I am learning to query a database on in with? oracle9i with SQLplus and right
now I run a query but the result is like 3 names repeated over and
over again at the prompt. I have a feeling people dont do this in
companies to see the output of the query is so I want to know how to
write it to a file. I cannot understand oracle documentation.

Thanks

Start SQL+ and type "SPOOL" followed by the full path and name of the
file you want to save to. E.g:

SQL> SPOOL c:\MyFolder\MyFile.txt


Then enter your query. E.g.:

SQL> select * from MyTable;


When you've finished running your queries, type "SPOOL OFF" to stop
sending your output to your file. E.g.:

SQL> SPOOL OFF


There are lots of ways of formatting the output, but if the
documentation is a problem for you it might be easiest to change the
format using your prefered word processor.