Run expression or run script?

Question

When I entered the SQL statement in Oracle SQL Developer, I noticed that I have two options. I can either run statement or run script. A similar choice is apparently available in Maestro SQL, although it is called Run Query and Run As Script.

What exactly is the difference between the two?

Answer 1

Run Statement will provide you with a list of all the results in a sortable table. It will also launch an operator under the cursor (or highlight). When you start the operator, you will be asked to specify the binding variables (any place holder: in front of it).

eg.

select * from customers where customer_id = :id 

will request id value

Run Script will follow all instructions on the sheet and give a textual representation of the results. It will not request binding variable values.

Answer 2

I think “Run Expression” means that if you want to get the results (results), “Run Script” is what you need to execute, but you don’t need any results, for example, setting a database dump or updating a script to add columns to table etc.