Why oh why did Oracle decide to make table names with special symobols
in them, like v$database?
This makes it a nightmare in shell scripts wrapping sqlplus for
example!
Try writing a shell script that su's to oracle and executes sqlplus to
get data from v$database..
Is there any workaround to avoid the dollars, such as aliases?

thanks,
Neil

On Mon, 16 May 2011 10:55:24 -0700, neilsolent wrote:

Yes. Use PHP 5.3 and "nowdoc" format which allows you to use special
characters without reinterpretation. Shell is not for databases.



--
http://mgogala.byethost5.com

"neilsolent" <n (AT) solenttechnology (DOT) co.uk> wrote

v\$database

On Mon, 16 May 2011 10:55:24 -0700 (PDT), neilsolent
<n (AT) solenttechnology (DOT) co.uk> wrote:

Many attributes of v$database, which is for privileged users, are
available unprivileged via sys_context('userenv','<attribute>')
for instance 'db_name".
Usually to know that some manual reading is required. Most people
don't read documentation, and this results in unjustified rants like
you posted above.

----------
Sybrand Bakker
Senior Oracle DBA

Neil:

# Why oh why did Oracle decide to make table names with special
symobols in them, like v$database?

Been like that for a long long time ...

# This makes it a nightmare in shell scripts wrapping sqlplus for
example! Try writing a shell script that su's to oracle and executes
sqlplus to get data from v$database..

Not a nightmare at all.

One approach is to put your sql inside a file and then execute that
file from sqlplus.

cd /to_some_location

export ORACLE_SID=whatever
sqlplus / as sysdba << EOF
@run_some_sql_script.sql
exit;
EOF

# Is there any workaround to avoid the dollars, such as aliases?

What are you trying to do exactly?

On May 17, 3:55*am, neilsolent <n... (AT) solenttechnology (DOT) co.uk> wrote:
backslash (\) is your friend.

On May 17, 1:19*am, Noons <wizofo... (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

Yes but it's not just as simple as one backslash.
My Perl script is calling sqlplus via su (to switch to Oracle) - 7
backslahses needed v\\\\\\\$database !!
Try it and see.. that's what I mean by a nightmare.
If they could just refrained from naming tables with $ symbols.. :-)

I could just put the script in a file, but not very neat.
Using other tools means other problems - more dependencies to cater
for.
Oh well, thanks anyway..

On May 17, 9:49*am, neilsolent <n... (AT) solenttechnology (DOT) co.uk> wrote:
Just an FYI - those table names have been that way since Version 1.
put your sql in a script and call the script.. much easier than what
you are trying to do... been there, done that.

On May 17, 9:49*am, neilsolent <n... (AT) solenttechnology (DOT) co.uk> wrote:
If you are using Perl why not use the perl database interface to
Oracle? That would allow you to avoid the shell environment and
eliminate the need to escape so much.

I also dislike Oracle use of the dollar and pound sign in table and
column names but I have learned to live with an occassional backslash,
using script files, and having to mask output files that use object
name for dollar signs.

HTH -- Mark D Powell --

Yes, I am doing it that way now (building a script file, then running
it).