Lex, You've answered my question. To answer yours: we had an import that failed with an "imp-00020 long column too large for column buffer error". The export had no long columns but there was a note on metalink that pointed to unused columns (and directmode export) as a possible explanation. Sure enough the database that provided the export file had a table with unused columns. We're a distributed environment with more than a couple of sites. Only one site has the unused columns. That triggered the dilbert syndrome which resulted in my question to the list... chaim http://www.learntorah.net -----Original Message----- From: Lex de Haan [mailto:lex.de.haan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 10:02 AM To: Katz.C@xxxxxxxxxxxx; oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: Unused column names Chaim, why would you like to know them? those columns are lost forever anyway, except when using regular recovery techniques -- but then the names come back with the recovery :-) Kind regards, Lex. ------------------------------- visit http://www.naturaljoin.nl <http://www.naturaljoin.nl> ------------------------------- skype me <RENAMED_callto://lexdehaan> -----Original Message----- From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Katz.C@xxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 14:38 To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Unused column names is it possible to identify the original names of columns that are no longer used (as in ALTER TABLE SET UNUSED COLUMN cname)? thanks, chaim http://www.learntorah.net http://www.ixora.com.au/ - For DBAs http://directory.google.com/Top/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/ - For All -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l