Spool file error - Buffer Overflow

Question

I've a sql script that is running from a.sql file. The script fetches almost 9 million data as a result of the query. Main problem is related to spool file generation. It is saying buffer overflow. But, when i write that query from sql prompts it is running within 2 mins and completes the task within 15 mins.
I've written -
set serveroutput on size ######
But, still it is not working. Total application is freeze whenever i want to run it. Tell me any suggestion if u have.
Satyaki.

Answer 1

i guess what you are more concerned with is the output produced by your query (the spool file).
you need not to see what is displayed on the screen all you need is open up the spool file to
check for those data in there.
to suppress the output from the screen and still generates spool file. use the SET TERMOUT option.
e.g.
-- code for a producing a sample spool file
spool r:\sample_spool.txt;
select * from emp;
spool off;
at the SQL*Plus command line:
SQL> @r:\sample_spool.sql;
     EMPNO ENAME      JOB              MGR HIREDATE         SAL       COMM     DEPTNO
      7566 JONES      MANAGER         7839 02-APR-81       2975       1000         20
      7902 FORD       ANALYST         7566 03-DEC-81       3000                    20
      7839 KING       PRESIDENT            17-NOV-81       5000                    10
      7698 BLAKE      MANAGER         7839 01-MAY-81       2850                    30
      7782 CLARK      MANAGER         7839 09-JUN-81       2450                    10
      7369 SMITH      CLERK           7902 17-DEC-80        800                    20
      7499 ALLEN      SALESMAN        7698 20-FEB-81       1600        300         30
      7521 WARD       SALESMAN        7698 22-FEB-81       1250        500         30
      7654 MARTIN     SALESMAN        7698 28-SEP-81       1250       1400         30
      7788 SCOTT      ANALYST         7566 09-DEC-82       3000                    20
      7844 TURNER     SALESMAN        7698 08-SEP-81       1500          0         30
      7876 ADAMS      CLERK           7788 12-JAN-83       1100                    20
      7900 JAMES      CLERK           7698 03-DEC-81        950                    30
      7934 MILLER     CLERK           7782 23-JAN-82       1300                    10
14 rows selected.
SQL> -- the above example displays the output on the screen
SQL> -- now we want to turn it off by using the SET TERMOUT option
SQL> SQL> set termout off;
SQL> @r:\sample_spool.sql;
SQL>
after executing the script sample_spool.sql it does not display output from the screen which
we want to avoid the buffer overflow error. and still produce the spool file:
     EMPNO ENAME      JOB              MGR HIREDATE         SAL       COMM     DEPTNO                                  
      7566 JONES      MANAGER         7839 02-APR-81       2975       1000         20                                  
      7902 FORD       ANALYST         7566 03-DEC-81       3000                    20                                  
      7839 KING       PRESIDENT            17-NOV-81       5000                    10                                  
      7698 BLAKE      MANAGER         7839 01-MAY-81       2850                    30                                  
      7782 CLARK      MANAGER         7839 09-JUN-81       2450                    10                                  
      7369 SMITH      CLERK           7902 17-DEC-80        800                    20                                  
      7499 ALLEN      SALESMAN        7698 20-FEB-81       1600        300         30                                  
      7521 WARD       SALESMAN        7698 22-FEB-81       1250        500         30                                  
      7654 MARTIN     SALESMAN        7698 28-SEP-81       1250       1400         30                                  
      7788 SCOTT      ANALYST         7566 09-DEC-82       3000                    20                                  
      7844 TURNER     SALESMAN        7698 08-SEP-81       1500          0         30                                  
      7876 ADAMS      CLERK           7788 12-JAN-83       1100                    20                                  
      7900 JAMES      CLERK           7698 03-DEC-81        950                    30                                  
      7934 MILLER     CLERK           7782 23-JAN-82       1300                    10                                  
14 rows selected.