using ed command

When trying to edit a sql query or a pl/sql program using ed command on linux platform, I end up with a probably primitive editor.
What I got is as:

SQL> ed
Wrote file afiedt.buf
29

?

The solution is to add follwing line to glogin.sql file of oracle user:

define_editor=vi

Ora-12154 when connecting to Oracle forms

When I started oracle Forms to create a new data blocks, I was unable to connect to the database. I got error:
Ora 12154: TNS name could not resolve the connect identifier specified

I have installed Oracle Developer suite 10g after Oracle 10g server. Platform is Windows Xp.

Solution: copy tnsnames.ora file from oracle home location to oracle developer home location.
that is,
from
d:\ora_10g\ora92\network\admin\tnsname.ora to
d:\oracle_tool\network\admin\tnsname.ora

Shutdown and restart the oc4J instance again. Try to connect again. everything work fine.

FRM-18107: Failed to create a DE context for the module

When starting Forms 10g Developer after starting OCJ4 Instance, I got the above error.
I installed Oracle developer suite 10g after Oracle 10g server. (Windows platform)
Solution is to delete Oracle Home environment Variable. I just delete Oracle Home environment variable which points to, on my system, oracle 10g server which I installed at first. And everything works fine.

inserting string containing '&' in table.

How can a string like ':&nbnc' be inserted in a table.
This string is using as is bind variable but not actually it is so.

To insert this or similar string into a table, use

SET DEFINE OFF

Then use insert statement. For example,

SQL> desc t2;
Name Null? Type
----------------------------------------- -------- -------------

C1 VARCHAR2(10)

SQL> insert into t2 values(':&nbnc');
Enter value for nbnc: rr
old 1: insert into t2 values(':&nbnc')
new 1: insert into t2 values(':rr')

1 row created.

SQL> SET DEFINE OFF
SQL> insert into t2 values(':&nbnc');

1 row created.

SQL>

isqlplus port number

How can I know Which port to use to start isqlplus from browser.
Solution. Use following file path to get port number of isqlplus(in oracle 10g).

$ORACLE_HOME/install/portlist.ini
Then use following url to start isqlplus

http://host:port/isqlplus

Difference between spfile and pfile

1. spfile resides at server side. it is a binary file. pfile is static client-side file.
2. Pfile must be updated using text editor. Updating spfile manually will corrupt it. To update spfile, Alter System set Command is used.
3. Spfile can be backed up using RMAN.

database is using pfile or spfile

How can I know whether my database is started using spfile or pfile?

Execute the following query

SQL> SELECT DECODE(value, NULL, 'PFILE', 'SPFILE') "Init File Type"
FROM sys.v_$parameter WHERE name = 'spfile';

If result displays pfile, it means that database has been started with pfile and vice-versa.