If you for any reason you need to do this on an earlier version - and you're running a *nix, you can always set up a pipe. I don't have a handy server to test on (Windows environment on current site), but its something like: mknod p mypipe cat mypipe >mylogfile & sqlplus u/p spool mypipe logged stuff spool off non-logged stuff spool mypipe more logged stuff spool off exit The pipeline will stay open - but you can kill the cat once you are done. (No, it's a piece of software in the background, not a cuddly furry animal). Regards Nigel