IF statement in SQL*Plus - how to do it

Question

Hi,
In SQL*Plus script, I would like to keep conditional checking (IF statement) and proceed. For example, whatever is done in PL/SQL block below, want to do the same in SQL*Plus script, I know partly it can be done using VARIABLE keyword, conditional checking can be done using DECODE in SELECT statement, but I want to carry out a more complex requirement, hence I want to use IF statement somehow in SQL*Plus.
Another question, how to do spooling in PL/SQL script, it can be done using UTL_FILE, any other option is there to achieve this.
declare
v_ind_count int;
begin
select count(1) into v_ind_count from user_indexes where index_name = 'index_object_name';
IF v_ind_count > 0
THEN
dbms_output.put_line('index found');
ELSE
dbms_output.put_line('index does not exist');
END IF;
end;
/

Answer 1

Hello,
SQL*PLUS has no scripting language. It can only execute SQL and PL/SQL scripts. There are some commands like SPOOL or SET but no commands for conditional statements. You should describe your requirements, maybe we can find a way.
Or you can search the forum, maybe your question has already been answered
[Google for SQL*PLUS + condition|https://www.google.de/search?q=site%3Aforums.oracle.com+"SQL*PLUS"+condition]
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how to do spooling in PL/SQL scriptFrom within PL/SQL you can use dbms_output, the spool has to be started by the calling SQL script when it is executed in SQL*PLUS. Or you can use utl_file, but then you can only write to a server directory, not into a client file. To give an advice we need more information about what you want to do.
Regards
Marcus