This document describes how to use Oracle Database utilities for data transfer, data maintenance, and database administration.
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.
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Access to Oracle Support
Oracle customers that have purchased support 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.
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.
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.
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