Preface

SQL*Plus Getting Started for Windows provides information about the SQL*Plus product specific to Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, and Windows 95 operating systems.

Notes:
In the remainder of this guide, SQL*Plus for Windows, will be referred to as SQL*Plus.

Specific topics discussed in this preface are:

Prerequisites

This guide assumes that you are familiar with the following:

SQL*Plus commands and general features. You should refer to the generic SQL*Plus documentation set before using this guide. See "Related Documents".
Commands for deleting and copying files and the concepts of the search path, subdirectories, and path names.
Fundamentals of the Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows NT or Windows 95/98 operating systems.

Intended Audience

This guide is for all users who want to use SQL*Plus in the Windows 2000, Windows NT or Windows 95/98 operating environments.

How This Guide Is Organized

This guide is organized as follows:

Chapter 1, "Introducing SQL*Plus"

Provides introductory information to help you get started with SQL*Plus.

Chapter 2, "Installing SQL*Plus Help and Demonstration Tables"

Explains how to install and access SQL*Plus Help and Demonstration tables.

Chapter 3, "Using SQL*Plus"

Explains how to start and use SQL*Plus from the command line interface and the graphical user interface, and describes the graphical user interface menu options.

Chapter 4, "Operating System-Specific References"

Provides command information specific to the Windows NT/95/98 environments which are cross-referenced in SQL*Plus User's Guide and Reference.

Appendix A, "Customizing Operating System Parameters"

Describes how to customize your SQL*Plus configuration by changing the SQLPATH parameter in the Windows NT/95/98 registry

Obtaining Online Help

Online help for using SQL*Plus is available from the SQL*Plus command line during a session. The SQL*Plus help tables must be created and populated by the database administrator first. See "Installing SQL*Plus Online Help" in Chapter 2 for information about installing SQL*Plus online help.

Documentation and Code Conventions Explained

The following conventions are used in this guide.

Convention Example Meaning

All uppercase plain

ALTER DATABASE

Indicates command names, SQL reserved words, and keywords. All uppercase plain is also used for directory names and file names.

Italic

Italic is used to indicate a variable:
filename

Italic is used for emphasis:
This section describes new SQL*Plus features specific to Windows 2000/NT/95/98.

Indicates a value that you must provide. For example, if a command asks you to type filename, you must type the actual name of the file.
Italic is also used for emphasis in the text and to indicate the titles of other guides.

Oracle database

The database component of Oracle8i.

C:\>

This example refers to the default for the first Oracle home in an Optimal Flexible Architecture (OFA)-compliant database.
C:\>ORACLE\ORA81

Represents the Windows command prompt of the current hard disk drive. Your prompt can differ and can, at times, reflect the subdirectory in which you are working. Referred to as the Windows command prompt in this guide.

Backslash (\) before a directory name

\ORADATA

Indicates that the directory is a subdirectory of the root directory.

ORACLE_HOME and ORACLE_BASE

Go to the
ORACLE_HOME\ADMIN
directory

In previous releases when you installed SQL*Plus, all subdirectories were located under a top level ORACLE_HOME directory, that by default was:

C:\ORANT for Windows NT

C:\ORAWIN95 for Windows 95

C:\ORAWIN98 for Windows 98

or whatever you may have called your Oracle home.
With this Optimal Flexible Architecture (OFA)-compliant release, all subdirectories are no longer under a top level ORACLE_HOME directory. There is now a new top level directory called ORACLE_BASE, which by default is C:\ORACLE.
For more information about multiple Oracle homes and Optimal Flexible Architecture (OFA), see the Oracle8i Administrator's Guide for Windows NT.

HOME_NAME

OracleHOME_NAMETNSListener

Represents the Oracle home name. The home name can be up to sixteen alphanumeric characters. The only special character allowed in a home name is the underscore.

Symbols

period .
comma ,
hyphen -
semicolon ;
colon :
equal sign =
backslash \
single quote `
double quote "
parentheses ( )

Symbols other than brackets and vertical bars must be entered in commands exactly as shown.

Key+number

Alt+128

Hold down the Alt key while entering 128. This is typically used to enter decimal number equivalents for extended ASCII characters at the SQL*Plus command prompt.

Convention	Example	Meaning
All uppercase plain	ALTER DATABASE	Indicates command names, SQL reserved words, and keywords. All uppercase plain is also used for directory names and file names.
Italic	Italic is used to indicate a variable: filename Italic is used for emphasis: This section describes new SQLPlus features specific* to Windows 2000/NT/95/98.	Indicates a value that you must provide. For example, if a command asks you to type filename, you must type the actual name of the file. Italic is also used for emphasis in the text and to indicate the titles of other guides.
Oracle database		The database component of Oracle8i.
C:\>	This example refers to the default for the first Oracle home in an Optimal Flexible Architecture (OFA)-compliant database. C:\>ORACLE\ORA81	Represents the Windows command prompt of the current hard disk drive. Your prompt can differ and can, at times, reflect the subdirectory in which you are working. Referred to as the Windows command prompt in this guide.
Backslash (\) before a directory name	\ORADATA	Indicates that the directory is a subdirectory of the root directory.
ORACLE_HOME and ORACLE_BASE	Go to the ORACLE_HOME\ADMIN directory	In previous releases when you installed SQLPlus, all subdirectories were located under a top level ORACLE_HOME* directory, that by default was: C:\ORANT for Windows NT C:\ORAWIN95 for Windows 95 C:\ORAWIN98 for Windows 98 or whatever you may have called your Oracle home. With this Optimal Flexible Architecture (OFA)-compliant release, all subdirectories are no longer under a top level ORACLE_HOME directory. There is now a new top level directory called ORACLE_BASE, which by default is C:\ORACLE. For more information about multiple Oracle homes and Optimal Flexible Architecture (OFA), see the Oracle8i Administrator's Guide for Windows NT.
HOME_NAME	OracleHOME_NAMETNSListener	Represents the Oracle home name. The home name can be up to sixteen alphanumeric characters. The only special character allowed in a home name is the underscore.
Symbols	period . comma , hyphen - semicolon ; colon : equal sign = backslash \ single quote ` double quote " parentheses ( )	Symbols other than brackets and vertical bars must be entered in commands exactly as shown.
Key+number	Alt+128	Hold down the Alt key while entering 128. This is typically used to enter decimal number equivalents for extended ASCII characters at the SQL*Plus command prompt.