Re: PL/SQL and environmental variables

Mark Rathbun wrote:

> Thanks Sybrand. That was exactly what I was looking for.
>
> I am curious about about a couple of things though so please bear with
> me. Anyone else with any thoughts or opinions would be welcome.
>
> As a developer, should I have known something like this? I've only
> been working with Oracle for about 1 1/4 years but I can't use that
> for an excuse much longer
>
> Or is this something that my DBA's should have known about?
>
> If not, what resource(s) should I be using to learn this kind of
> stuff. DBA manuals?
>
> Thanks
> Mark
>
> On Thu, 27 Jun 2002 00:50:39 +0200, Sybrand Bakker
> <postbus_at_sybrandb.demon.nl> wrote:
>
> >On Wed, 26 Jun 2002 16:36:02 -0500, Mark Rathbun
> ><mark_at_NOSPAMpickerel-lake.net> wrote:
> >
> >>I am using the packages included with utl_file to access text files
> >>for processing. The problem I am having is that the paths for the dev,
> >>mst and prd instances file locations are different. What I need is a
> >>way so that I can tell what instance I am in and open the text file
> >>with the correct path.
> >>
> >>I don't need the solution, but a hint or two would be greatly
> >>appreciated. I may be just searching for the wrong phrases. I had no
> >>luck in tahiti.oracle.com, Metalink the archives for this group and
> >>the usual O'Rielly and Oracle press manuals.
> >>
> >>I am running Oracle 8i and 9i on HP-UX
> >>
> >>Thanks in advance for any help
> >
> >
> >select * from global_name;
> >
> >select value
> >from v$parameter
> >where name = 'utl_file_dir';
> >
> >Hth
> >
> >
> >Sybrand Bakker, Senior Oracle DBA
> >
> >To reply remove -verwijderdit from my e-mail address

I make UTL_FILE a part of the curriculum at the university as I consider it to be as essential a piece of knowledge for developers as is SQL*Loader. But from my experience knowing the settings in the initSID.ora is something that should be known by both developers and DBAs: So both of you should have known.

At 1 1/4 years you still have a little cover but you are running out of it rapidly. A DBA should either "know" or know enough to look it up.

Daniel Morgan Received on Thu Jun 27 2002 - 10:11:00 CDT