LogMiner Dictionary Options

LogMiner requires a dictionary to translate object IDs into object names when it returns redo data to you. LogMiner gives you three options for supplying the dictionary:

• Using the Online Catalog

  Oracle recommends that you use this option when you will have access to the source database from which the redo log files were created and when no changes to the column definitions in the tables of interest are anticipated. This is the most efficient and easy-to-use option.

• Extracting a LogMiner Dictionary to the Redo Log Files

  Oracle recommends that you use this option when you do not expect to have access to the source database from which the redo log files were created, or if you anticipate that changes will be made to the column definitions in the tables of interest.

• Extracting the LogMiner Dictionary to a Flat File

  This option is maintained for backward compatibility with previous releases. This option does not guarantee transactional consistency. Oracle recommends that you use either the online catalog or extract the dictionary from redo log files instead.

Figure 20-2 shows a decision tree to help you select a LogMiner dictionary, depending on your situation.

The following sections provide instructions on how to specify each of the available dictionary options.