Sort of strange scenario. Oracle 10.2.0.2 64 bit SunOS 5.10 Added a new directory to utl_file. Let's call it /dir_a When a user (user1) connects locally (beq, not SQL*Net) to the db and writes a file to /dir_a it works fine. When the same user (user1) connects to the db using listener (@dbtest), they are not able to write to /dir_a, UNLESS the file is already there. The error is: ORA-29283: invalid file operation ORA-06512: at "SYS.UTL_FILE", line 475 ORA-29283: invalid file operation ORA-06512: at line 12 Same user can create a file in the directory outside the db as can the oracle user. Any ideas? Thanks In Advance *Stephen Andert* Blog <http://cactustri.blogspot.com/> | Flowing Desert Photography<http://flowingdesert.com/> Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/CactusTri>