Export and Import of Database Objects with SAPDBA (SAP Library - SAP Database Guide: Oracle (BC-DB-ORA-DBA))

Export and Import of Database Objects with SAPDBA

Use

You can use SAPDBA for Oracle to export and import database objects. SAPDBA uses Oracle export and import functionality for:

Export of database objects

You can export tables with their data, table and index definitions, and with other database objects such as constraints, grants, views, synonyms and sequences.

Import of database objects

You can import objects which have earlier been exported.

Export and import enables you to back up database objects in addition to other database backups. If you only want to back up particular tables, export is a good method. For example, you can add to the data backup you perform before a reorganization by exporting the objects that are to be reorganized.

This function is only intended for use with objects in a single database.

Caution

Do not use this function for the transport of database objects between databases.

The logical structure of SAP data is so complex that data objects are often distributed across many tables and many tables are linked largely according to the relational database model. Therefore, if you attempt to transport data between systems with this function, you end up with inconsistencies in the SAP System.

Use the SAP correction and transport system to transport objects between SAP Systems. Create new SAP databases using the SAP installation procedure.

Caution

Do not use this function for restore.

The data backups from an export are logical backups. This means that you cannot use them as part of an Oracle restore. The exported objects are static and are only consistent with the database if it remains unchanged.

Prerequisites

You need to know how to use SAPDBA and to have set it up correctly. Refer to Getting Started with SAPDBA.

Features

There are the following types of export:

Export of tables with their indexes and data

Export of definitions for tables and indexes

Export of constraints, synonyms, sequences, views, and grants

You can also perform parallel export and import.

Note

SAPDBA supports export and import of partitioned tables and indexes. The export and import does not change the partitions and their parameters.

If a partition of a partitioned table or index is in a tablespace that you want to export and import, SAPDBA exports and imports all other partitions of the object in other tablespaces too, even if you do not specify that you want to reorganize the other tablespaces. In other words, SAPDBA exports and imports all partitions of a partitioned object.

Activities

What You Do

You prepare.

You perform the export.

You perform the import.

If required, you restart the export or import.

What SAPDBA Does

SAPDBA performs the export phase and, if required, the import phase too. SAPDBA generates scripts for both phases, containing the required commands. If necessary, you can start these scripts manually.

There are the following phases:

SAPDBA creates scripts to export and import the objects that you specify.
SAPDBA uses the export scripts from the first phase to export the specified objects.
If required, SAPDBA uses the import scripts from the first phase to import the specified objects.