SQLPLUS define variables for creating table.

Question

I am doing the following in SQLPLUS
define l_date = to_char(sysdate,'yyyy')
define l_name = "'mytable'"
define l_tn = &l_name||&l_date
SQL> select &l_name||&l_date from dual;
old 1: select &l_name||&l_date from dual
new 1: select 'mytable'||to_char(sysdate,'yyyy') from dual
'MYTABLE'||
mytable2010
But when I use in this way I don't get YEAR.
SQL> select '&l_tn' from dual;
old 1: select '&l_tn' from dual
new 1: select 'mytable' from dual
'MYTABL
mytable
I want to create table in sqlplus using the following command:
create table &l_tn(x number)
Please let me know what I am doing wrong here.

Answer 1

Hi,
SQL functions (like TO_CHAR) and operators (like ||) are not executed in SQL*Plus commands (like DEFINE).
Test your variables after defining them; you'll see what I mean
define l_date = to_char(sysdate,'yyyy')
PROMPT     &l_date = l_dateOutput:
to_char(sysdate,'yyyy') = l_dateThat is, l_date is being set to a 23-character string, which starts with 't' and contains '(', ',' and ')', all of which are illegal in file names (probably; system-dependent).
I think you wanted it set to a 4-character string, such as '2010'.
Use the COLUMN ... NEW_VALUE (or ... OLD_VALUE) command to set a substitution variable to the results of a SQL calculation.
I think you're trying to do something like this:
COLUMN     year_col     NEW_VALUE     l_date
SELECT     TO_CHAR (SYSDATE, 'YYYY')     AS year_col
FROM     dual;
define l_name = mytable
CREATE TABLE  &l_name&l_date
...