Re: ORA-01459:Invalid length for variable character string - please HELP!

It sounds like the memory allocated for queries and such like on the database server is getting fragmented, and hence oracle cannot allocate enough memory for certain operations after a period of time.

This can be rectified by enlarging the SGA on the database. You'll have to get your DBA to sort this out as I don't know how.

However there is a test that can be applied to determine whether this is the case or not.

From SQL*PLUS (using a privileged account eg system/manager) type

SQL> alter system flush shared_pool;

for some strange reason this has to be executed 3 times (who knows the secrets of the black magic box?? :-) )

After this see if the same error occurs.

If the same error occurs, then I've obviously been spouting a load of old bollocks so appologies in advance for wasting your time.

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Mark Smith