File shrank by 1356362240 bytes; padding with zeros

[James McDonald]

Vu Pham wrote:
> I have a file that always gives me a backup error. 
>
> tar: u3/CCTMS/BTDL/OVER.30: File shrank by 1356362240 bytes; padding
> with zeros.
>
> This is the data file and it looks like it is ok. Everybody uses it
> everyday and they find no problem at all.
>
>
> What causes that error ?
>   
Sounds like it's being written to by a process while your trying to take 
a snap shot of it via the backup...

I always try and stop my database engine/s first before performing a 
backup or just use the internal db backup agent to get a snapshot of the 
database and then back that up.