SPfile is not stored in the database. It is kept in the $ORACLE_HOME/dbs directory. Although it is considered to be a binary file, in reality it is just a text file. It has a hashed value stored at the beginning of the file.
- Kirti -----Original Message----- Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2002 8:58 PM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L Yes, the SPFILE is stored in binary format in the database, but you can sort of work around it. To create a text file from the SPFILE, you can issue: CREATE PFILE 'pfilename' FROM SPFILE 'filename'; And vice versa with: CREATE SPFILE = 'filename' FROM PFILE = 'pfilename'; When starting the instance, you can also specify an alternate SPFILE: SQL> startup pfile=filename There's also some new syntax for the ALTER SYSTEM command to specify the scope of the change: ALTER SYSTEM set parameter = value SCOPE = MEMORY | SPFILE | BOTH; Rich Holland Guidance Technologies, Inc. > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2002 3:43 PM > To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L > Subject: Re:RE: Changing dump destinations in init.ora > [...] > during the discussion on database management it was revealed that init > files are on the way out, probably in 9i version 2. Their being replaced > by an SF file that is humanly unreadable and consequently unmodifiable. > Seems we'll have to do all modifications with the assistance of an alter > database or alter system command. > On the plus side, if your starting a database remotely you'll not need a > copy of the init.ora locally. -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: Deshpande, Kirti INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).