OraQA

First, what does DBMS_OUTPUT.ENABLE do? This procedure enables calls to PUT, PUT_LINE, NEW_LINE, GET_LINE, and GET_LINES procedures in DBMS_OUTPUT. Calls to these procedures are ignored if the DBMS_OUTPUT is not ENABLEd. This procedure is mainly used in debugging PL/SQL programs.

Syntax

DBMS_OUTPUT.ENABLE (buffer_size IN INTEGER DEFAULT 20000);

Notes

• It is not necessary to call DBMS_OUTPUT.ENABLE when you use the SERVEROUTPUT option of SQL*Plus.
• You should generally avoid having application code invoke either the DBMS_OUTPUT.DISABLE Procedure or DBMS_OUTPUT.ENABLE Procedure because this could subvert the attempt of an external tool like SQL*Plus to control whether or not to display output.
• If there are multiple calls to DBMS_OUTPUT.ENABLE, then buffer_size is the last of the values specified.
• The default buffer size is 20,000 bytes.
• The minimum buffer size is 2,000 bytes.

In 10gR1 (10.1) and before

The maximum buffer size is 1,000,000 bytes.

In 10gR2 (10.2) and above

• The maximum buffer size is unlimited (when buffer_size = NULL).
• When the user specifies buffer_size (NOT NULL), the maximum size is 1,000,000. Naturally, set buffer_size = NULL for unlimited size.
• Typing SET SERVEROUTPUT ON in SQL*Plus has the effect of invoking DBMS_OUTPUT.ENABLE (buffer_size => NULL); with no limit on the output.

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