Different versions of the import utility is upwards compatible. This means that one can take an EXPORT file created from an old export version, and import it using a LATER version of the import utility. This is quite an effective way of upgrading a database from one RELEASE of Oracle to the next.

Oracle also SHIPS some previous catexpX.sql scripts that can be executed as user SYS enabling older imp/exp versions to work (for backwards compatibility). For example, one can run $ORACLE_HOME /rdbms /admin/catexp7.sql on an Oracle 8 database to allow the Oracle 7.3 exp/imp UTILITIES to run against an Oracle 8 database.

Different versions of the import utility is upwards compatible. This means that one can take an export file created from an old export version, and import it using a later version of the import utility. This is quite an effective way of upgrading a database from one release of Oracle to the next.

Oracle also ships some previous catexpX.sql scripts that can be executed as user SYS enabling older imp/exp versions to work (for backwards compatibility). For example, one can run $ORACLE_HOME /rdbms /admin/catexp7.sql on an Oracle 8 database to allow the Oracle 7.3 exp/imp utilities to run against an Oracle 8 database.