Re: How to delete another user's forms that are loaded in the database

In article <1992Jul30.042456.1_at_bbs.mdcbbs.com>, suskind_at_bbs.mdcbbs.com writes:
|> This may be a re-post, sorry if you have already seen it.
|>
|>
|> As the DBA I would like to delete the FORMS (2.3) that a user has loaded on
|> my system. I know I can change the user's password, then drop them from
|> IAC, however I do not know his current password, so I will not be able to
|> change it back.
|>
|> Is there a way for the DBA to clean out another user's forms?
|>
|> +---------------------------------------------------------------------+
|> Barry A. Suskind Internet: suskind%edoras_at_mdcbbs.com
|> MaBell: 703-560-5000x2348 UUCP: uunet!mdcbbs!edoras!suskind
|> E-Systems / Melpar Division 7700 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22046
|> JSNM Just Stark Naked Magic

You do not have to know a person's password to change it back. Oracle provides two way encription of passwords. I do not believe this is documented anywhere.

First connect to a DBA account and issue a query against the dba_users table:

        SELECT PASSWORD FROM SYS.DBA_USERS WHERE
        USERNAME = 'SOME_USER';

Make sure you accurately record the encrypted password.

Next change the users password.

        GRANT CONNECT TO SOME_USER IDENTIFIED BY SOME_PASSWORD; Connect to that account and make the needed changes.

Connect back to the DBA account and issue the following statement:

        GRANT CONNECT TO SOME_USER IDENTIFIED BY VALUES 'OLD_ENCRYPTED_PASSWORD'; replace the OLD_ENCRYPTED_PASSWORD with the encrypted password value which was recorded earlier. The single quotes arround the value are necessary.

I should add that the tables in which the form metadata are stored do not belong to a normal Oracle user, but to system. You should be able to delete the necessary rows by connecting to the database as system. You will need to understand  exactly how the forms tables relate to one another before attempting to delete any rows. I believe the first method is safer.

                             Ian MacGregor
                             Stanford Linear Accelrator Center
                             IAN_at_SLAC.STANFORD.EDU
                             (415) 926-3528