... sub sqlAddress2sqlStatement { my $sql_address_string = shift; ... # do so magic the perlmonks told me about ... return $sql_statement; } my $sql = "select sql_address, osuser from v\$session where user = ?"; ... while( row = $sth->fetchrow_array ) { my $thesql = sub sqlAddress2sqlStatement ( $row[0] ); print "$user is executing $thesql\n"; }