Spooling a dynamic text filename

Question

Hi,
I'm new to SQLPLUS & currently using Oracle 8.0.6
Is it possible for me to spool a dynamic text file name instead of a flat ones ?
eg:
flat = SQL> spool testing.txt
dynamic = SQL> spool inv270202-001.txt
[where text filename = invDDMMYY-batchno ]
Thanks.
aznime.

Answer 1

You can use a substitution variable in the SPOOL command
to choose the file name at runtime.
You can put a value in the variable by one of these methods:
1. Passing it from the command line to a script
sqlplus scott/tiger inv270202.txt @myscript.sql
where myscript.sql contains
spool &1
2. Or by setting the variable explicitly
define myvar = "inv270202.txt"
spool &myvar
3. Or by using an item returned by a query
-- Use the SYSDATE and DEPTNO as the filename
column dn new_value mynv noprint
select 'inv'||to_char(SYSDATE,'DDMMYY')||'-'||deptno dn
from dept where loc = 'BOSTON';
prompt My variable is: &mynv
-- Note the double period in the SPOOL command since
     -- mynv does not already have the file extension
spool &mynv..txt
...rest of script...
4. Or by returning it from a PL/SQL procedure
     variable mypv varchar2(20)
     begin
     :mypv := 'inv270202.txt';
     end;
     column dn new_value mynv noprint
     select :mypv dn from dual;
     spool &mynv
Hope this helps.
-- CJ