# Oracle page break in middle of row

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-page-break-in-middle-of-row/778591>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 30, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-page-break-in-middle-of-row/778591 "2017-01-30T15:15:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-page-break-in-middle-of-row/778591/1 "2017-01-30T15:15:54Z")

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OK - I’ve got a query that selects rows that, for my default linesize (133) ends up producing 3-lines of output for each row of data (4 counting the blank line).

This ends up with a single row displaying on two pages.

Is there an Oracle option that will keep everything for one row on one page? I could put in specific line breaks and set the pagesize such that it works for my defaults, but it is generally run from a terminal session, and I occasionally have need of non-default values (for instance, I’ll set the line very long and spool the output to use the data in a script).

And, of course, there is more than one query that has the same issue.

I’m running 11.2.0.4.0 if that makes a difference.

Thanks

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-page-break-in-middle-of-row/778591/2 "2017-01-30T16:28:30Z")

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Try wrapping the three rows of fields in a repeating frame. Then inspect the frame’s properties. I can’t find a comprehensive list of all the settable properties of a repeating frame. But I’d bet that’s where you’ll find something like “Permit/Prohibit break across page boundary.” If it exists.

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**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-page-break-in-middle-of-row/778591/3 "2017-01-30T16:49:02Z")

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Thanks for the reply. I’m not at all familiar with frames, but assuming they map to “frameworks”, a quick Google makes it sound like way more work then I’m looking to do for queries that are basically used for troubleshooting problems.

Here is the query:

```auto

select eventNumber, topic, publisher, publishedIndr "pubInd",
    createDateTime, lastPublishDateTime, removeDateTime,
    checkPublishExceptionIndr "exInd", processGroup, publishCount "pubCnt",
    contents
from eventQueue
where contents like 'identifier=%&1%'
and lastPublishDateTime between sysdate-5 AND sysdate
order by eventNumber;

```

‘contents’ is always a separate line (unless there is a ridiculously long linesize), and the other fields currently split after ‘publisher’. Note that, assuming there is a solution, I’d like it work for a ‘select \*’ also.

As mentioned, there are other queries (against other tables) that have similar issues. I won’t be surprised if there is no easy/simple way to do this, in which case I’ll just continue reading around the headings in the middle of the screen.

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**Author:** ![arseNal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-page-break-in-middle-of-row/778591/4 "2017-01-30T16:56:30Z")

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Assuming you are talking about sqlplus, can’t you just size the columns smaller with the COLUMN … FORMAT option? I’m guessing one of the earlier column’s default size is pushing the total past your linesize setting, right? More info here: [https://docs.oracle.com/cd/B19306\_01/server.102/b14357/ch12013.htm](https://docs.oracle.com/cd/B19306_01/server.102/b14357/ch12013.htm)

Also, as a longer-term project, really consider not using sqlplus as your reporting tool, it’s primitive and not very good at it.

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-page-break-in-middle-of-row/778591/5 "2017-01-30T17:38:16Z")

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@ **Folacin** : I’d assumed you were actually using Oracle Reports to format and display your data. That’s where you’ll get group- and page-level formatting controls like repeating frames. “Frameworks” are something altogether different.

If you’re just keystroking “SELECT \<blah blah blah\>” into a SQLPlus command line and watching what scrolls back on the console, then broadly speaking, no you don’t have any real control over the mess that spews forth.

As **arseNal** says just above you do have a teeny bit of control at the column level. But none at the row level.

Use the right tool to get the results you want the easy way.

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**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-page-break-in-middle-of-row/778591/6 "2017-01-30T17:56:26Z")

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Agreed that the right tool is the best solution. If you’re just working SQLPlus, you can try entering

SET LINESIZE x

Max I think is 32767 characters.

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**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-page-break-in-middle-of-row/778591/7 "2017-01-30T18:32:39Z")

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As I suspected, I’ll have to live with it.

As mentioned in my second post, these are generally ad-hoc queries (and I should have mentioned that it is SQL\*Plus) that are used for trouble-shooting problems in the system. Real reports are created using a real tool.

I actually like the automatic line wrapping, because it lets me read things on my screen. I was hoping there was something (easy) along the lines of MS Word’s widow and orphan control, but it appears not (at least not in sqlplus).

My thanks for everyone’s time.