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Starting an isql session

To begin an isql session, enter the command line options and the name of the database in the Linux /Unix shell or Windows command console. For example:

 isql [options] [database_name_or_alias]

Note: When invoking isql, you will need to include an appropriate -user and -password in your options, unless users have the ISC_USER and ISC_PASSWORD declared as operating system variables. For example:

 isql -user SYSDBA -password masterkey

isql starts an interactive session if no options are specified. If no database is specified, users must connect to an existing database or create a new one after starting isql. It starts the interactive session by connecting to the named database, provided the login options are accurate and valid for the specified database. Depending on the options specified, isql starts an interactive or non-interactive session.

Reading an input file and writing to an output file are not considered interactive tasks, therefore the -input or -output command line options do not initiate an interactive session. Options used to extract DDL statements, such as -a and -x also only initiate a non-interactive session.

isql can be run from either a local or remote client:

• When connecting using a local client, you may set the environment variables ISC_USER and ISC_PASSWORD. For more information on these, see below.
• When connecting from a remote client, you will need a valid name and password.

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