How to Drop all data in a database?

Question

Hi There,
I'm use to dropping all the objects in a database, however, how do I drop ONLY the DATA in the database? Is all data in the database stored in tables? Do I have to TRUNCATE all the tables in the database only? Thanks in advanced.
J

Answer 1

You can try to:
1. disable foreign key constraints instead of dropping them.
2. truncate all tables in any order
3. enable foreign key constraints.
Short example:
SQL> truncate table parent;
truncate table parent
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-02266: unique/primary keys in table referenced by enabled foreign keys
SQL> select constraint_name, table_name from user_constraints where r_constraint_name is not null;
CONSTRAINT_NAME                TABLE_NAME
SYS_C0011060                   CHILD
JHIST_JOB_FK                   JOB_HISTORY
JHIST_EMP_FK                   JOB_HISTORY
JHIST_DEPT_FK                  JOB_HISTORY
EMP_DEPT_FK                    EMPLOYEES
EMP_JOB_FK                     EMPLOYEES
EMP_MANAGER_FK                 EMPLOYEES
DEPT_LOC_FK                    DEPARTMENTS
DEPT_MGR_FK                    DEPARTMENTS
LOC_C_ID_FK                    LOCATIONS
COUNTR_REG_FK                  COUNTRIES
11 rows selected.
SQL> alter table child disable constraint sys_c0011060;
Table altered.
SQL> truncate table parent;
Table truncated.
SQL> truncate table child;
Table truncated.
SQL> alter table child enable constraint sys_c0011060;
Table altered.
SQL>