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Deleting Objects

The reap_delete tool deletes objects from the database, including blob data and relational abstract data.

The reap_delete program requires either the -i reportfile switch (where reportfile is the file containing the results of the reap_report command) or the -allobjects switch.

  • Oracle 10g keeps a recycle bin of the objects that are deleted. Because of this Oracle 10g feature, you do not regain tablespace in the Oracle database when using reap_delete. To regain tablespace you must purge the recyclebin using SQL. If desired, you can save the tables listed in the recycle bin before purging. You can use the information and old tables to restore the information and data if necessary—however, restoring tables after the database has changed overwrites any changes made since the tables were saved (dumped). Refer to your Oracle System Administrator for information about the SQL purge, show, export, and import commands or contact your Oracle support representative for more information.
  • Deleting objects from the database can leave non-contiguous space (this is common database behavior). To reclaim contiguous space, export the Contenta tables (database) then import the dump file created with the export process. See the Database Export Command, the Drop Database Command, and the Database Import Command for the syntax and procedures.
  • If the reap_delete command cannot attach to the database in singleuser mode, it immediately exits with an error.