Oracle SQL*Plus: The Definitive Guide, 2nd Edition

Name

BREAK

Synopsis

The BREAK command defines page breaks and line breaks based on changing column values in a report. It controls whether or not duplicate values print in a column, and it controls the printing of computed values such as totals and subtotals. Chapter 5 demonstrates the use of this command.

Syntax

BRE[AK] [ON element_actiON [ON element_action...]]
element_action ::= {element [action_1 [action_2]]
                  |element [action_2 [action_1]]}
element ::= {column_name | ROW | REPORT}
action_1 ::= SKI[P] {lines_to_skip | PAGE}
action_2 ::= {NODUP[LICATES] | DUP[LICATES]}

Parameters

BRE[AK]

Is the command, which may be abbreviated BRE. Issuing the BREAK command with no parameters causes SQL*Plus to display the current break setting.

column_name

Specifies a report column to watch. When the value in the column changes, SQL*Plus skips lines or pages as specified. SQL*Plus inhibits repeating, or duplicate, values from printing more than once unless the DUPLICATES keyword is used.

ROW

Causes SQL*Plus to break on each row. You could double space a report by using BREAK ON ROW SKIP 1.

REPORT

Specifies a report-level break and is used to cause SQL*Plus to print grand totals at the end of the report. SKIP PAGE is ignored if it is specified as a report break action, but, strangely enough, the other form of the SKIP parameter will work. 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. SKIP may be abbreviated SKI. Line skipping ...