This subject has come up a number of times in the past. For single line commands, you can use something like: echo connect user/pwd@sid | sqlplus /nolog However, this isn't really very useful. More useful is something like: rem --start of batch file ( echo connect user/pwd@sid echo select user from dual; echo select sysdate from dual; ) | sqlplus /nolog rem --end batch file This works under XP & W2K and avoids the need to have a temporary file. Given this, can anyone see how to avoid having to put the echo on every line? Thanks, Bruce Reardon NOTICE: This e-mail and any attachments are private and confidential and may contain legally privileged information. If you are not an authorised recipient, the copying or distribution of this e-mail and any attachments is prohibited and you must not read, print or act in reliance on this e-mail or attachments. This notice should not be removed. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe send email to: oracle-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. -- Archives are at //www.freelists.org/archives/oracle-l/ FAQ is at //www.freelists.org/help/fom-serve/cache/1.html -----------------------------------------------------------------