Different versions of the import utility are 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.

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 are 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.

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.