Replicating or copying oracle database

[amoda1]

Hello

I am coming from dB2 side. I like to ask a small question. I have a production Oracle database 7.4.3 an older version running on Sun. I like to make changes in the tables (addition and deletion), but before I do that, I would like to test the changes. I have also the new oracle Version 9i installed on windows machine.

Is there a way I can replicate the production database or (copy) it by making a new database and test the changes. How can it be done in Oracle.

[akhadar]

Is the new test database will be on the same machine or different machine?.If on the same machine then create a new database.Take export of the user whose tables u want to change and import into the new test database and continue ur experimentation.