pl/sql problems

hi out there in netland:

I have some trouble using pl/sql. It lacks i/o like "printf" or sth similar to that. But I need to do some output every now and then. With SQL*Plus I can use "PRINT", but this can only handle ONE variable. The trick with using "dbms_output.putline('Text" || var) does not work within pl/sql. I always get "putline must be declared..." when using this.

The other way would be to collect the answers in a temporary table and THEN query this table with 'select *' in SQL*Plus, but this creates too much overhead and lacks performance...

Is there any other way known to produce output ? Otherwise I'll have to switch to Pro*C, what my boss does not like....

Thanks in advance.
(help by email appreciated)

Regionales Rechenzentrum Niedersachsen
Uni-Hannover
Germany