DEC-1982", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 3000, NULL, 20);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7839, "KING", "PRESIDENT", NULL,TO_DATE("17-NOV-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 5000, NULL, 10);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7844, "TURNER", "SALESMAN", 7698,TO_DATE("8-SEP-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1500, 0, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7876, "ADAMS", "CLERK", 7788,TO_DATE("12-JAN-1983", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1100, NULL, 20);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7900, "JAMES", "CLERK", 7698,TO_DATE("3-DEC-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 950, NULL, 30);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7902, "FORD", "ANALYST", 7566,TO_DATE("3-DEC-1981", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 3000, NULL, 20);
1 row created.
SQL> INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7934, "MILLER", "CLERK", 7782,TO_DATE("23-JAN-1982", "DD-MON-YYYY"), 1300, NULL, 10);
1 row created.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> -- DEFINE
SQL>
SQL> -- The DEFINE command can be used to create substitution variables and assign them values.
SQL>
SQL> -- Any variable created with the DEFINE command stays in memory until you exit the SQL*Plus session
SQL> -- or until you delete the variable using the UNDEFINE command.
SQL>
SQL> -- The DEFINE command is limited in that it can be used only to create variables of datatype
SQL> -- CHAR
SQL>
SQL> DEFINE EmployeeID=7902;
SQL>
SQL> SELECT *
  2  FROM Emp
  3  WHERE empno = &EmployeeID;
old   3: WHERE empno = &EmployeeID
new   3: WHERE empno = 7902
     EMPNO ENAME      JOB              MGR HIREDATE         SAL       COMM     DEPTNO
---------- ---------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------
      7902 FORD       ANALYST         7566 03-DEC-81       3000                    20
SQL>
SQL> drop table emp;
Table dropped.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL>