Basic error handling for sqlplus

=> Command errors
The option WHENEVER SQLERROR will provide an error should the output of a sqlplus command be an error. If you mistype a command (like using "scelect" instead of "select"), it will not be caught here, rather it will provide an 'SP2-####' error.

WHENEVER SQLERROR EXIT [{error code}|SQL.ERROR] # example WHENEVER SQLERROR EXIT 1

=> OS errors

WHENEVER OSERROR EXIT [{error code}|SQL.ERROR]

=> Most errors
Using a PL/SQL block will also help catching most errors

runSelect () { command sqlplus -S [user]/[passwd]@[sid] > /dev/null 2>&1 < SET FEEDBACK OFF SET LINESIZE 200 SET SERVEROUTPUT ON FORMAT WRAP WHENEVER SQLERROR EXIT 1; spool /tmp/[file].out DECLARE   cursor c1 is   select [*|{column}] str     from [table]; BEGIN   for c1_rec in c1     loop       dbms_output.put_line(c1_rec.str);     end loop; END; / spool off EOF }