Host Command Problem

hi,
I'm running on OpenVMS 7.2-1 (no unix in this shop) trying to get the HOST command to return status. In desperation I created a dummy form with 1 button that when pressed issues:
HOST('lalala');
if not form_success then
message ('bad status returned');
else message ('good status returned');
end if;
Form_Status always returns success, even for totally bogus commands (like 'lalala'). I've put the test_cmd into a varchar2 in the pl/sql, I've put it in a dummy.com file then had the host file call dummy.com... I can't get anything except a successful status to return. What's up. That's what all the ora docs say to do. Any hints?
thanks
Sandy

(2nd try. 404 on 1st reply)
I would agree that the form is behaving as though it never sees the OS error.
I tried both w/ & w/o no-screen and the results back to the form are the same (form_success = true), however w/o no-screen at least displays on the os cmd line the error.
I tried tool_env.getvar returning '$status' returns blank.
My form calls host('@dummy.com') where dummy.com does "exit $status". Show symbol $status does show an error but the form is not getting it.
sg

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Host Command Problems on 9i Unix

I am using web froms 9i running on a Unix server with 9iasr2. I am trying to manipulate files on the server not the client. I have tried:
host('rm -f /mypath/filename.txt')
host('rm -f /mypath/filename.txt',NO_SCREEN)
host('touch /mypath/filename.txt')
host('touch /mypath/filename.txt', NO_SCREEN)
host('mv /mypath/file1.txt /mypath/file2.txt')
The file I am trying to delete is one that was transfered using the webutil file transfer.
I have tried to check the status with:
IF NOT Form_Success THEN
Message('Error -- Message not sent.');
ELSE
Message('Message Sent.');
END IF;
I always get back 'Error...'
The directories have permission open to everyone. Therefore I would of expected no problems with doing a touch to create a file.
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Thanks Ino. That was it, the full path for the unix command itself was missing. I knew it was something simple. =)

PL/SQL Procedure Calling Java Host Command Problem

This is my first post to this forum so I hope I have chosen the correct one for my problem. I have copied a java procedure to call Unix OS commands from within a PL/SQL procedure. This java works well for some OS commands (Eg ls -la) however it fails when I call others (eg env). Can anyone please give me some help or pointers?
The java is owned by sys and it looks like this
CREATE OR REPLACE AND COMPILE JAVA SOURCE NAMED "ExecCmd" AS
//ExecCmd.java
import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;
//import java.util.ArrayList;
public class ExecCmd {
static public String[] runCommand(String cmd)
throws IOException {
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InputStream istr = proc.getInputStream();
BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(istr));
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list.add(str);
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The PL/SQL looks like so:
CREATE or REPLACE PROCEDURE RunExecCmd(Command IN STRING) AS
LANGUAGE JAVA NAME 'ExecCmd.main(java.lang.String[])';
I have granted the following permissions to a user who wishes to run the code:
drop public synonym RunExecCmd
create public synonym RunExecCmd for RunExecCmd
grant execute on RunExecCmd to FRED
grant javasyspriv to FRED;
Execute dbms_java.grant_permission('FRED','java.io.FilePermission','/bin/env','execute');
commit
Execute dbms_java.grant_permission('FRED','java.io.FilePermission','/opt/oracle/live/9.0.1/dbs/*','read, write, execute');
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call dbms_java.set_output(1000000);
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execute RunExecCmd('/bin/env');
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SQL> Set Serverout On size 1000000;
SQL> call dbms_java.set_output(1000000);
Call completed.
SQL> execute RunExecCmd('/bin/ls -la');
OS Command is: /bin/ls -la
total 16522
drwxrwxr-x 2 ora9sys dba 1024 Oct 18 09:46 .
drwxrwxr-x 53 ora9sys dba 1024 Aug 13 09:09 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 ora9sys dba 40 Sep 3 11:35 afiedt.buf
-rw-r--r-- 1 ora9sys dba 51 Sep 3 09:52 bern1.sql
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL> execute RunExecCmd('/bin/env');
OS Command is: /bin/env
exit value was non-zero: 127
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
Both commands do work when called from the OS command line.
Any help or assistance would be really appreciated.
Regards,
Bernard.

Kamal,
Thanks for that. I have tried to use getErrorStream and it does give me more info. It appears that some of the commands cannot be found. I suspected that this was the case but I am not sure about how this can be as they all appear to reside in the same directory with the same permissions.
What is more confusing is output like so:
SQL> Set Serverout On size 1000000;
SQL> call dbms_java.set_output(1000000);
Call completed.
SQL> execute RunExecCmd('/usr/bin/id');
OS Command is: /usr/bin/id
exit value was non-zero: 1
id: invalid user name: ""
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL> execute RunExecCmd('/usr/bin/which id');
OS Command is: /usr/bin/which id
/usr/bin/id
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
Regards,
Bernard

WEBUTIL problems importing a file with the HOST command.

We are investigating a problem where the users are trying to import a file in from the webserver to be used by the application. The users have successfully moved the file from their local PC to the application server. But, when we perform a HOST command to have the form moved to the UNIX directory, the form hangs. The very last statement of the .BAT file used in the HOST command does the move of the file. And, we can see the entire file in the UNIX directory, we just don't get return back to the form.
I added displays before and after the HOST command in the form. I see the display before the command but don't receive anything after. The weird thing is this is only happening in our development server. The same issue is not happening in production. Also, if I run the form in client server mode, it works fine also. So, it has to be something on the development application server.
If anyone has any advice, I would appreciate their help.
Thanks.

On the server (assuming Windows since you mention a batch file), locate the Oracle Process Manager Service (for mid tier) on the MS Services Console. Open the properties for this service and click on the "Log on" tab. Check the box labeled "Allow service to interact with desktop".
That said, if you are executing a batch file on the Windows server to transfer another file to a Unix machine, the above likely won't work either. This is because Windows will not allow a service permission to access network resources (for security purposes). In this case, rather than the above, you will need to change the same setting so a real domain user and not the "Local System" account.

Problem using Host command to call a batch file

Hi all,
I am trying to call a batch file with the Host command:
host c:\test\u.bat
where u.bat calls unix2dos.exe with a parameter of d_unix.txt.
Bat file looks like this:
C:\test\unix2dos.exe d_unix.txt
PAUSE
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T:\globals\ORACLE8\bin>C:\test\unix2dos.exe d_unix.txt
d_unix.txt:
Can't open file
T:\globals\ORACLE8\bin>PAUSE
Press any key to continue . . .
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Running from Sql Plus in a windows environment.
Any thoughts?
Edited by: dgouin on Aug 19, 2009 11:41 AM
Edited by: dgouin on Aug 19, 2009 11:42 AM
Edited by: dgouin on Aug 19, 2009 11:42 AM

I always understood that it worked with whatever directory you were in when you launched the SQL*Plus binary:
D:\>SQLPLUS dbuser@testdb
SQL*Plus: Release 10.2.0.4.0 - Production on Wed Aug 19 15:26:35 2009
Copyright (c) 1982, 2007, Oracle. All Rights Reserved.
Enter password:
Connected to:
Oracle Database 10g Enterprise Edition Release 10.2.0.4.0 - Production
With the Partitioning, OLAP, Data Mining and Real Application Testing options
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D:\
dbuser@testdb > exit
Disconnected from Oracle Database 10g Enterprise Edition Release 10.2.0.4.0 - Production
With the Partitioning, OLAP, Data Mining and Real Application Testing options
D:\>H:
H:\>SQLPLUS dbuser@testdb
SQL*Plus: Release 10.2.0.4.0 - Production on Wed Aug 19 15:27:03 2009
Copyright (c) 1982, 2007, Oracle. All Rights Reserved.
Enter password:
Connected to:
Oracle Database 10g Enterprise Edition Release 10.2.0.4.0 - Production
With the Partitioning, OLAP, Data Mining and Real Application Testing options
dbuser@testdb > HOST ECHO %CD%
H:\
dbuser@testdb > exit
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HOST command not working in forms 10g

Hi,
I have migrated forms 6i to forms 10g, and having a requirement to open sqlplus prompt using a form menu. I have used the below command: -
"host('sqlplus '||user_name||'/'||pass||'@'||sid, no_screen);"
But I am not able to get the sqlplus window, and the main form is still in process for long time, till i bounce the server.
The forms are deployed on Oracle Applications Server 10g and i want to run it on server side.
Please help me with the problem.
Thanks,
Ankit

The deployment architecture is different between forms 10g and forms 6i.
In Forms 6i HOST built-in command will run on the client machine since you are running as client/server, but in WebForms (Forms10g) the HOST built-in command will run on the middle tier which is your application server machine.
In order to run hosts commands in WebForms you need to use webutil and use CLIENT_HOST in the webutil.
check the [Forms 10g R2 Demo|http://download.oracle.com/otndocs/demos/Forms_Demos_10gr2.zip] for sample codes of webutil.
You are using NO_SCREEN in your example, this will hide the window.
Tony
Edited by: Tony Garabedian on Nov 26, 2009 2:43 PM

How to execute host command in trigger

dear professional:
i'm trying to create a trigger that when a certain value inserts into a table , it fires some UNIX command to do the job following
here is what i tried ,create a trigger that gives host command , but when i tried insert , it fails to work
i also tried dbms_pipe ,but seems same when using dynamic sql to do the job
any idea of how to accomplish this task ?
many thanks ~
br/ricky
SQL> CREATE OR REPLACE TRIGGER price_exec
2 BEFORE INSERT ON omc.price_test
FOR EACH ROW
BEGIN
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END price_exec;
/ 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Trigger created.
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insert into price values ('test',4)
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-00942: table or view does not exist
SQL> insert into price_test values ('test',4);
insert into price_test values ('test',4)
ERROR at line 1:
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ORA-06512: at "OMC.PRICE_EXEC", line 3
ORA-04088: error during execution of trigger 'OMC.PRICE_EXEC'

hi,
my db is 9.2
i'm aware of schedule you mentioned , but if it's up to the task , you don't know when a row with certain value is inserted
simple way :
when a row inserted into a table with value "catch me" you want to know who inserted this test value
so you tried to create a trigger to catch program, machine, module ,and terminal info from v$session
so you can figure out where it is coming from
and i want to go a step further , by executing some os command to digging out more
and i come up with this , when value 4 is inserted i exec a procedure host to execute command,
the problem is it's not working as i exepcted , so spare me the lecture of reading docs and just tell me what to do
i'd really appreciate it , thanks
CREATE OR REPLACE TRIGGER price_exec
BEFORE INSERT ON omc.price_test
FOR EACH ROW
BEGIN
IF :NEW.price = 4 THEN
execute immediate 'host('echo')';
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END;
Warning: Trigger created with compilation errors.
SQL> show errors
Errors for TRIGGER PRICE_EXEC:
LINE/COL ERROR
3/30 PLS-00103: Encountered the symbol "ECHO" when expecting one of
the following:
. ( * @ % & = - + ; < / > at in is mod not rem return
returning <an exponent (**)> <> or != or ~= >= <= <> and or
like between into using || bulk
The symbol ". was inserted before "ECHO" to continue.

HOST command does not seem to work in deployment system

I am developing forms software for a SUSE Linux system, but the HOST command does not seem to operate correctly when used in conjunction with Application Server.
All I am trying to do is launch Adobe Acrobat reader as a background job using the command :-
HOST('/opt/Adobe/Reader8/bin/acroread &');
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If I enter the command :-
*/opt/Adobe/Reader8/bin/acroread &*
directly from a shell window (using the same login account) the command works correctly.
I have tried other commands e.g. directory listings etc and all seem to have the same problem.
Furthermore when the same form is run from the development environment using "Internet Developer Suite" it operates correctly with no problems.
I am running on a deployment system where all three tiers of oracle are on the same machine (i.e. Database, AS and web front end).
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brian_a_j wrote:
Although I still dont understand why HOST would not work given my configuration (the Application Server and Web Browser operate on the same machine).One little test, put the execution command in a shell script and try to execute the script with the HOST command instead of the command itself.
Using HOST the script will be executed on the AS machine no matter from where it is executed.
Tony

Webutil_file_transfer and host command doesn't work

I use a host command in forms to execute a sql-script, which creates a file on AS. After the host command I use webutil_file_transfer to ftp the created file to the client. If I try to do this again in the same session, the host command fails. I have to restart the application to get it working again. If I leave out the webutil_file_transfer I have no problems whatsoever. It looks like webutil is changing something perhaps in the environment. Anyone has the same problem (and a suitable solution)?

I can remove the files on AS (so there seems to be no lock). After removal of the files, no new files wil be created, even if I change the name of the file that needs to be created. Only restarting the application helps.
Raoul

HOST command and Forms 4.5

We were using HOST command(to start SQL Plus) in one of the form of our application (forms version 4.5) and this application was running fine on Win NT. Now this application is moved onto Windows 2000. Now we noticed that once the HOST command statement is executed, the application goes into hang and has to terminated. We fixed this problem temporarily by putting a message() and pause statement before and after HOST command statement and the application is running fine. I would like a better solution to this problem. If anyone has encountered this kind of problem or any idea, please reply.

Hi, there,
I have the same problem with my program. Have you figured it out the solution? and if not, could you show me the code of your temporary fix? my email is: [email protected]
Thanks
We were using HOST command(to start SQL Plus) in one of the form of our application (forms version 4.5) and this application was running fine on Win NT. Now this application is moved onto Windows 2000. Now we noticed that once the HOST command statement is executed, the application goes into hang and has to terminated. We fixed this problem temporarily by putting a message() and pause statement before and after HOST command statement and the application is running fine. I would like a better solution to this problem. If anyone has encountered this kind of problem or any idea, please reply.

Host command in PL/SQL Package

Hi,
How is it possible to launch a host command from a PL/SQL package without Pro*C nor Java ?
Hope it's possible, 'cos Java is not available here and Pro*C has some^problems that the DBA cqn't solve...
Could you please answer at [email protected]
Thanks in advance !

Hi Thomas,
You can call external progs within PlSql.
You have to
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with the 'extproc' entry
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- Create a libray pointing on this .so file with 'Create library'
- Declare a PlSql proc calling your external proc in the library
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It's fastidious but it works.
Mbo

Printing with host command

Let me explain my situation.
I have a txt file which I want to print out. I usually do this with host command which looks something like this:
command:='print /D:\\print_server\printer file.txt';
The problem is how to print this file in landscape.
If this iAS would be installed on Unix platform I guess my host command would look something like this:
command:='lp -d printer -olandscape file.txt';
the problem is, my iAS is installed on WIN2000 server.
any ideas........

OK I managed to solve this problem with some dosprint.exe program (40$) which can accept various other parameters as well and one of them is also landscape.
oh, that windows again .....

Host command privileges

Hello,
If my form does a host('cmd /c dir > d:\output.txt') I get the resulting listing on my application server but if I do a host('cmd /c net send myhost ping > d:\ouput.txt) I get an output.txt of size 0 and no message is sent. I have tried sending the message manually from the appserver and it works fine.
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Nik

If it is a problem with privileges, you can try to use CPAU program (http://www.joeware.net/win32/) to run a command with privileges of a specified user.

HOST command in SQLPlus

Hi everybody
I have a script with two HOST commands inside one script. The problem is that the second host command is executed just before the first host command terminates. Is there a way to make the second waits till the first ends ?
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hi.
I schedules my exports through crontab..
I create a script for each schema export job and submit them to cron and it automatically runs the export as I scheduled them.

Using unix host command within plsql on aix

On an aix platform Im trying to host out of a plsql procedure to
use mail. I can only get the host command to work inside a blank
.sql file. ie. first line must have the host command on it. If
you try to imbed the host command within a procedure, the file
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null

Jay,
This forum is for Headstart related questions and experiences
only. Please go to metalink.oracle.com to get more information on
your problem.
Regards,
Lauri
Jay Levasseur (guest) wrote:
: On an aix platform Im trying to host out of a plsql procedure
to
: use mail. I can only get the host command to work inside a
blank
: .sql file. ie. first line must have the host command on it. If
: you try to imbed the host command within a procedure, the file
: will just sit there and nothing happens.
null

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