Could you pass the current time to the script via the command line? sqlplus user/pass@db script.sql '2010-02-08:08:54:00' Then your statement becomes: recover database using backup controlfile until time '&1'; From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Taylor, Chris David Sent: 03 August 2010 14:59 To: 'oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx' Subject: Ergh..banging head against a wall here (sqlplus...recover..until time...sysdate) Ok, I'm trying to setup an automated job to recover a database within sqlplus. Everything works fine until I try to add an "UNTIL TIME" with SYSDATE. Is there no way to configure UNTIL TIME with SYSDATE? This works: SQL> recover database using backup controlfile until time '2010-02-08:08:54:00'; Here's what I'm trying (and need) to do: /* sysdate -5 minutes */ SQL> recover database using backup controlfile until time to_char(sysdate,'YYYY-DD-MM:HH24:MI:SS')-5/1440; ORA-00285: TIME not given as a string constant I've tried: SQL> recover database using backup controlfile until time 'to_char(sysdate,'YYYY-DD-MM:HH24:MI:SS')-5/1440'; ORA-01841: (full) year must be between -4713 and +9999, and not be 0 SQL> recover database using backup controlfile until time ''to_char(sysdate,'YYYY-DD-MM:HH24:MI:SS')-5/1440''; ORA-01840: input value not long enough for date format SQL> recover database using backup controlfile until time '''to_char(sysdate,'YYYY-DD-MM:HH24:MI:SS')-5/1440'''; ORA-01841: (full) year must be between -4713 and +9999, and not be 0 So, how can I get SYSDATE -5/1440 into this "UNTIL TIME" ? Chris Taylor Sr. Oracle DBA Ingram Barge Company Nashville, TN 37205 Office: 615-517-3355 Cell: 615-663-1673 Email: chris.taylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:chris.taylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail and any attachments are confidential and may also be privileged. If you are not the named recipient, please notify the sender immediately and delete the contents of this message without disclosing the contents to anyone, using them for any purpose, or storing or copying the information on any medium. ____________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System ____________________________________________________________________ DISCLAIMER This message and any attachments contain privileged and confidential information intended for the use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, distribution or reproduction of this message is prohibited. Please note that we cannot guarantee that this message or any attachment is virus free or that it has not been intercepted and amended. The views of the author may not necessarily reflect those of Realtime Worlds Ltd. Realtime Worlds Ltd is registered in Scotland, number 225628. Registered Office: 152 West Marketgait, Dundee, DD1 1NJ.