my $data_source = "dbi::Oracle:$sid";
  my $sqlhandle = DBI->connect("dbi:Oracle:host=$host;sid=$sid;port=1521", 
               $user, $password, { RaiseError => 1, AutoCommit => 0 })
      or die "Can't connect to $data_source: $DBI::errstr";

  my $func = $sqlhandle->prepare(q{
        BEGIN
            set define off;
        END;
  });
    
  my $result = $func->execute();