Oracle Windows Backups

An Oracle export based backup can be taken from the QAD Data Warehouse Designer tool by selecting the Backup/Export the metadata (Oracle Export) menu option. This option assumes that the Oracle Client on the PC is the same version as that of the Oracle database where the QAD Data Warehouse Designer meta repository is stored. The backup may not work if the versions differ.

When executed this menu option attempts to locate the Oracle export utility. This utility is normally called 'exp' and resides in the Oracle bin directory. If QAD Data Warehouse Designer cannot locate this utility or it has not been loaded onto the PC then the export does not proceed and an error message will be displayed.

A pop-up window asks for a file name for the export. A directory should be chosen and a name entered. When the save button is clicked the export will start. The following files are created (where 'file' is the name of the chosen file). A dialog box appears to show the results of the backup.

File name	Purpose
file.bat	Windows command file containing the export command.
file.dbl	Command file for the re-creation of any database links.
file.drp	Command file for dropping all metadata tables. (Used in the restore prior to a reload).
file.exp	Oracle export file.
file.log	Log file of the export.
file.par	Parameter file for the export. Contains an entry for each meta table to be exported.
file.pro	A file containing each procedure stored in the metadata.
file.seq	Command file to re-create the sequences used by both the metadata and the data warehouse tables.

If problems are encountered with the backup it may be possible to manually run the generated .bat script file to ascertain what has gone wrong.