Does anyone here knows how a while loop works?

Question

The following code works...
DECLARE
zz NUMBER := 1;
BEGIN
While zz < 10
LOOP
zz := zz + 1;
END LOOP;
END;
If I put a prompt in it like so it does not....
DECLARE
zz NUMBER := 1;
BEGIN
While zz < 10
LOOP
prompt Look THEO I am looping...;
zz := zz + 1;
END LOOP;
END;
I get the following error...
prompt Look THEO I am looping...;
ERROR at line 6:
ORA-06550: line 6, column 14:
PLS-00103: Encountered the symbol "LOOK" when expecting one of the following:
:= . ( @ % ;
I get the same kind of error if I put a create, select or pretty much any other statement than an assignment in the loop.
Am I to believe that a while loop in SQL*Plus is particular to what kind of statement is in it?
Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

PROMPT is a SQL*Plus command. If you would like to output text to the screen while looping in a procedure you should use DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(). This will also require you to use the following command at the SQL*Plus promptSET SERVEROUTPUT ON;Your code will look like thisDECLARE
    zz NUMBER := 1;
BEGIN
  While zz < 10
    LOOP
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Look THEO I am looping...');
      zz := zz + 1;
  END LOOP;
END;This will output Look THEO I am looping... 9 times. If you would prefer that it only be displayed 1 time then you can move the DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE between the BEGIN and WHILE commands.