sqlplus statement from command line

Question

Is it possible to do something like this?

$ sqlplus -s user/pass "select 1 from dual" or
$ echo "select 1 from dual" | sqlplus -s user/pass

I know I can put select 1 from dual in a file and do this:
$ sqlplus -s user/pass @myFile.sql

but I'm wondering if it's actually necessary to create a file just to satisfy sqlplus

Answer 1

I assume this is *nix?

Use "here document":

sqlplus -s user/pass <<+EOF
select 1 from dual;
+EOF

EDIT: I should have tried your second example. It works, too (even in Windows, sans ticks):

$ echo 'select 1 from dual;'|sqlplus -s user/pw

         1
----------
         1


$

Answer 2

I'm able to execute your exact query by just making sure there is a semicolon at the end of my select statement. (Output is actual, connection params removed.)

echo "select 1 from dual;" | sqlplus -s username/password@host:1521/service

1

 1

Not that is should matter but sqlplus is running on Mac OS X Snow Leopard and the server is Oracle 11g.

Answer 3

Just be aware that on Unix/Linux your username/password can be seen by anyone that can run "ps -ef" command if you place it directly on the command line . Could be a big security issue (or turn into a big security issue).

I usually recommend creating a file or using here document so you can protect the username/password from being viewed with "ps -ef" command in Unix/Linux. If the username/password is contained in a script file or sql file you can protect using appropriate user/group read permissions. Then you can keep the user/pass inside the file like this in a shell script:

sqlplus -s /nolog <<EOF
connect user/pass
select blah;
quit
EOF