PROMPT

Purpose

Sends the specified message or a blank line to the user's screen.

Syntax

PRO[MPT] [text]

Terms and Clauses

Refer to the following for a description of the term or clause:

text

Represents the text of the message you wish to display. If you omit text, PROMPT displays a blank line on the user's screen.

Usage Notes

You can use this command in command files to give information to the user.

Example

The following example shows the use of PROMPT in conjunction with ACCEPT in a command file called ASKFORDEPT. ASKFORDEPT contains the following SQL*Plus and SQL commands:

PROMPT
PROMPT Please enter a valid department
PROMPT For example:  10, 20, 30, 40
ACCEPT NEWDEPT NUMBER PROMPT 'DEPT:> '
SELECT DNAME FROM DEPT
WHERE DEPTNO = &NEWDEPT

Assume you run the file using START or @:

SQL> @ASKFORDEPT

SQL*Plus displays the following prompts:

Please enter a valid department
For example:  10, 20, 30, 40
DEPT:>

You can enter a department number at the prompt DEPT:>. By default, SQL*Plus lists the line containing &NEWDEPT before and after substitution, and then displays the department name corresponding to the number entered at the DEPT:> prompt.