Hi Norman On 4/26/06, Norman Dunbar <norman.dunbar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > Hi Jonathan, I think you missed a couple of bits out of your article > about the DBA with 15 minutes to get through the todo list : > > <BEGIN HUMOUR> > > It's 11:45 and you need to be done by 12:00, so ... > > ... Startup SQL Developer on a PC with 256 MB RAM and a 2.6 Mhz PC. > Word and Email client are already running as is Firefox and IE5.5, the > help desk system and so on. well there's a DBA who didn't 'accidentally' update the hardware purchases database, honestly will you never learn. Obviously in your case it's a UK govt agency and so there is no hardware budget - you'll need to change the table name from hardware_outlay to eds_black_hole :( > > ... Wait for splash screen to load - it's now 11:47. > > ... It finally starts, hooray, it's 11:48 now. > > ... Need to create a new database connection, so try to pick one from > the drop down - oops, Oracle Names is not supported, have to go manual. > > > ... open a DOS box, it's now 11:49 DOS you see there's your problem right there > > ... tnsping the alias, need to write down host, port and > SID/Service_name - can't find a pen, have to hunt the office to find > one. Now it's 11:52. > > ... Write down host, sid and port. again just proof that this isn't a real dba, everyone knows that information plus the sys password for each and every db in the organisation. Not your partner's birthday or your childrens names or ages, clearly. It's a question of priorities. > ... Create database connection using above data. Press TEST - get > error., something Java-ish, it's 11:54. > > ... Try again, same result. Login to Metalink. It's now 12:11. wah, wah oops. google before metalink. always. > ... Aha, advanced search turns up "connections to databases less than > 9.2.0.1 are not supported". It's 12:12 now. > > ... As the database is 8.1.7.4, shut down SQL Developer. Try Raptor > (the beta version) instead. > > ... It's 12:15 and still looking at the splash screen. > > ... At 12:16, kill Raptor. Fire up TOAD. > > ... At 12:20, job done, go for lunch, wife only slightly annoyed :o) oops sign of real life, social integration and a sense of perspective. nope clearly not a dba - possibly management, but then again -- Niall Litchfield Oracle DBA http://www.orawin.info -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l