trace file creation

Hi,

How does Oracle determine it's time to create a new trace file rather than append the trace messages to the end of the current trace file?

Thanks,

Trace files are named based on the id of the process that needs to write to trace. But as process_id numbers are reusable oracle will append information to the existing trace file if one exists with the given process_id in its name. If such file does not exists Oracle will simply create a new one.

Jurig do you mean that if Scott logged in once and then logout login again oracle will be appended the same trace file all the time till another user login to create another trace file...just a little confusion..Thanks

Actually it isn't linked to the username, but to the server process ID.
But yes, when another session appears with same shadow process id, it will append to existing trace file.