The SQLite shell works well [a] with piped input, so no extraneous file is necessary when using it from a more general command-line shell. It is pretty easy, with recent versions, to set parameters that will be substituted into queries that include parameters in their text. So that is likely the easiest way. It would be equally easy to write a Perl or Python or (... ad infinitum) script to do the same thing, for those who know ... . [a. The -batch option is useful for this. ] It would also be relatively easy, for an experienced C programmer, to extend the SQLite shell with a command to act almost like the SQL*Plus tool you miss. Whether that would be easier for you, I cannot say. But I can say I have been tempted to create a similar extension, and so I imagine it would be welcomed here.