Oracle SQL Plus Pocket Reference, 2nd Edition

Name

BREAK

Synopsis

BRE[AK] [ON {column_name | ROW | REPORT}
        [SKI[P] {lines_to_skip | PAGE} |
        NODUP[LICATES] |
        DUP[LICATES]...]...]

The BREAK command defines page breaks and line breaks based on changing column values in a report. It controls whether duplicate values print in a column, and it controls the printing of computed values such as totals and subtotals. Issuing the BREAK command with no parameters causes SQL*Plus to display the current break setting. Following are some valid BREAK commands:

BREAK ON ROW SKIP 1
BREAK ON dept 
BREAK ON dept SKIP PAGE

Parameters

column_name

Specifies a report column to watch. When the value in the column changes, SQL*Plus executes the specified break actions.

ROW

Causes SQL*Plus to break on each row.

REPORT

Specifies a report-level break and prints grand totals at the end of the report. SKIP PAGE is ignored if it is specified as a report break action, but, strangely enough, you can skip lines on a report break.

SKI[P] lines_to_skip

Tells SQL*Plus to skip the specified number of lines when a break occurs.

SKI[P] PAGE

Tells SQL*Plus to advance to a new page when a break occurs.

NODUP[LICATES]

Tells SQL*Plus to print a column’s value only when it changes. By default, whenever you put a break on a column, you get this behavior.

DUP[LICATES]

Forces SQL*Plus to print a column’s value in every line on the report, regardless of whether the value is the same as that printed for the previous record.