Re: fold_after

In article <112102_at_hydra.gatech.EDU>, Daniel P. Looby (iasysdl_at_prism.gatech.EDU) writes:
>We are running Oracle RDBMS V6.0.36.3.2 on a Sun with SunOS Release 4.1.3.
>
>In an Oracle 7 manual I found references to 'fold_after' and 'fold_before'. I
>thought I would try them with the version of Oracle we have. Surprise!
>They worked!
>
>Here is a script without 'fold_after' to print an address:
>
> set heading off;
> select rpad('John Q. Public', 80) Name,
> rpad('1 East Main Street', 80) Addr1,
> rpad('Anytown, UT 90102', 80) Addr2
> from dual
> /
>
>Here is the same script with 'fold_after':
>
> set heading off;
> column Name fold_after 1;
> column Addr1 fold_after 1;
> select 'John Q. Public' Name,
> '1 East Main Street' Addr1,
> 'Anytown, UT 90102' Addr2
> from dual
> /
>
>The output of both, when spooled to a file, are identical:
>
> John Q. Public
> 1 East Main Street
> Anytown, UT 90102
>
>Now the questions:
>
> 1) Does Oracle support 'fold_after' and 'fold_before' in Ver. 6?
> 2) Besides the fact that the sql statements read easier, what are the
> other benefits of 'fold_after' and 'fold_before'?
>
>--
>Daniel Looby Members of the Bathroom Reader's Institute sit
>631 Cherry Street NW firmly for what they believe in!
>Georgia Institute of Technology
>Atlanta Georgia, 30332 Phone 404-894-9587
>

Yes, the 'fold_after' and 'fold_before' column commands are supported in SQL*Plus in ORACLE V6. Please note however, that an integer (1 is suggested) is required. In V6 at least, the integer does not do anything but is required just the same. The 'fold_before' column command will cause a new line _before_ the column value is printed. These commands of course are perfect for mailing labels and address lists but can be used in SQL*Plus any time you need some sort of vertical presentation.

Best regards,

Michael Received on Sat Sep 18 1993 - 01:36:46 CEST