sql -v
SQLcl: Release 21.2.1.0 Production Build: 21.2.1.195.1252
java -version
java version "1.8.0_301"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_301-b09)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.301-b09, mixed mode)
$ sqlplus "/as sysdba"
SQL*Plus: Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production on Wed Oct 13 12:07:20 2021
Version 19.12.0.0.0
Copyright (c) 1982, 2021, Oracle. All rights reserved.
Connected to:
Oracle Database 19c Enterprise Edition Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production
Version 19.12.0.0.0
SQL> column "Details" format a20 heading "(Time)mins"
SQL> column details
COLUMN Details ON
HEADING '(Time)mins'
FORMAT a20
$ sql / as sysdba
SQLcl: Release 21.2 Production on Wed Oct 13 12:09:37 2021
Copyright (c) 1982, 2021, Oracle. All rights reserved.
Connected to:
Oracle Database 19c Enterprise Edition Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production
Version 19.12.0.0.0
SQL> column "Details" format a20 heading "(Time)mins"
SP2-0158: unknown COLUMN option "mins"
It seems that if a column heading is defined with a matching set of brackets "()" if there is anything after the closing bracket an error is raised.