How to Stop SQL*Plus from Prompting for Ampersand Values in Scripts?

Disable ampersand prompt in SQL Plus scripts

When running a SQL script in SQL Plus, users may encounter a prompt asking for an alternative value if a comment contains an ampersand (&). This prompt may prevent the script from executing smoothly. Here's how to fix this problem:

Method 1: Disable the Define command

To disable SQL Plus automatically parsing ampersands, use the following command:

<code class="language-sql">set define off</code>

This command prevents SQL Plus from interpreting ampersands as variable placeholders, effectively ignoring them.

Method 2: Escape ampersand

Alternatively, you can escape ampersands by placing them at the end of the string. This ensures that SQL Plus does not interpret them as placeholders. For example:

<code class="language-sql">'StackOverflow &' || ' you'</code>

In this case, an ampersand is appended to the end of the first string, preventing SQL Plus from prompting for an alternative value.

Note:

The example about putting the ampersand at the end of a string only works if the ampersand is in the last string in the concatenation. If there are other concatenated strings after the ampersand, it may still trigger the replacement prompt. To ensure consistent behavior, it is recommended to use the "set define off" command.

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