Exp/imp import/export version issue and ORA-6550 Error

A colleague asked me a few days ago whether exp/imp involved the version. I think that as long as it is software, it will involve the compatibility of high and low versions. Oracle is also software, so is it.

Simple experiment:

Exp tool Version: 10 GB

Exported source database version: 9i

Bash-4.1 $ exp x/x @ x tables = T file =/home/x/t. dmp

Export: Release 10.2.0.4.0-Production on Wed Dec 11 15:17:05 2013

Copyright (c) 1982,200 7, Oracle. All rights reserved.

EXP-00056: ORACLE error 6550 encountered

ORA-06550: line 1, column 41:

PLS-00302: component 'set _ NO_OUTLINES 'must be declared

ORA-06550: line 1, column 15:

PL/SQL: Statement ignored

EXP-00000: Export terminated unsuccessfully

From the error message, it seems that a component is undefined, leading to export failure.

An article on MOS provides a classic summary about compatibility of exp/imp:

Export client compatibility:

Always use a version of the EXPORT utility that is equal to the lowest version of either the source or the target database.

EXPORT client compatibility: We recommend that you use the same EXPORT tool version as the lowest version in the source or target database.

Import client compatibility:

Always use a version of the IMPORT utility that is equal to the version of the target database.

IMPORT client compatibility: We recommend that you use the same IMPORT tool version as the target database version.

This clearly specifies the direction for exp/imp import and export.

The following is a Version Matrix for import and export:

Import data into an older release (desupported) target database.

Import data into Oracle8i or higher release database.

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