Dick, What do you mean you can't modify system params? I can modify any system param on the fly. I just have to also to update the init.ora file. Again, I'm not losing any functionality. And the number of times I modify the init.ora params I can count on one hand every three months. I also added a database shutdown trigger to issue an "alter database backup controlfile to trace" in all my databases. Tom Mercadante Oracle Certified Professional -----Original Message----- From: Goulet, Dick [mailto:DGoulet@xxxxxxxx] Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 1:11 PM To: BSpears@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: 9i poll on spfile feature Well, I'll disagree with Rachel. True having an INIT file is not = currently broke, but without it you can't modify system parameters, like = shared_pool_size on the fly. So yes I have migrated to them, of course = I'va also added "create pfile=3D<name> from spfile" to my shutdown = script, along with "alter database backup controlfile to trace". Save that there bacon, it's mine!! Dick Goulet Senior Oracle DBA Oracle Certified 8i DBA -----Original Message----- From: Spears, Brian [mailto:BSpears@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 11:17 AM To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: 9i poll on spfile feature Just wanted to see what people have resorted to using in real world practice with the spfile. With 9i, are you still using the init file or have you migrated to = using the spfile ? If still using the Init file.. What is the main reason for continuing to using the init file. Brian -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l