That's what it was. The linesize was set to 800. But.. It worked fine in Oracle 7.3.4. Did something change? We are using 8.1.7 client. The describe works ok for a 7.3.4 database, but not a 9.2 database. Same SQL*PLUS desktop client. Ron -----Original Message----- From: stephen booth [mailto:stephenbooth.uk@xxxxxxxxx]=20 Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 10:50 AM To: Smith, Ron L. Cc: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: SQLPLUS Describe On Apr 11, 2005 4:15 PM, Smith, Ron L. <rlsmith@xxxxxxx> wrote: > What would cause SQL*PLUS to only return column names when doing a=20 > describe? >=20 > Thanks! > Ron Check your buffer width and linesize. SQL*Plus seems to full justify the output from Describe and what you're describing sounds like what you get when the bufferwidth and linesize are large. The other columns are still there, just way off screen to the right. Stephen=20 --=20 It's better to ask a silly question than to make a silly assumption. Important Notice!! If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail message, any use, = distribution or copying of the message is prohibited. Please let me know immediately by return e-mail if you have received = this message by mistake, then delete the e-mail message. Thank you. -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l