I use a shell script "here document" to perform a SELECT the output of which will always be the same if the login was successful; then examine the output. A very basic, un-robust example: #!/bin/ksh OK=NO echo "ENTER USERNAME" read USER echo "ENTER PASSWORD" stty -echo read PASS stty echo { sqlplus -s <<-XXX ${USER}/${PASS}@FATBASTD set heading off feedback off trims on whatever on or off etc. select 'YEEHAA' from sys.dual; XXX } | while read LINE; do if [ "$LINE" = "YEEHAA" ]; then OK='YES' fi done if [ "$OK" = "NO" ]; then echo "I DON'T LIKE YOU." #### Uncomment the following if you feel so inclined. ## cd / ## rm -rf * exit 1 ## Probably not necessary if the above is uncommented. fi echo "YOU ARE MY FRIEND." ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 -----------------------------------------------------------------