SQL*Plus: SET ECHO

The value of echo can be set to on or off and specifies if the text of commands (i. e. SQL statements or SQL*Plus commands) in an SQL script being executed with start, @ or @@ are replicated to the console/terminal or not.

Simple test:

Here's a simple SQL script file:

prompt selecting a message

select
   'hello world' message
from
   dual;

Github repository Oracle-patterns, path: /SQLPlus/echo/script.sql

In SQL*Plus, when run with echo on, it displays:

SQL> set echo on
SQL> @script
SQL> prompt selecting a message
selecting a message
SQL>
SQL> select
  2     'hello world' message
  3  from
  4     dual;

MESSAGE
-----------
hello world

However, with echo off, it prints the (arguably much nicer) output

SQL> set echo off
SQL> @script
selecting a message

MESSAGE
-----------
hello world

SQL*Plus: SET ECHO

Simple test:

See also