for clarity THIS is what I am running SET SERVEROUTPUT ON DECLARE num_corrupt INT; BEGIN num_corrupt := 0; DBMS_REPAIR.CHECK_OBJECT ( SCHEMA_NAME => 'SCOTT', OBJECT_NAME => 'DEPT', REPAIR_TABLE_NAME => 'REPAIR_TABLE', CORRUPT_COUNT => num_corrupt); DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('number corrupt: ' || TO_CHAR (num_corrupt)); END; /