Hi people. Please, tell me what am I missing here? Did I forget something? I am not sure I am following, why it is: 14:40:48 db_manager@prod8> select * from NLS_DATABASE_PARAMETERS where parameter='NLS_LENGTH_SEMANTICS'; PARAMETER VALUE ------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *NLS_LENGTH_SEMANTICS BYTE* Elapsed: 00:00:00.01 14:41:34 db_manager@prod8> show parameter NLS_LENGTH_SEMANTICS NAME TYPE VALUE ------------------------------------ ----------- ------------------------------ *nls_length_semantics string CHAR* Oracle 10.2.0.4, NLS_NCHAR_CHARACTERSET=AL16UTF16 Is this normal? Thanks, M