Jareds method is what I use most of the times. When I'm really unsure, I run a small loop like (Apologies Jared, this still isn't perl): for file in *.dbf do echo mv ${file} ${file}.GONE done When the results are OK, command history is my friend to repeat the whole thing without the echo. After a while, the *.GONE files can safely be removed. (Be sure the essential program didn't have them opened al the time, unaware of the renaming) Just my $0.02 Carel-Jan === If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. (Derek Bok) === On Wed, 2005-06-15 at 21:21, Orr, Steve wrote: > Excellent comment Jared. A coupla years ago a sysadmin did something > similar and accidentally zapped lotsa directories. I ALWAYS do ls first > and even with that I have to take a deep breath before timidly hitting > <Enter> > > -----Original Message----- > From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jared Still > Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 12:25 PM > To: nigel.tufnel1@xxxxxxxxx > Cc: Oracle-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: Re: OT moment of doubt > > Every time I do it. > When using a command like that, I usually check=20 > it with ls first, then modify the command. > > eg. > > ls -l *.dbf > > If that gets the expected results, I will then call up > the command line history and replace the 'ls -l'=20 > with 'rm -f'. > > This not only ensures the results are what I expect, > but avoids fat fingering that occur if the entire command > is retyped: > > eg. rm -f * .dbf > > Notice the space between * and .dbf. > > Jared > > > > On 6/15/05, Joe <nigel.tufnel1@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > >=20 > > What would you call that moment in time after you do "rm *.dbf" on all > > your database files, where you suddenly panic about whther you're on > > the right server or not? > >=20 > > This happens to me all the time, even after checking, even after 17 > > yrs of DBA-ing. Kinda like that feeling you get when your chair starts > > to tip over backwards but you catch yourself. > >=20 > > :P > >=20 > > Joe > > -- > > //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l > >=20 > > > > --=20 > Jared Still > Certifiable Oracle DBA and Part Time Perl Evangelist > > -- > //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l > > -- > //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l