I don't think any UNIX shell has some package or module written for any database. So the only way to talk to Oracle is using shell as a wrapper around sqlplus (or any application you developed). In sqlplus, you can use bind variables easily. In this sense, we can say shell does allow you to use bind variables.
Speaking of Perl versus shell, Perl may still be quite primitive in supporting two-way communication with an external program e.g. sqlplus. (I have an example at www.stormloader.com/yonghuang/computer/OracleAndPerl.html#2waytosqlplus using IPC::Open2). But I think a KornShell coprocess (not a here document) does it nicely, i.e. piping a SQL command in and reading the result back, piping another command in, reading again, without exiting your sqlplus session. If you use Perl DBI (or the old OraPerl), Jared may know this but I'm not sure if you can send any arbitary SQL command such as explain plan, shutdown... and read its output. Yong Huang > One BIG advantage of Perl is DBI. Via shell you can't use bind variables > which sometimes come in handy. An admin dweeb here developed a __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/ -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net -- Author: Yong Huang INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services --------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
