Put this in a file, and change off to on and back to see difference. (execute the file @a.sql) set echo off desc unique_logons select * from dual; Sometimes it is hard to tell what is going on from the prompt. You are aleady 'echoing' so to speak when you are typing live. Joel Patterson Database Administrator 904 727-2546 -----Original Message----- From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Li Li Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 5:58 PM To: oracle-l Subject: any setting in SQL/PLUS that enables giving back what the command is just executed? Hi, List, I am wondering if there's a setting in SQL/PLUS that enables giving back what the command is just executed, for example, if I do: desc AAA; instead of just returning back the description of table AAA, it also returns back "desc AAA" as to tell you what was just executed. TIA, -Li -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l