How to set column size in sqlplus.exe ?

Question

SQL> select * from dba_cons_columns where user='USER1' and table_name='PARENT1';
OWNER                          CONSTRAINT_NAME
TABLE_NAME
COLUMN_NAME
  POSITION
USER1                          PARENT1_PK
PARENT1
COL2
         2
OWNER                          CONSTRAINT_NAME
TABLE_NAME
COLUMN_NAME
  POSITION
USER1                          PARENT1_PK
PARENT1
COL1
         1doesn't it seems bit ugly to see these data.Why length of columns is so long ?please tell how to set the length of columns and other parameters so that data that is displayed should come out in screen in a well managed and beautiful way.
Like this:
OWNER     CONSTRAINT_NAME     TABLE_NAME       COLUMN_NAME   POSITION
USER1        PARENT1_PK              PARENT1             COL2                  2
USER1        PARENT1_PK              PARENT1             COL1                  1I have written this by hand. How to get display in sqlplus.exe ?

Answer 1

This command sets column size for all forthcoming commands. Suppose there is select command for different columns, and i want to set different size for different columns. e.g.,select name,address,zone from table1;
How can i set column size for name to (say) 20 char, address to 30 char and zone to 3 char ?
You need to do it in some sort of sql script which would set the column formatting before the query would start and then would clear the formatting after the query gets finished. See an example below,
SQL> column ename format a20 heading emp_name
SQL> select ename from emp
  2  ;
emp_name
SMITH
ALLEN
WARD
JONES
MARTIN
BLAKE
CLARK
SCOTT
KING
TURNER
ADAMS
emp_name
JAMES
FORD
MILLER
14 rows selected.
SQL> column ename clear
SQL> select ename from emp;
ENAME
SMITH
ALLEN
WARD
JONES
MARTIN
BLAKE
CLARK
SCOTT
KING
TURNER
ADAMS
ENAME
JAMES
FORD
MILLER
14 rows selected.
SQL>So likehtis you have to format all the columns on individual lines and then clear the fomattings of each once th query isdone.
HTH
Aman....