what are RMAN format Specifiers?

RMAN Format Specifiers 

 If we did not specify a format such as location when backing up a database , RMAN will place the backup in FRA/Flash Recovery Area by default.

RMAN also uses system generated backup name (%U option) , if name format is not specified. 

But if you want to customize the name used by RMAN Backup , you need to use Format Specifier.

The following are commonly used oracle RMAN format specifiers:

Format Specifier	Description    /meaning
%c	copy number of backup piece
%d	The name of the database
%D	The current day of the month in G.C (day format : DD)
%t	The backup set time stamp
%T	The year, month, and day (YYYYMMDD) in G.c
%U	long System generated unique file name
%p	The piece number
%I	specifies DBID
%e	Specifies the archived log sequence number
%N	Specifies the tablespace name
%s	Specifies the backup set number
%Y	Specifies the year in the format YYYY
%u	Short system generated file name
%F	Combines the DBID, day, month, year, and sequence into a unique and repeatable generated name
%f	Specifies the absolute file number

   

 

A FORMAT can be specified for each sub clause in the BACKUP COMMAND. For Example:

RUN

 {

ALLOCATE CHANNEL ch11 TYPE DISK MAXPIECESIZE 10G;

BACKUP FORMAT '/u03/app/oracle/TEST/%d_D_%T_%u_s%s_p%p'

DATABASE PLUS ARCHIVELOG

FORMAT '/u03/app/oracle/TEST/%d_A_%T_%u_s%s_p%p';

RELEASE CHANNEL ch11;

}

 
 Thanks , Dereje Balcha