Okay, I have used utl_file successfully in my 8i databases. I have used directories successfully in my 10g databases. When I try to use utl_file and directories together in 8i it doesn't work and I end up using the utl_file with a specific file directory. Is there limitations in 8i to directories? I get invalid path. Thanks, Paula --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail.