Re: Newbie: Accessing different databases from isqlplus

Comments in-line.

Jim Andersen wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I normally use MS sql server, but I have attended a beginners course on
> Oracle (10 I think...)
>
> Now my question is, can I access multiple databases with that tool? Without
> having to log in-out everytime.

If you mean "multiple databases" in the sense of Oracle you can if you build database links. But I suspect that is not what you mean given your background. If you mean objects owned by different schemas then you can provided you have been granted appropriate object privileges.

In Oracle the word "database" means, and only means, a set of related files (datafiles, tempfiles, log files, control files, spfile). Be very careful with the word or clarify your intent when using it.

> But sometimes they need to access database A to get a list of departments,
> and then use that list as input for an sql command in database B to select
> users from those departments.

Again ... you need to clarify your meaning. I suspect you mean schema A and schema B.

> In ms-sqlserver, I use SqlQueryAnalyzer, and it has a "use database"
> command. Is there something similar in Oracle?

You can use essentially any front-end Oracle tool to access multiple schemas or multiple databases. Be aware that most of the words you know have different meanings in Oracle. Go to Morgan's Library (under Resources) at www.psoug.org and scroll down to Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Comparison for some help with verbiage and capability comparisons.

-- 
Daniel A. Morgan
University of Washington
damorgan_at_x.washington.edu
(replace x with u to respond)
Puget Sound Oracle Users Group
www.psoug.org