Try this: alter session set nls_date_format = 'YYYY-MM-DD:hh:mm:ss'; -----Original Message----- From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Prabhu, Krishnaswamy SET UNTIL TIME '2007-04-11:09:29:00'; RMAN-03002: failure of set command at 04/13/2007 07:10:52 ORA-01861: literal does not match format string Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message or attachments hereto. Please advise immediately if you or your employer do not consent to Internet email for messages of this kind. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of this company shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it. -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l