Preamble
The ALTER TABLESPACE operator is used to change the table space or one of its data files or temporary files. TABLESPACE is used to allocate space in an Oracle database where schema objects are stored.
Syntax for ALTER TABLESPACE operator in Oracle / PLSQL
ALTER TABLESPACE tablespace_name
{ DEFAULT
[ { COMPRESS | NOCOMPRESS } ] storage_clause.
| MINIMUM EXTENT integer [ K | M | G | T | P | E ]
| RESIZE integer [ K | M | G | T | P | E ]
| COALESCE
| RENAME TO new_tablespace_name
| { BEGIN | END } BACKUP
| { ADD { DATAFILE | TEMPFILE }
[ file_specification
[, file_specification ]
]
| DROP {DATAFILE | TEMPFILE } { 'filename' | file_number }
| RENAME DATAFILE 'filename' [, 'filename' ] TO 'filename' [, 'filename' ]
| { DATAFILE | TEMPFILE } { ONLINE | OFFLINE }
}
| { logging_clause | [ NO ] FORCE LOGGING }
| TABLESPACE GROUP { tablespace_group_name | " }
| { ONLINE
| OFFLINE [ NORMAL | TEMPORARY | IMMEDIATE ]
}
| READ { ONLY | WRITE }
| { PERMANENT | TEMPORARY }
| AUTOEXTEND
{ OFF
| ON [ NEXT integer [ K | M | G | T | P | E ] ]
[ MAXSIZE { UNLIMITED | ] ] [ K | M | G | T | P | E ] ] ?
}
| FLASHBACK { ON | OFF }
| RETENTION { GUARANTEE | NOGUARANTEE }
} ;
Parameters and arguments of ALTER TABLESPACE operator
- tablespace_name – the name of the tabular space to be deleted from the Oracle database.
- storage_clause – the syntax for the file storage_clause:
STORAGE
({ INITIAL integer [ K | M | G | T | P | E ]
| NEXT integer [ K | M | G | T | P | E ]
| MINEXTENTS integer
| MAXEXTENTS { integer | UNLIMITED }
| PCTINCREASE integer
| FREELISTS integer
| FREELIST GROUPS integer
| OPTIMAL [ K | M | G | T | P | E ] | NULL ]
| BUFFER_POOL { KEEP | RECYCLE | DEFAULT }
}
[ INITIAL integer [ K | M | G | T | P | E ]
| NEXT integer [ K | M | G | T | P | E ]
| MINEXTENTS integer
| MAXEXTENTS { integer | UNLIMITED }
| PCTINCREASE integer
| FREELISTS integer
| FREELIST GROUPS integer
| OPTIMAL [ K | M | G | T | P | E ] | NULL ]
| BUFFER_POOL { KEEP | RECYCLE | DEFAULT }
]
)
- file_specification – syntax for file_specification parameter:
{ [ 'filename' | 'ASM_filename' ].
[ SIZE integer [ K | M | G | T | P | E ] ]
[ REUSE ]
[ AUTOEXTEND
{ OFF
| ON [ NEXT integer [ K | M | G | T | P | E ] ]
[ MAXSIZE { UNLIMITED | ] ] [ K | M | G | T | P | E ] ] ?
}
]
| [ 'filename | ASM_filename']
| ('filename | ASM_filename')
[, 'filename | ASM_filename' ] ).
]
[ SIZE integer [ K | M | G | T | P | E ] ]
[ REUSE ]
}
Example: Renaming a data file
Consider the ALTER TABLESPACE operator, which renames the data file associated with the table space. For example:
ALTER TABLESPACE tbs_01 OFFLINE NORMAL;
ALTER TABLESPACE tbs_01
RENAME DATAFILE 'tbs_01.dat'
TO 'tbs_01_new.dat';
ALTER TABLESPACE tbs_01 ONLINE;
This ALTER TABLESPACE operator will take the table space in OFFLINE mode, and rename the data file from tb_01.dat to tb_01_new.dat, and then bring the table space back to ONLINE.
Example: Add a data file
Let’s consider the ALTER TABLESPACE operator, which adds a data file to the table space.
For example:
ALTER TABLESPACE tbs_02
ADD DATAFILE 'tbs_02.dat'
SIZE 20M
AUTOEXTEND ON;
This ALTER TABLESPACE operator adds the data file tbs_02.dat to the table space tbs_02.
Example: The TABLESPACE operator adds the data file tbs_02.dat to the table space tbs_02
Consider the ALTER TABLESPACE operator, which removes the data file from the table space. For example:
ALTER TABLESPACE tbs_03
DROP DATAFILE 'tbs_03.dat';
This ALTER TABLESPACE operator removes the data file tbs_03.dat in the table space tbs_03.
Example of adding Tempfile
Let’s consider the ALTER TABLESPACE operator, which adds a temporary file to the table space. For example:
ALTER TABLESPACE tbs_04
ADD TEMPFILE 'tbs_04.dat'
SIZE 10M
AUTOEXTEND ON;
This example of the ALTER TABLESPACE operator adds a temporary tbs_04.dat file to the tbs_04 table space.
Example of removing Tempfile
Let’s consider an example of the ALTER TABLESPACE operator, which removes a temporary file from the table space. For example:
ALTER TABLESPACE tbs_05
DROP TEMPFILE 'tbs_05.dat';
This example of the ALTER TABLESPACE operator will delete the temporary file tbs_05.dat in the table space tbs_05.
Alter Tablespace in Oracle
About Enteros
Enteros offers a patented database performance management SaaS platform. It proactively identifies root causes of complex business-impacting database scalability and performance issues across a growing number of clouds, RDBMS, NoSQL, and machine learning database platforms.
The views expressed on this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Enteros Inc. This blog may contain links to the content of third-party sites. By providing such links, Enteros Inc. does not adopt, guarantee, approve, or endorse the information, views, or products available on such sites.
Are you interested in writing for Enteros’ Blog? Please send us a pitch!
RELATED POSTS
How AIOps and FinOps Improve Cloud Performance and Cost Management in BFSI
- 11 August 2026
- Database Performance Management
Introduction The Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) industry is undergoing rapid digital transformation. Mobile banking, digital payments, online lending, insurance platforms, wealth management applications, fraud detection systems, and real-time financial services increasingly depend on cloud infrastructure to deliver fast, reliable, and scalable experiences. However, cloud adoption also introduces new operational and financial challenges. BFSI … Continue reading “How AIOps and FinOps Improve Cloud Performance and Cost Management in BFSI”
How AIOps and FinOps Drive Cost-Efficient Digital Transformation in Banking
- 9 August 2026
- Database Performance Management
Introduction Digital transformation has become a strategic priority for banks and financial institutions. From mobile banking and digital payments to real-time fraud detection, personalized financial services, and cloud-native applications, banking organizations are investing heavily in technology to deliver faster, smarter, and more convenient customer experiences. However, digital transformation also introduces a major challenge: how can … Continue reading “How AIOps and FinOps Drive Cost-Efficient Digital Transformation in Banking”
How to Optimize Healthcare Operations with Enteros Database Software, AI-Powered Analytics, and Database Observability
Introduction Healthcare organizations operate some of the most data-intensive technology environments in the world. Hospitals, health systems, insurers, pharmaceutical organizations, laboratories, and digital health companies depend on databases to manage electronic health records, patient scheduling, billing, clinical workflows, medical imaging, pharmacy systems, and operational analytics. Database performance directly affects clinician productivity, patient access, administrative efficiency, … Continue reading “How to Optimize Healthcare Operations with Enteros Database Software, AI-Powered Analytics, and Database Observability”
How to Optimize Telecommunications Operations with Enteros Database Software, AI-Powered Analytics, and Database Observability
Introduction The telecommunications industry is undergoing rapid transformation as providers expand 5G networks, fiber infrastructure, cloud services, IoT platforms, edge computing, and AI-driven customer experiences. Telecom operators must process enormous volumes of network, subscriber, billing, usage, device, and customer data while delivering highly reliable services around the clock. Every subscriber authentication, call record, billing transaction, … Continue reading “How to Optimize Telecommunications Operations with Enteros Database Software, AI-Powered Analytics, and Database Observability”