ORA-00911

I saw this error today and decided to investigate it. My 1996 SQL*Plus User’s Guide says:

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I tried this out on SQL*Plus version 10.2.0.3.0. I ran a file containing SQL like this:

select sysdate-2 /* Two days ago */

from dual;

select sysdate-1

from dual; /* Yesterday */

select /* Today */

sysdate from dual;

select sysdate+1

from /* Tomorrow */

dual;

... and the SQL for SYSDATE-1 was ignored:

SQL> select sysdate-2 /* Two days ago */

  2  from dual;

SYSDATE-2

---------

07-AUG-12

SQL>

SQL> select sysdate-1

  2  from dual; /* Yesterday */

  3

SQL> select /* Today */

  2  sysdate from dual;

SYSDATE

---------

09-AUG-12

SQL>

SQL> select sysdate+1

  2  from /* Tomorrow */

  3  dual;

SYSDATE+1

---------

10-AUG-12

SQL>

Then I ran another file containing the same SQL with the blank lines removed:

select sysdate-2 /* Two days ago */

from dual;

select sysdate-1

from dual; /* Yesterday */

select /* Today */

sysdate from dual;

select sysdate+1

from /* Tomorrow */

dual;

... and the SQL for SYSDATE-1 caused an ORA-00911:

SQL> select sysdate-2 /* Two days ago */

  2  from dual;

SYSDATE-2

---------

07-AUG-12

SQL> select sysdate-1

  2  from dual; /* Yesterday */

  3  select /* Today */

  4  sysdate from dual;

from dual; /* Yesterday */

         *

ERROR at line 2:

ORA-00911: invalid character

SQL> select sysdate+1

  2  from /* Tomorrow */

  3  dual;

SYSDATE+1

---------

10-AUG-12

SQL>