And if it was an XML file would you still complain so vociferously? :) I think the point of not making the SPFILE directly editable is just a secu= rity thing. As T. Rex (also known as T. Gorman) mentioned in a different r= esponse, I can see more and more things being done based on the need to mak= e life easier 1. for the DBA's and 2. for the people who have to look after= a database that aren't a DBA's rear end (of which we're seeing more and mo= re, don't you agree?) = = For the actual details of WHY an SPFILE was created in binary form, you'd n= eed to talk to the developer who made that decision. Not me, no idea who i= t is. My whole point with the SPFILE is that for some reason, there are pe= ople like hjr and Nuno (and now I have to add Tim to the list ;) who have a= deep philosophical disagreement with the existence of the SPFILE. I'm too= lazy to have a deep philosophical disagreement with most things, let alone= the existence of a file in an Oracle kernel. :) That's three emails in an hour I've diss'ed Nuno on now, I better D&R very = very fast! ;) = Pete = "Controlling developers is like herding cats." Kevin Loney, Oracle DBA Handbook = "Oh no, it's not. It's much harder than that!" Bruce Pihlamae, long-term Oracle DBA -----Original Message----- From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] = On Behalf Of Nuno Souto Sent: Thursday, 6 May 2004 8:51 PM To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: More spfile goodness ----- Original Message ----- = From: "Pete Sharman" <peter.sharman@xxxxxxxxxx> > The SPFILE is needed more and more with new releases. Handling some of the=3D Correction: Oracle IS making use of the SPFILE more and more mandatory. There is NO REASON whatsoever why it can't be for example an XML file and still retain exactly and precisely the same functionality. > automatic memory management and so on can't be kept across instance shutdo=3D > wns without using the SPFILE. Exactly and precisely *why*? > I honestly can't see why people are so against using it. I've had this con=3D Because they see no advantage whatsoever in introducing an additional level= of risk with yet another cryptic binary file, for no perceived gain whatsoever other than Oracle having decided "it should be so"? > Exact same way you'd need to do it with a corrupted pfile I suppose. And= o=3D With the minor exception that text files like pfile do NOT get "corrupted" EVER? Stick with tried and true, rather than misadventures please? Cheers Nuno Souto in sunny Sydney, Australia dbvision@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe send email to: oracle-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. -- Archives are at //www.freelists.org/archives/oracle-l/ FAQ is at //www.freelists.org/help/fom-serve/cache/1.html ----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe send email to: oracle-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. -- Archives are at //www.freelists.org/archives/oracle-l/ FAQ is at //www.freelists.org/help/fom-serve/cache/1.html -----------------------------------------------------------------