How to Flashback in oracle 10g

Oracle9i introduced the DBMS_FLASHBACK package to allow queries to reference older versions of the database. Oracle 10g has taken this technology a step further making it simpler to use and much more flexible.

Note: Internally Oracle uses SCNs to track changes so any flashback operation that uses a timestamp must be translated into the nearest SCN which can result in a 3 second error.

• Flashback Query 
• Flashback Version Query 
• Flashback Transaction Query 
• Flashback Table 
• Flashback Drop (Recycle Bin) 
• Flashback Database 
• Flashback Query Functions

Flashback Query

Flashback Query allows the contents of a table to be queried with reference to a specific point in time, using the AS OF clause. Essentially it is the same as the DBMS_FLASHBACK functionality or Oracle9i, but in a more convenient form. For example:

CREATE TABLE flashback_query_test (
id NUMBER(10)
);


SELECT current_scn, TO_CHAR(SYSTIMESTAMP, 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS') FROM v$database;

CURRENT_SCN TO_CHAR(SYSTIMESTAM
----------- -------------------
722452 2009-03-29 13:34:12

INSERT INTO flashback_query_test (id) VALUES (1);
COMMIT;
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM flashback_query_test;
COUNT(*)
----------
1

SELECT COUNT(*) FROM flashback_query_test AS OF TIMESTAMP TO_TIMESTAMP('2009-03-29 13:34:12', 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS');

COUNT(*)
----------
0

SELECT COUNT(*) FROM flashback_query_test AS OF SCN 722452;
COUNT(*)
----------

Flashback Version Query
Flashback version query allows the versions of a specific row to be tracked during a specified time period using the VERSIONS BETWEEN clause:
CREATE TABLE flashback_version_query_test (
id NUMBER(10),
description VARCHAR2(50)
);

INSERT INTO flashback_version_query_test (id, description) VALUES (1, 'ONE');
COMMIT;

SELECT current_scn, TO_CHAR(SYSTIMESTAMP, 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS') FROM v$database;
CURRENT_SCN TO_CHAR(SYSTIMESTAM
----------- -------------------
725202 2009-03-29 14:59:08

UPDATE flashback_version_query_test SET description = 'TWO' WHERE id = 1;
COMMIT;

UPDATE flashback_version_query_test SET description = 'THREE' WHERE id = 1;
COMMIT;

SELECT current_scn, TO_CHAR(SYSTIMESTAMP, 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS') FROM v$database;
CURRENT_SCN TO_CHAR(SYSTIMESTAM
----------- -------------------
725219 2009-03-29 14:59:36
COLUMN versions_startscn FORMAT 99999999999999999
COLUMN versions_starttime FORMAT A24
COLUMN versions_endscn FORMAT 99999999999999999
COLUMN versions_endtime FORMAT A24
COLUMN versions_xid FORMAT A16
COLUMN versions_operation FORMAT A1
COLUMN description FORMAT A11
SET LINESIZE 200

SELECT versions_startscn, versions_starttime,
versions_endscn, versions_endtime,
versions_xid, versions_operation,
description
FROM flashback_version_query_test
VERSIONS BETWEEN TIMESTAMP TO_TIMESTAMP('2009-03-29 14:59:08', 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS')
AND TO_TIMESTAMP('2009-03-29 14:59:36', 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS')
WHERE id = 1;

VERSIONS_STARTSCN VERSIONS_STARTTIME VERSIONS_ENDSCN VERSIONS_ENDTIME VERSIONS_XID V DESCRIPTION
------------------ ------------------------ ------------------ ------------------------ ---------------- 

725212 29-MAR-09 02.59.16 PM 02001C0043030000 U THREE
725209 29-MAR-09 02.59.16 PM 725212 29-MAR-04 02.59.16 PM 0600030021000000 U TWO
725209 29-MAR-09 02.59.16 PM ONE

SELECT versions_startscn, versions_starttime,
versions_endscn, versions_endtime,
versions_xid, versions_operation,
description
FROM flashback_version_query_test
VERSIONS BETWEEN SCN 725202 AND 725219
WHERE id = 1;

VERSIONS_STARTSCN VERSIONS_STARTTIME VERSIONS_ENDSCN VERSIONS_ENDTIME VERSIONS_XID V DESCRIPTION
----------------- ------------------------ ------------------ ------------------------ ----------------
725212 29-MAR-09 02.59.16 PM 02001C0043030000 U THREE
725209 29-MAR-09 02.59.16 PM 725212 29-MAR-04 02.59.16 PM 0600030021000000 U TWO
725209 29-MAR-09 02.59.16 PM ONE

The available pseudocolumn meanings are:
VERSIONS_STARTSCN or VERSIONS_STARTTIME - Starting SCN and TIMESTAMP when row took on this value. The value of NULL is returned if the row was created before the lower bound SCN ot TIMESTAMP.

VERSIONS_ENDSCN or VERSIONS_ENDTIME - Ending SCN and TIMESTAMP when row last contained this value. The value of NULL is returned if the value of the row is still current at the upper bound SCN ot TIMESTAMP.

VERSIONS_XID - ID of the transaction that created the row in it's current state.

VERSIONS_OPERATION - Operation performed by the transaction ((I)nsert, (U)pdate or (D)elete

Flashback Transaction Query

Flashback transaction query can be used to get extra information about the transactions listed by flashback version queries. The VERSIONS_XID column values from a flashback version query can be used to query the FLASHBACK_TRANSACTION_QUERY view like:

SELECT xid, operation, start_scn,commit_scn, logon_user, undo_sql
FROM flashback_transaction_query
WHERE xid = HEXTORAW('0600030021000000');
XID OPERATION START_SCN COMMIT_SCN
---------------- -------------------------------- ---------- ----------
LOGON_USER
------------------------------
UNDO_SQL
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0600030021000000 UPDATE 725208 725209
SCOTT

update "SCOTT"."FLASHBACK_VERSION_QUERY_TEST" set "DESCRIPTION" = 'ONE' where ROWID = 'AAAMP9AAEAAAA
AYAAA';
0600030021000000 BEGIN 725208 725209
SCOTT
XID OPERATION START_SCN COMMIT_SCN
---------------- -------------------------------- ---------- ----------
LOGON_USER
------------------------------
UNDO_SQL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 rows selected.

Flashback Table

The FLASHBACK TABLE command allows point in time recovery of individual tables subject to the following requirements:
You must have either the FLASHBACK ANY TABLE system privilege or have FLASHBACK object privilege on the table.

You must have SELECT, INSERT, DELETE, and ALTER privileges on the table.
There must be enough information in the undo tablespace to complete the operation.
Row movement must be enabled on the table (ALTER TABLE tablename ENABLE ROW MOVEMENT;).

The following example creates a table, inserts some data and flashbacks to a point prior to the data insertion. Finally it flashbacks to the time after the data insertion:
CREATE TABLE flashback_table_test (
id NUMBER(10)
);

ALTER TABLE flashback_table_test ENABLE ROW MOVEMENT;
SELECT current_scn FROM v$database;

CURRENT_SCN
-----------
715315

INSERT INTO flashback_table_test (id) VALUES (1);
COMMIT;

SELECT current_scn FROM v$database;
CURRENT_SCN
----------
715340

FLASHBACK TABLE flashback_table_test TO SCN 715315;
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM flashback_table_test;
COUNT(*)
----------
0

FLASHBACK TABLE flashback_table_test TO SCN 715340;
SELECT COUNT(*) FROM flashback_table_test;
COUNT(*)
----------
1

Flashback of tables can also be performed using timestamps:
FLASHBACK TABLE flashback_table_test TO TIMESTAMP TO_TIMESTAMP('2004-03-03 10:00:00', 'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MI:SS

Flashback Drop (Recycle Bin)

In Oracle 10g the default action of a DROP TABLE command is to move the table to the recycle bin (or rename it), rather than actually dropping it. The PURGE option can be used to permanently drop a table.

The recycle bin is a logical collection of previously dropped objects, with access tied to the DROP privilege. The contents of the recycle bin can be shown using the SHOW RECYCLEBIN command and purged using the PURGE TABLE command. As a result, a previously dropped table can be recovered from the recycle bin:

CREATE TABLE flashback_drop_test (
id NUMBER(10)
);

INSERT INTO flashback_drop_test (id) VALUES (1);
COMMIT;
DROP TABLE flashback_drop_test;
SHOW RECYCLEBIN

ORIGINAL NAME RECYCLEBIN NAME OBJECT TYPE DROP TIME
---------------- ------------------------------ ------------ -------------------
FLASHBACK_DROP_T BIN$TstgCMiwQA66fl5FFDTBgA==$0 TABLE 2004-03-29:11:09:07 EST

FLASHBACK TABLE flashback_drop_test TO BEFORE DROP;
SELECT * FROM flashback_drop_test;
ID
----------
1
Tables in the recycle bin can be queried like any other table:

DROP TABLE flashback_drop_test;
SHOW RECYCLEBIN

ORIGINAL NAME RECYCLEBIN NAME OBJECT TYPE DROP TIME
---------------- ------------------------------ ------------ -------------------
FLASHBACK_DROP_T BIN$TDGqmJZKR8u+Hrc6PGD8kw==$0 TABLE 2004-03-29:11:18:39  EST
SELECT * FROM "BIN$TDGqmJZKR8u+Hrc6PGD8kw==$0";
ID
----------
1

If an object is dropped and recreated multiple times all dropped versions will be kept in the recycle bin, subject to space. Where multiple versions are present it's best to reference the tables via the RECYCLEBIN_NAME. For any references to the ORIGINAL_NAME it is assumed the most recent object is drop version in the referenced question. During the flashback operation the table can be renamed like:
FLASHBACK TABLE flashback_drop_test TO BEFORE DROP RENAME TO flashback_drop_test_old;
Several purge options exist:

PURGE TABLE tablename; -- Specific table.
PURGE INDEX indexname; -- Specific index.
PURGE TABLESPACE ts_name; -- All tables in a specific tablespace.
PURGE TABLESPACE ts_name USER username; -- All tables in a specific tablespace for a specific user.
PURGE RECYCLEBIN; -- The current users entire recycle bin.
PURGE DBA_RECYCLEBIN; -- The whole recycle bin.

Several restrictions apply relating to the recycle bin:
Only available for non-system, locally managed tablespaces.
There is no fixed size for the recycle bin. The time an object remains in the recycle bin can vary.
The objects in the recycle bin are restricted to query operations only (no DDL or DML).
Flashback query operations must reference the recycle bin name.

Tables and all dependent objects are placed into, recovered and purged from the recycle bin at the same time.
Tables with Fine Grained Access policies aer not protected by the recycle bin.
Partitioned index-organized tables are not protected by the recycle bin.
The recycle bin does not preserve referential integrity.

Flashback DatabaseThe FLASHBACK DATABASE command is a fast alternative to performing an incomplete recovery. In order to flashback the database you must have SYSDBA privilege and the flash recovery area must have been prepared in advance.
If the database is in NOARCHIVELOG it must be switched to ARCHIVELOG mode
CONN sys/password AS SYSDBA

ALTER SYSTEM SET log_archive_dest_1='location=d:\oracle\oradata\DB10G\archive\' SCOPE=SPFILE;
ALTER SYSTEM SET log_archive_format='ARC%S_%R.%T' SCOPE=SPFILE;
ALTER SYSTEM SET log_archive_start=TRUE SCOPE=SPFILE;
SHUTDOWN IMMEDIATE
STARTUP MOUNT
ARCHIVE LOG START
ALTER DATABASE ARCHIVELOG;
ALTER DATABASE OPEN;

Flashback must be enabled before any flashback operations are performed:
CONN sys/password AS SYSDBA
SHUTDOWN IMMEDIATE
STARTUP MOUNT EXCLUSIVE
ALTER DATABASE FLASHBACK ON;
ALTER DATABASE OPEN;
With flashback enabled the database can be switched back to a previous point in time or SCN without the need for a manual incomplete recovery. In the following example a table is created, the database is then flashbacked to a time before the table was created:
-- Create a dummy table.
CONN scott/tiger
CREATE TABLE flashback_database_test (
id NUMBER(10)
);

-- Flashback 5 minutes.

CONN sys/password AS SYSDBA
SHUTDOWN IMMEDIATE
STARTUP MOUNT EXCLUSIVE
FLASHBACK DATABASE TO TIMESTAMP SYSDATE-(1/24/12);
ALTER DATABASE OPEN RESETLOGS;

-- Check that the table is gone.
CONN scott/tiger
DESC flashback_database_test

Some other variations of the flashback database command include:
FLASHBACK DATABASE TO TIMESTAMP my_date;
FLASHBACK DATABASE TO BEFORE TIMESTAMP my_date;
FLASHBACK DATABASE TO SCN my_scn;
FLASHBACK DATABASE TO BEFORE SCN my_scn;

The window of time that is available for flashback is determined by the DB_FLASHBACK_RETENTION_TARGET parameter. The maximum flashback can be determined by querying the V$FLASHBACK_DATABASE_LOG view. It is only possible to flashback to a point in time after flashback was enabled on the database and since the last RESETLOGS command.

Flashback Query Functions

The TIMESTAMP_TO_SCN and SCN_TO_TIMESTAMP functions have been added to SQL and PL/SQL to simplify flashback operations:

SELECT * FROM emp AS OF SCN TIMESTAMP_TO_SCN(SYSTIMESTAMP - 1/24);
SELECT * FROM emp AS OF TIMESTAMP SCN_TO_TIMESTAMP(993240);
DECLARE
l_scn NUMBER;
l_timestamp TIMESTAMP;
BEGIN
l_scn := TIMESTAMP_TO_SCN(SYSTIMESTAMP - 1/24);
l_timestamp := SCN_TO_TIMESTAMP(l_scn);
END;
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