Compatibility and Migration

When you ALTER TABLE to change the LONG column to LOB, the table looks as if you never had the LONG column and always had the LOB column. Once you move all LONG data to LOBs, you cannot ALTER the table back to LONG.

Table 8-1 outlines the behavior of various client-server combinations in this release and prior to this release.

Table 8-1 Client - Server Combinations for Oracle9i and Prior to Oracle9i

Client	Oracle9i Release 9.0.0 Server	Servers Prior to Oracle9i
Rel.9.0.0 with CHARs	Server sends data	Client raises error.
Rel.9.0.0 with LOBs	Server sends locator	Server sends locator.
Prior to Rel.9.0.0 with CHARs	Client raises an error	Client raises error.
Prior to Rel.9.0.0 with LOBs	Server sends locator	Server sends locator.