} I want to run a command on sqlplus without making re-connection. At the } same time I also want to see the output. With ksh93 (and pdksh, on Linux for example) you can use co-processes: $ echo $KSH_VERSION @(#)PD KSH v5.2.14 99/07/13.2 $ sqlplus -s / as sysdba|& [1] 31631 $ while :;do > print -p "select event,count(*) from v\$session group by event;" > sleep 2 > done & [2] 31633 $ while :;do > read -p; echo "$REPLY" > done EVENT COUNT(*) ---------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ASM background timer 1 rdbms ipc message 11 smon timer 1 pmon timer 1 Streams AQ: qmn slave idle wait 1 class slave wait 1 SQL*Net message to client 1 Streams AQ: waiting for time management or cleanup tasks 1 Streams AQ: qmn coordinator idle wait 1 9 rows selected. EVENT COUNT(*) ---------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ASM background timer 1 rdbms ipc message 11 smon timer 1 pmon timer 1 Streams AQ: qmn slave idle wait 1 class slave wait 1 SQL*Net message to client 1 Streams AQ: waiting for time management or cleanup tasks 1 Streams AQ: qmn coordinator idle wait 1 9 rows selected. [...] Regards Dimitre