FLASHBACK_SCN option within datapump

Question

I am trying to use the datapump option FLASHBACK_SCN by setting a variable within a script as the value from "SELECT dbms_flashback.get_system_change_number FROM dual;" in the following way.
sqlplus '/ as sysdba' <<EOF
set head off
spool flashback_scn.output
SELECT dbms_flashback.get_system_change_number FROM dual;
spool off
exit;
EOF
sed '/^$/d' flashback_scn.output |\
sed -e "s/[ <tab>]*//g" > flashback_scn.list
export FLASHBACK_SCN=`cat flashback_scn.list`
The variable FLASHBACK_SCN is then passed to the option and the datapump export performed. This has worked fine on a test database but the SCN is a lot smaller number than in production. I am now trying to run this in production but the value that comes back from "SELECT dbms_flashback.get_system_change_number FROM dual;" is as follows.
GET_SYSTEM_CHANGE_NUMBER
9.2196E+12
And datapump does not see this as a valid SCN nor does a select statement using the option of "AS OF SCN", I just get the error "specified number is not a valid change number.
Can anyone suggest a way to get the value as a proper value and not a "to the power of what ever" value.
Kind regards.
Graeme.

Answer 1

Hi Graeme,
This is only a display think of sqlplus.
Try this:
sqlplus '/ as sysdba' <<EOF
set head off
col get_system_change_number format 9999999999999999999999
spool flashback_scn.output
SELECT dbms_flashback.get_system_change_number FROM dual;
spool off
exit;
EOFthe format change the display to optional digits (in this case 22 digits, you can set it to whatever you like).
By the way, I take the date and use FLASHBACK_TIME instead of FLASHBACK_SCN, but it really doesn't matter.
HTH
Liron Amitzi
Senior DBA consultant
http://www.dbsnaps.com