Enabling SQL*Plus Help Utility

To enable HELP for SQl*Plus, run the supplied "helpins" script in $ORACLE_HOME/bin. The "helpins" command will prompt you for the SYSTEM password and load the help data into the SYSTEM schema.

Alternatively you can load the help facility manually like this:

cd $ORACLE_HOME/sqlplus/admin/help
sqlplus system/manager @helpdrop.sql        # Drop the HELP table
sqlplus system/manager @helpbld.sql         # Create the HELP table
sqlplus system/manager @helpus.sql          # Load data into the HELP table

If the HELP command is not supported on your operating system, you can access the help table with a simple script like this (let's call it help.sql):

select info
from   system.help
where  upper(topic)=upper('&1');

Whenever you need help, you can now run the help.sql script:

@help SELECT