Preface

This document describes how to use Oracle Database utilities for data transfer, data maintenance, and database administration.

Audience

The utilities described in this book are intended for database administrators (DBAs), application programmers, security administrators, system operators, and other Oracle users who perform the following tasks:

Archive data, back up an Oracle database, or move data between Oracle databases using the Export and Import utilities (both the original versions and the Data Pump versions)
Load data into Oracle tables from operating system files using SQL*Loader, or from external sources using the external tables feature
Perform a physical data structure integrity check on an offline database, using the DBVERIFY utility
Maintain the internal database identifier (DBID) and the database name (DBNAME) for an operational database, using the DBNEWID utility
Extract and manipulate complete representations of the metadata for database objects, using the Metadata API
Query and analyze redo log files (through a SQL interface), using the LogMiner utility
Use the Automatic Diagnostic Repository Command Interpreter (ADRCI) utility to manage Oracle Database diagnostic data.

To use this manual, you need a working knowledge of SQL and of Oracle fundamentals. You can find such information in Oracle Database Concepts. In addition, to use SQL*Loader, you must know how to use the file management facilities of your operating system.

Documentation Accessibility

For information about Oracle's commitment to accessibility, visit the Oracle Accessibility Program website at http://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=acc&id=docacc.

Access to Oracle Support

Oracle customers have access to electronic support through My Oracle Support. For information, visit http://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=acc&id=info or visit http://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=acc&id=trs if you are hearing impaired.

Related Documentation

For more information, see these Oracle resources:

The Oracle Database documentation set, especially:

Some of the examples in this book use the sample schemas of the seed database, which is installed by default when you install Oracle Database. Refer to Oracle Database Sample Schemas for information about how these schemas were created and how you can use them yourself.

Oracle error message documentation is only available in HTML. If you only have access to the Oracle Database Documentation CD, you can browse the error messages by range. Once you find the specific range, use your browser's "find in page" feature to locate the specific message. When connected to the Internet, you can search for a specific error message using the error message search feature of the Oracle online documentation.

To download free release notes, installation documentation, white papers, and other collateral, visit the Oracle Technology Network (OTN). To use OTN, you must have a username and password. If you do not already have these, you can register online for free at

http://www.oracle.com/technology

Syntax Diagrams

Syntax descriptions are provided in this book for various SQL, PL/SQL, or other command-line constructs in graphic form or Backus Naur Form (BNF). See Oracle Database SQL Language Reference for information about how to interpret these descriptions.

Conventions

The following text conventions are used in this document:

Convention	Meaning
boldface	Boldface type indicates graphical user interface elements associated with an action, or terms defined in text or the glossary.
italic	Italic type indicates book titles, emphasis, or placeholder variables for which you supply particular values.
`monospace`	Monospace type indicates commands within a paragraph, URLs, code in examples, text that appears on the screen, or text that you enter.