log miner's dictionary file

Per the excellent suggestion, I am now looking into using Log Miner. Now a few questions have come up:
1. Is it truly a requirement that my dictionary file be created on the "target" database?

    1.1 Or can I "replicate" my production DB via last night's export, and then create the dictionary file from this test database? 2. What exactly does creating a dictionary file do?

    2.1 Are these just SELECTs on the DB DD and then written to file?     2.2 Or does it do some DML to my database?

I am just hesitant to run anything "out of the ordinary" on my production database, as you have seen - we do not have a very good backup strategy implemented (yet.)

"Mike Hately" <mike.hately_at_virgin.net> wrote in message news:8gf6ri$a6$1_at_lure.pipex.net...
> Verna
> You should investigate the Log Miner utility. This may enable you to
 unearth
> your row.
> BMC's PATROL DB-Logmaster is similar but Log Miner scores higher as it's
> supplied with Oracle 8.1.5 +.
>
> Needless to say, you should exercise great caution to ensure you have the
> correct data before you reinsert it.
>
> Regards
>
> Mike Hately
>
> Verna Legaspi <verna.legaspi_at_attws.com> wrote in message
> news:8gf2ul$eha$1_at_redftp.redftp.attws.com...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I need to recover just 1 row on a table in my database. The row has
 been
> > deleted since last week. All I have for a backup is a nightly full DB
> > export... so last week's full DB export has been replaced by last
 night's!
> >
> > Is there a chance for me to recover this table/row with just this? I
 have
> > archive redo logs, but unfortunately, I very much doubt I have a "cold"
> > backup of my datafiles to apply them to.
> >
> > 8.1.5 on Solaris 2.6
> >
> > TIA,
> > Verna
> >
> >
> >
>
>
Received on Thu May 25 2000 - 00:00:00 CDT