Unable to release space from table

Question

Hi all,
We are unable to release space from a table called TST03 even after deletion of records.
Followings are the information.
Database     : 9.2
Table Name      : TST03
Tablespace     : LOCALY MANAGED.
Previously there were lots of rows.
At Present only 9 No of Rows.
Space allocated     : 41 GB
PCT_INCREASE     : Null
One of the column is of LONG RAW type.
Since the table is in LMTS, we were expecting that the space allocated will be released automaticaly after deletion of records.
Now, what are the option left with us to release 41GB of space ?
A. Is there any effect of "Drop storage" option of 'Truncate table' command ?
B. If yes , can i copy all the 9 rows to a new table, then use "Truncate table TST03 drop storage", check if space is released and then copy back all the 9 rows to this table.
C. Do you have any other easy solution apart from export/import ?
D. Checked all the relevant Note(646681,48400,10551), could not find an easy solution. I  want to avoid offline export/import option.
Thanks .
Naba J Neog

Answer 1

> Hi all,
Hi !
> We are unable to release space from a table called
> TST03 even after deletion of records.
>
> Followings are the information.
> Database     : 9.2
> Table Name      : TST03
> Tablespace     : LOCALY MANAGED.
> Previously there were lots of rows.
> At Present only 9 No of Rows.
> Space allocated     : 41 GB
> PCT_INCREASE     : Null
> One of the column is of LONG RAW type.
>
> Since the table is in LMTS, we were expecting that
> the space allocated will be released automaticaly
> after deletion of records.
Sorry, but that is not what LMTS is for. Wrong assumption.
MaxDB e.g. returns space immediately - Oracle does not.
> Now, what are the option left with us to release 41GB
> of space ?
> A. Is there any effect of "Drop storage" option of
> 'Truncate table' command ?
Yes, the effect is, that after the truncate the table is empty and  only one extent is allocated - the rest is returned to freespace. That's the DEFAULT behaviour of TRUNCATE TABLE.
> B. If yes , can i copy all the 9 rows to a new table,
> then use "Truncate table TST03 drop storage", check
> if space is released and then copy back all the 9
> rows to this table.
Nope - you would have to copy the LONG RAW columns as well and this cannot be done easily from sqlplus.
> C. Do you have any other easy solution apart from
> export/import ?
Nope again - you'd have to use this offline reorganisation as long as you're not on Oracle 10g and the long raw fields got converted into LOBs. With 10g you might also use the SHRINK table command. But with Oracle 9i - sorry: exp and imp (will be pretty fast for 9 rows...)
> D. Checked all the relevant Note(646681,48400,10551),
> could not find an easy solution. I  want to avoid
> offline export/import option.
Sorry - no way to avoid it and still get the free space back.
Anyhow you might want to take actions to prevent this situtation from reoccuring.
These kinds of questions are covered in the notes
<a href="http://service.sap.com/sap/support/notes/48400">#48400</a>
<a href="http://service.sap.com/sap/support/notes/66290">#66290</a>
>
> Thanks .
> Naba J Neog
You're welcome.
Lars