chora - Switching between Oracle databases

Introduction:

This code goes into a user's .bash_profile file. This file is normally hidden from a directory listing (any filename starting with a '.' is normally hidden), but can be seen by typing the command; 'ls -al', or just 'll'.

This creates the shell function; 'chora'. The advantage of a function over a local script is that it runs in the current shell and, therefore, doesn't have to be called like this; '. ./chora'.

There are 2 types of parameter for this function:

'?' - This reports the current SID and lists all available SIDs.
SID - Calling 'chora SID' swithes the user's environment to the new SID if it exists.

When the user logs in, this reports availability.

Aim:

Give users a quick and simple way of switching between SIDs.

Requirements:

Obviously, this only operates in an Oracle environment.

Procedure:

• Log in as the user.
• Open Terminal.
• # cd
• # vi .bash_profile
• Add the following lines. They would normally go somewhere between a line that sets the initial Oracle SID (e.g. 'export ORACLE_SID...'), and the umask line.:
• Best; Download here.
• Or; Cut and paste the lines of code between the dotted lines:
  

... export ORACLE_SID=`grep Y$ /etc/oratab | cut -d: -f1 | head -1` # ------------------------------ chora -------------------------------- chora () { if [ "$1" = "?" -o "$1" = "" ] then echo echo "Oracle SID is currently <$ORACLE_SID>" echo echo " Available:" for sid in `grep Y$ /etc/oratab | cut -d: -f1` do echo " <$sid>" done else if [ `grep Y$ /etc/oratab | cut -d: -f1 | grep $1` ] then export ORACLE_SID=$1 echo echo "Oracle SID changed to <$ORACLE_SID>" else echo echo "No such SID." fi fi echo } # If not on a terminal then don't output report. if [ "`ps -ef | grep ^$USER | grep 'grep grep' | grep pts`" != "" ] then clear echo echo "Oracle SID switcher:" echo " chora " echo echo " Available:" for sid in `grep Y$ /etc/oratab | cut -d: -f1` do echo " <$sid>" done echo echo " Currently:" echo " <$ORACLE_SID>" echo fi # ------------------------------ chora -------------------------------- umask 022 ...

Testing:

This will demonstrate that the function is available but won't switch SIDs until databases have been built:

• Source .bash_profile:
• $ . ./.bash_profile
• This returns with either a list of SIDs or an error message; 'grep: /etc/oratab: No such file or directory' if there are no databases installed.
• Run chora in query mode:
• $ chora ?
• This returns with either a list of SIDs or an error message; 'grep: /etc/oratab: No such file or directory' if there are no databases installed.