Using DBMS_METADATA_DIFF incorrectly raises error that XDB is not installed

(Doc ID 1375713.1)

Last updated on OCTOBER 11, 2014

Applies to:

Oracle Database - Enterprise Edition - Version 11.2.0.2 and later
Information in this document applies to any platform.
***Checked for relevance on 15-Apr-2013***

Symptoms

When executing the following in the database:

SELECT DBMS_METADATA_DIFF.COMPARE_ALTER( ..........) FROM DUAL;

The following errors are raised, even though XDB is present and valid in the database.

Error at line 0
ORA-38500: Unsupported operation: Oracle XML DB not present
ORA-06512: at "SYS.DBMS_METADATA_DIFF", line 698
ORA-06512: at line 1

Cause

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