Oracle SCN_TO_TIMESTAMP (ORA_ROWSCN) fails

Question

Trying to run the following SQL which is basically an exact copy of an example I have seen on multiple sites, showing how to do this (I just change the tablename)

SELECT
SCN_TO_TIMESTAMP(ORA_ROWSCN) AS scn_time, ...
FROM
TABLE_ONE
WHERE
...;

But when I run it, it returns this error:

ORA-08181: specified number is not a valid system change number
ORA-06512: at "SYS.SCN_TO_TIMESTAMP", line 1
08181. 00000 -  "specified number is not a valid system change number"
*Cause:    supplied scn was beyond the bounds of a valid scn.
*Action:   use a valid scn.

What can I change to get this working? I am just looking to find the date/time a row was last updated.

Cheers in advance

K

Answer 1

SCN_TO_TIMESTAMP

The association between an SCN and a timestamp when the SCN is generated is remembered by the database for a limited period of time. This period is the maximum of the auto-tuned undo retention period, if the database runs in the Automatic Undo Management mode, and the retention times of all flashback archives in the database, but no less than 120 hours. The time for the association to become obsolete elapses only when the database is open. An error is returned if the SCN specified for the argument to SCN_TO_TIMESTAMP is too old.

Meaning the databases does not keep track of SCN-timestamp map forever and it is normal for SCN_TO_TIMESTAMP to fail for "too old" values. With the SCN returned from ORA_ROWSCN, you can still try to find the period of the change from views such as V$LOG_HISTORY (FIRST_CHANGE#, NEXT_CHANGE#, FIRST_TIME, NEXT_TIME).

When the time of the last update is required, the actual value is typically maintained and stored in an extra column in the table. ORA_ROWSCN is not good enough for that.