Backup controlfile to trace (ASCII??)

Hi,

I backup the controlfile to trace in order to modify the output but the result file is binary and not ASCII.
Any help how to obtain the output as a ASCII file?

I run those commands:
sql> connect internal/oracle
connected
sql>alter database backup controlfile to trace;
or
sql>alter database backup controlfile to 'C:\trace.trc';

DB=Oracle 8.1.7
OS:Win2000

bensmail

looking on google would have sent you to this

alter database backup controlfile to trace as '/some/arbitrary/path';
alter database backup controlfile to trace as '/some/arbitrary/path' reuse;

Hi,

those commands works fine on Oracle9i, but in Oracle 8i I got a syntax error:
SQL> alter database backup controlfile to trace as 'C:\trace.lst';
alter database backup controlfile to trace as 'C:\trace.lst'
*
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-00933: SQL command not properly ended

I tested on 9i, it works fine but not on 8i
Is there any Issue?

Best Regards
Bensmail

Do you have another Ora8i instance to test? - I do not have any 8i left in the shop but I do not remember such a thing ever happened.

As far as I know there is no reason why 'alter database backup controlfile to trace' would create a binary file instead of a text file.

If you are certain this is actually happening I would suggest to open a TAR with Oracle.

I do have access to an 8i system, which should hopefully be going away soon. The first command creates an ASCII file that can be edited to recreate the control files. It will get created in the $ORACLE_ADMIN/udump directory. The second command will create a binary copy of the control file.

_USER'@'_CONNECT_IDENTIFIER _PRIVILEGE> alter database backup controlfile to trace;

Database altered.

Elapsed: 00:00:00.00
_USER'@'_CONNECT_IDENTIFIER _PRIVILEGE> alter database backup controlfile to '/tmp/trace.trc';

Database altered.

Elapsed: 00:00:00.42