Hello, I have an unix script in 10g, which connects to remote database whose connection string is NOT defined in tnsnames.ora, as described below. sqlplus -s user/password@"(DESCRIPTION = (ADDRESS_LIST = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = $dbhost)(PORT = $dbport))) (CONNECT_DATA = (SERVICE_NAME = $sid.corporate.ge.com)))" << EOF blah..blah.. EOF Now, I have moved the script to another machine, where oracle client version is 8.0.6. Unfortunately, sqlplus (of 8.0.6) doesn't like this syntax. Has anyone got an workaround to connect to remote db without having an entry in TNS Entry in 8.0.6 ? Thank you! -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l