file_specification

Purpose

Use one of the file_specification forms to specify a file as a datafile or tempfile, or to specify a group of one or more files as a redo log file group. If you are storing your files in Automatic Storage Management disk groups, then you can further specify the file as a disk group file.

A file_specification can appear in the following statements:

CREATE CONTROLFILE (see CREATE CONTROLFILE)
CREATE DATABASE (see CREATE DATABASE)
ALTER DATABASE (see ALTER DATABASE)
CREATE TABLESPACE (see CREATE TABLESPACE)
ALTER TABLESPACE (see ALTER TABLESPACE)
ALTER DISKGROUP (see ALTER DISKGROUP)

Prerequisites

You must have the privileges necessary to issue the statement in which the file specification appears.

Syntax

file_specification::=

Description of the illustration file_specification.gif

datafile_tempfile_spec::=

Description of the illustration datafile_tempfile_spec.gif

(size_clause::=)

redo_log_file_spec::=

Description of the illustration redo_log_file_spec.gif

(size_clause::=)

ASM_filename ::=

Description of the illustration ASM_filename.gif

fully_qualified_file_name::=

Description of the illustration fully_qualified_file_name.gif

numeric_file_name::=

Description of the illustration numeric_file_name.gif

incomplete_file_name::=

Description of the illustration incomplete_file_name.gif

alias_file_name::=

Description of the illustration alias_file_name.gif

autoextend_clause::=

Description of the illustration autoextend_clause.gif

(size_clause::=)

maxsize_clause::=

Description of the illustration maxsize_clause.gif

(size_clause::=)

Semantics

This section describes the semantics of file_specification. For additional information, refer to the SQL statement in which you specify a datafile, tempfile, redo log file, or Automatic Storage Management disk group or disk group file.

datafile_tempfile_spec

Use this clause to specify the attributes of datafiles and tempfiles if your database storage is in a file system or on raw devices or in Automatic Storage Management disk groups.

redo_log_file_spec

Use this clause to specify the attributes of redo log files if your database storage is in a file system or on raw devices or in Automatic Storage Management disk groups.

filename

Use filename for files stored in a file system or on raw devices. The filename can specify either a new file or an existing file. For a new file:

If you are not using Oracle-managed files, then you must specify both filename and the SIZE clause or the statement fails. When you specify a filename without a size, Oracle attempts to reuse an existing file and returns an error if the file does not exist.
If you are using Oracle-managed files, then filename is optional, as are the remaining clauses of the specification. In this case, Oracle Database creates a unique name for the file and saves it in the directory specified by either the DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST (for logfiles and control files), the DB_CREATE_FILE_DEST initialization parameter (for any type of file) or by the DB_CREATE_ONLINE_LOG_DEST_n initialization parameter (which takes precedence over DB_CREATE_FILE_DEST and DB_RECOVERY_FILE_DEST for log files).

For an existing file, specify the name of either a datafile, tempfile, or a redo log file member. The filename can contain only single-byte characters from 7-bit ASCII or EBCDIC character sets. Multibyte characters are not valid.

A redo log file group can have one or more members (copies). Each filename must be fully specified according to the conventions for your operating system.

The way the database interprets filename also depends on whether you specify it with the SIZE and REUSE clauses.

If you specify filename only, or with the REUSE clause but without the SIZE clause, then the file must already exist.
If you specify filename with SIZE but without REUSE, the file must be a new file.
If you specify filename with both SIZE and REUSE, then the file can be either new or existing. If the file exists, it is reused with the new size. If it does not exist, the database ignores the REUSE keyword and creates a new file of the specified size.

See Also:

Oracle Database Administrator's Guide for information on using Automatic Storage Management

fully_qualified_file_name

When you create a file in an Automatic Storage Management disk group, the file receives a system-generated fully qualified Automatic Storage Management filename. You can use this form only when referring to an existing Automatic Storage Management file. Therefore, if you are using this form during file creation, you must also specify REUSE.

db_name is the value of the DB_UNIQUE_NAME initialization parameter. This name is equivalent to the name of the database on which the file resides, but the parameter distinguishes between primary and standby databases, if both exist.
file_type and file_type_tag indicate the type of database file. The table that follows lists all of the file types and their corresponding Automatic Storage Management tags.
filenumber and incarnation_number are system-generated identifiers to guarantee uniqueness.

You can determine the fully qualified names of Automatic Storage Management files by querying the dynamic performance view appropriate for the file type (for example V$DATAFILE for datafiles, V$CONTROLFILE for control files, and so on). You can also obtain the filenumber and incarnation_number portions of the fully qualified names by querying the V$ASM_FILE view.

Table 8-1 Oracle File Types and Automatic Storage Management File Type Tags

Automatic Storage Management file_type	Description	Automatic Storage Management file_type_tag	Comments
`CONTROLFILE`	Control files and backup control files	Current Backup	—
`DATAFILE`	Datafiles and datafile copies	`tsname`	Tablespace into which the file is added
`ONLINELOG`	Online logs	`group_group#`	—
`ARCHIVELOG`	Archive logs	`thread_thread#_seq_sequence#`	—
`TEMPFILE`	Tempfiles	`tsname`	Tablespace into which the file is added
`BACKUPSET`	Datafile and archive log backup pieces; datafile incremental backup pieces	`hasspfile`_`timestamp`	`hasspfile` can take one of two values: `s` indicates that the backup set includes the `spfile`; `n` indicates that the backup set does not include the `spfile`.
`PARAMETERFILE`	Persistent parameter files	`spfile`	—
`DAATAGUARDCONFIG`	Data Guard configuration file	`db_unique_name`	Data Guard tries to use the service provider name if it is set. Otherwise the tag defaults to `DRCname`.
`FLASHBACK`	Flashback logs	`log_log#`	—
`CHANGETRACKING`	Block change tracking data	`ctf`	Used during incremental backups
`DUMPSET`	Data Pump dumpset	`user`_`obj#`_`file#`	Dump set files encode the user name, the job number that created the dump set, and the file number as part of the tag.
`XTRANSPORT`	Datafile convert	`tsname`	—
`AUTOBACKUP`	Automatic backup files	`hasspfile`_`timestamp`	`hasspfile` can take one of two values: `s` indicates that the backup set includes the `spfile`; `n` indicates that the backup set does not include the `spfile`.

numeric_file_name

A numeric Automatic Storage Management filename is similar to a fully qualified filename except that it uses only the unique filenumber.incarnation_number string. You can use this form only to refer to an existing file. Therefore, if you are using this form during file creation, you must also specify REUSE.

incomplete_file_name

Incomplete Automatic Storage Management filenames are used during file creation only. If you specify the disk group name alone, Automatic Storage Management uses the appropriate default template for the file type. For example, if you are creating a datafile in a CREATE TABLESPACE statement, Automatic Storage Management uses the default DATAFILE template to create an Automatic Storage Management datafile. If you specify the disk group name with a template, Automatic Storage Management uses the specified template to create the file. In both cases, Automatic Storage Management also creates a fully qualified filename.

template_name A template is a named collection of attributes. You can create templates and apply them to files in a disk group. You can determine the names of all Automatic Storage Management template names by querying the V$ASM_TEMPLATE data dictionary view. Please refer to diskgroup_template_clauses for instructions on creating Automatic Storage Management templates.

You can specify template only during file creation. It appears in the incomplete and alias name forms of the ASM_filename diagram:

If you specify template immediately after the disk group name, then Automatic Storage Management uses the specified template to create the file, and gives the file a fully qualified filename.
If you specify template after specifying an alias, then Automatic Storage Management uses the specified template to create the file, gives the file a fully qualified filename, and also creates the alias so that you can subsequently use it to refer to the file. If the alias you specify refers to an existing file, then Automatic Storage Management ignores the template specification unless you also specify REUSE.

See Also:
diskgroup_template_clauses for information about the default templates

alias_file_name

An alias is a user-friendly name for an Automatic Storage Management file. You can use alias filenames during file creation or reference. You can specify a template with an alias, but only during file creation. To determine the alias names for Automatic Storage Management files, query the V$ASM_ALIAS data dictionary view.

If you are specifying an alias during file creation, please refer to diskgroup_directory_clauses and diskgroup_alias_clauses for instructions on specifying the full alias name.

SIZE Clause

Specify the size of the file in bytes. Use K, M, G, or T to specify the size in kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, or terabytes.

For undo tablespaces, you must specify the SIZE clause for each datafile. For other tablespaces, you can omit this parameter if the file already exists, or if you are creating an Oracle-managed file.
If you omit this clause when creating an Oracle-managed file, then Oracle creates a 100M file.
The size of a tablespace must be one block greater than the sum of the sizes of the objects contained in it.

See Also:
Oracle Database Administrator's Guide for information on automatic undo management and undo tablespaces and "Adding a Log File: Example"

REUSE

Specify REUSE to allow Oracle to reuse an existing file.

If the file already exists, then Oracle reuses the filename and applies the new size (if you specify SIZE) or retains the original size.
If the file does not exist, then Oracle ignores this clause and creates the file.

Restriction on the REUSE Clause You cannot specify REUSE unless you have specified filename.

Whenever Oracle uses an existing file, the previous contents of the file are lost.

autoextend_clause

The autoextend_clause is valid for datafiles and tempfiles but not for redo log files. Use this clause to enable or disable the automatic extension of a new or existing datafile or tempfile. If you omit this clause:

For Oracle-managed files:
- If you specify SIZE, then Oracle Database creates a file of the specified size with AUTOEXTEND disabled.
- If you do not specify SIZE, then the database creates a 100M file with AUTOEXTEND enabled. When autoextension is required, the database extends the file by its original size or 100MB, whichever is smaller. You can override this default behavior by specifying the NEXT clause.
For user-managed files, with or without SIZE specified, Oracle creates a file with AUTOEXTEND disabled.

ON Specify ON to enable autoextend.

OFF Specify OFF to turn off autoextend if is turned on. When you turn off autoextend, the values of NEXT and MAXSIZE are set to zero. If you turn autoextend back on in a subsequent statement, you must reset these values.

NEXT Use the NEXT clause to specify the size in bytes of the next increment of disk space to be allocated automatically when more extents are required. The default is the size of one data block.

MAXSIZE Use the MAXSIZE clause to specify the maximum disk space allowed for automatic extension of the datafile.

UNLIMITED Use the UNLIMITED clause if you do not want to limit the disk space that Oracle can allocate to the datafile or tempfile.

Restriction on the autoextend_clause You cannot specify this clause as part of the datafile_tempfile_spec in a CREATE CONTROLFILE statement or in an ALTER DATABASE CREATE DATAFILE clause.

Examples

Specifying a Log File: Example The following statement creates a database named payable that has two redo log file groups, each with two members, and one datafile:

CREATE DATABASE payable 
   LOGFILE GROUP 1 ('diska:log1.log', 'diskb:log1.log') SIZE 50K, 
           GROUP 2 ('diska:log2.log', 'diskb:log2.log') SIZE 50K 
   DATAFILE 'diskc:dbone.dat' SIZE 30M;

The first file specification in the LOGFILE clause specifies a redo log file group with the GROUP value 1. This group has members named 'diska:log1.log' and 'diskb:log1.log', each 50 kilobytes in size.

The second file specification in the LOGFILE clause specifies a redo log file group with the GROUP value 2. This group has members named 'diska:log2.log' and 'diskb:log2.log', also 50 kilobytes in size.

The file specification in the DATAFILE clause specifies a datafile named 'diskc:dbone.dat', 30 megabytes in size.

Each file specification specifies a value for the SIZE parameter and omits the REUSE clause, so none of these files can already exist. Oracle must create them.

Adding a Log File: Example The following statement adds another redo log file group with two members to the payable database:

ALTER DATABASE payable 
   ADD LOGFILE GROUP 3 ('diska:log3.log', 'diskb:log3.log') 
   SIZE 50K REUSE;

The file specification in the ADD LOGFILE clause specifies a new redo log file group with the GROUP value 3. This new group has members named 'diska:log3.log' and 'diskb:log3.log', each 50 kilobytes in size. Because the file specification specifies the REUSE clause, each member can (but need not) already exist.

Specifying a Datafile: Example The following statement creates a tablespace named stocks that has three datafiles:

CREATE TABLESPACE stocks 
   DATAFILE 'stock1.dat' SIZE 10M, 
            'stock2.dat' SIZE 10M,
            'stock3.dat' SIZE 10M;

The file specifications for the datafiles specify files named 'diskc:stock1.dat', 'diskc:stock2.dat', and 'diskc:stock3.dat'.

Adding a Datafile: Example The following statement alters the stocks tablespace and adds a new datafile:

ALTER TABLESPACE stocks 
   ADD DATAFILE 'stock4.dat' SIZE 10M REUSE;

The file specification specifies a datafile named 'stock4.dat'. If the filename does not exist, then Oracle simply ignores the REUSE keyword.

Using a Fully Qualified Automatic Storage Management Datafile Name: Example When using Automatic Storage Management, the following syntax shows how to use the fully_qualified_file_name clause to bring online a datafile in a hypothetical database, testdb:

ALTER DATABASE testdb 
   DATAFILE '+dgroup_01/testdb/datafile/system.261.1' ONLINE;