Not sure about the naming of image copies, but it sounds like what you want to do in regards to incremental image copies is available in 10g, known as "incrementally updated backups", although I've not tested it myself it sounds swell: http://download-west.oracle.com/docs/cd/B19306_01/backup.102/b14192/bkup 004.htm 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.