Transfer data from one database to another

Question

Hello,
We have an application which uses an Oracle 9i server database. On this server we have two databases ( one for test and one for production ).
From time to time it's required to transfer data from production database to test database.
The steps followed by the ones which made the transfer are:
a) drop the user schema ( the one which contains all data)
b) recreate the user
c) import the data ( using import utility )
d) compile invalid object ( what this will mean I don't know)
It's not possible to delete only the content of the tables and then import data from a dump file? In this way the steps c) and d) will no longer be required. If this is possible can you tell me if is there a command which will delete all data from all table ( almost 2000 tables)?
Thank you fro your help!

Answer 1

I think ..following a,b,c,d is the best way to maintain consistency. you are just thinking about the data in the tables, but what about the changes in views,procedures,functions etc....
compile invalid object ( what this will mean I don't know)create a file xxx.sql with following code and execute it from sql*plus
set echo off
set head off
set feedback off
set timing off
spool compile_invalid_obj.sql
select 'ALTER '||DECODE(OBJECT_TYPE,'PACKAGE BODY','PACKAGE',OBJECT_TYPE)||' '||OBJECT_NAME||' '||DECODE(OBJECT_TYPE,'PACKAGE','COMPILE PACKAGE;','PACKAGE BODY','COMPILE PACKAGE;','COMPILE;')
from user_objects
where status = 'INVALID';
spool off
set feedback on
set echo on
set timing on
@compile_invalid_obj.sql
HTH
--Chaitanya