Hi Lisa It depends who are your boss, but anyway if they are the kind don't like to hear, the first thing I will do in your place is to write a report to my boss Saying 1) This are the problems.... (8i desupported, logs, etc., etc.) This are the risks... This should be the solutions... 2) Clearly appointing what is wrong, and that is not a professional database work. And mainly the risks of using production database as test database. 3) Give an example how a similar business works, to show them they are not doing the correct and what you are asking is really nothing from outerworlds. Not always you can get your boss do what you want, but is important to put it in a paper, because in 4 months if they deny to follow you advices and there are SERIOUS problems, you have something to say, "I said you that clearly in that report I gave you several months ago". Do it in detail, because it can save you that some day, they point to you as responsible of a disaster for them and for your career. Then ask a written ansewr to that report, because in the future some people remember had say things they never said. And do your best under the restrictions they will give to you. Juan Carlos Reyes Pacheco OCP Database 9.2 Standard Edition ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe send email to: oracle-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. -- Archives are at //www.freelists.org/archives/oracle-l/ FAQ is at //www.freelists.org/help/fom-serve/cache/1.html -----------------------------------------------------------------