Preface

This guide provides introductory information for two separate Oracle products: SQL*Plus for Windows NT and SQL*Plus for Windows 95/98.

Specific topics discussed in this preface are:

Prerequisites

This guide assumes that you are familiar with:

Commands for deleting and copying files and the concepts of the search path, subdirectories, and path names.
Fundamentals of the Microsoft Windows NT or Windows 95/98 operating system.

Intended Audience

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

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 for Windows NT and Windows 95/98.

Chapter 2, "Using SQL*Plus"

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

Chapter 3, "Operating System-Specific References"

Provides the operating system-specific information that is 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 parameters in the registry.

Conventions

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 used to indicate a variable:
ORACLE_HOME\filename
Italic used for emphasis:
The WHERE clause may be used to join rows in different tables.

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 Oracle8.

C:\>

C:\>ORANT\DATABASE

Represents the Windows NT 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 MS-DOS command prompt in this guide.

Backslash (\) before a directory name

\DATABASE

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

Oracle home

Go to the ORACLE_HOME\DATABASE directory.

Oracle home is represented as the hard drive letter and the top level directory where your Oracle software is installed. In this guide, the convention ORACLE_HOME is used to indicate your Oracle home directory, which may be:

C:\ORANT for Windows NT

C:\ORAWIN95 for Windows 95

C:\ORAWIN98 for Windows 98

or whatever you may have called your Oracle home.

HOME_NAME

OracleHOME_NAMETNSListener

Represents the Oracle home name if you use multiple Oracle homes. This convention is not applicable for a single Oracle home.
The home name can be up to sixteen alphanumeric characters. The only special character allowed in the 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.

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 used to indicate a variable: ORACLE_HOME\filename Italic used for emphasis: The WHERE clause may be used to join rows in different tables.	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 Oracle8.
C:\>	C:\>ORANT\DATABASE	Represents the Windows NT 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 MS-DOS command prompt in this guide.
Backslash (\) before a directory name	\DATABASE	Indicates that the directory is a subdirectory of the root directory.
Oracle home	Go to the ORACLE_HOME\DATABASE directory.	Oracle home is represented as the hard drive letter and the top level directory where your Oracle software is installed. In this guide, the convention ORACLE_HOME is used to indicate your Oracle home directory, which may be: C:\ORANT for Windows NT C:\ORAWIN95 for Windows 95 C:\ORAWIN98 for Windows 98 or whatever you may have called your Oracle home.
HOME_NAME	OracleHOME_NAMETNSListener	Represents the Oracle home name if you use multiple Oracle homes. This convention is not applicable for a single Oracle home. The home name can be up to sixteen alphanumeric characters. The only special character allowed in the 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.