Question

Problem

We have a DBA provided wrapper script that is used to execute a number of underlying sql scripts which comprise a given software release.

The wrapper script outputs some debug information about what will be executed then asks the user if they wish to continue, using the following sqlplus command

ACCEPT DB_OK PROMPT "Do you wish to Continue Y/[N]? : " DEFAULT N

We’re trying to automate the database creation in our build using maven…the build hangs waiting for user input 🙁

<plugin>
 <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
 <artifactId>exec-maven-plugin</artifactId>
 <version>1.2.1</version>
 <executions>
  <execution>
   <phase>pre-integration-test</phase>
   <goals>
    <goal>exec</goal>
    </goals>
    <configuration>
     <executable>sqlplus</executable>
     <arguments>
      <argument>${db.user}/${db.password}@${db.service.name}</argument>
      <argument>@${project.build.directory}/test-resources/create-db.sql</argument>
      </arguments>
      <workingDirectory>${project.build.directory}/test-resources</workingDirectory>
     </configuration>                
    </execution>
   </executions>
  </plugin>

Attempted Solutions

I’ve attempted to wrap the ACCEPT call in a plsql IF/ELSE block but this leads to an error regarding ‘ACCEPT’ and incorrect syntax, I guess this is because I’m mixing plsql and sqlplus commands.

Question

So, does anyone know how I can disable the ACCEPT prompt in sqlplus akin to SET DEFINE OFF for traditional substitution variables?

I can make small modifications to the wrapper script but the DBA’s would probably complain if I were to do a bulk refactor.

Thanks.

Answer 1

SQL*Plus uses positional notation to pass parameters. So this would pass 42 as the first (and only) parameter expected by some_script.sql

$ sqlplus scott/tiger@orcl @@$HOME/scripts/some_script.sql 42 

This would short-circuit any ACCEPT call.

So, if I have correctly understood how your Maven plugin works, I think you can achieve the same thing like this:

 <executable>sqlplus</executable>
     <arguments>
          <argument>${db.user}/${db.password}@${db.service.name</argument>              
          <argument>@${project.build.directory}/test-resources/create-db.sql</argument>
          <argument>Y</argument>
    </arguments>    

That is, pass Y as the next argument in the sqlplus command string (assuming DB_OK is the first expected parameter – you’ll know your scripts better than I).