Oracle EXPDP INCLUDE & EXCLUDE – Complete Guide with Working Commands

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Oracle Data Pump (EXPDP) provides powerful options to control what gets exported using INCLUDE and EXCLUDE.

In this blog, we’ll cover:

  • What INCLUDE and EXCLUDE are
  • Correct syntax (command line + parfile)
  • Single and multiple object filtering
  • Common errors and fixes
  • Best practices used by DBAs

What is INCLUDE and EXCLUDE?

  • INCLUDE → Export only selected objects
  • EXCLUDE → Export everything except selected objects

👉 These options work at metadata level filtering

Basic Export

expdp hr@pdb2 directory=dbbackup dumpfile=full_hr.dmp schemas=hr logfile=full.log
oracle@localhost ~]$ expdp hr@pdb2 directory=dbbackup dumpfile=full_hr.dmp schemas=hr logfile=full.log
Export: Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Production on Wed Apr 22 13:30:46 2026
Version 23.26.0.0.0
Copyright (c) 1982, 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates.  All rights reserved.
Password: 
Connected to: Oracle AI Database 26ai Free Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Develop, Learn, and Run for Free
Starting "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01":  hr/********@pdb2 directory=dbbackup dumpfile=full_hr.dmp schemas=hr logfile=full.log 
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/TABLE_DATA
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/INDEX/STATISTICS/INDEX_STATISTICS
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/STATISTICS/TABLE_STATISTICS
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/PRE_SCHEMA/PROCACT_SCHEMA/LOGREP
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/SEQUENCE/SEQUENCE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/TABLE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/COMMENT
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/PROCEDURE/PROCEDURE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/PROCEDURE/ALTER_PROCEDURE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/VIEW/VIEW
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/INDEX/INDEX
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/CONSTRAINT/CONSTRAINT
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/CONSTRAINT/REF_CONSTRAINT
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/TRIGGER
. . exported "HR"."EMP"                                   17.3 KB     107 rows
. . exported "HR"."EMPLOYEES"                             17.3 KB     107 rows
. . exported "HR"."EMP_BACKUP"                            17.3 KB     107 rows
. . exported "HR"."LOCATIONS"                              8.6 KB      23 rows
. . exported "HR"."JOB_HISTORY"                            7.3 KB      10 rows
. . exported "HR"."JOBS"                                   7.2 KB      19 rows
. . exported "HR"."DEPARTMENTS"                            7.2 KB      27 rows
. . exported "HR"."COUNTRIES"                              6.5 KB      25 rows
. . exported "HR"."REGIONS"                                5.6 KB       5 rows
Master table "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01" successfully loaded/unloaded
******************************************************************************
Dump file set for HR.SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01 is:
  /home/oracle/dbbackup/full_hr.dmp
Job "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01" successfully completed at Wed Apr 22 13:32:47 2026 elapsed 0 00:01:55

EXCLUDE CASES (All Working Examples)

Exclude Single Table

expdp hr@pdb2 \
directory=dbbackup \
dumpfile=exclude_emp.dmp \
schemas=hr \
logfile=exclude_emp.log \
exclude=TABLE:\"=\'EMPLOYEES\'\"

OUTPUT:

[oracle@localhost ~]$ expdp hr@pdb2 \
directory=dbbackup \
dumpfile=exclude_emp.dmp \
schemas=hr \
logfile=exclude_emp.log \
exclude=TABLE:\"=\'EMPLOYEES\'\"
Export: Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Production on Wed Apr 22 13:33:09 2026
Version 23.26.0.0.0
Copyright (c) 1982, 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates.  All rights reserved.
Password: 
Connected to: Oracle AI Database 26ai Free Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Develop, Learn, and Run for Free
Starting "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01":  hr/********@pdb2 directory=dbbackup dumpfile=exclude_emp.dmp schemas=hr logfile=exclude_emp.log exclude=TABLE:"='EMPLOYEES'" 
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/TABLE_DATA
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/INDEX/STATISTICS/INDEX_STATISTICS
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/STATISTICS/TABLE_STATISTICS
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/PRE_SCHEMA/PROCACT_SCHEMA/LOGREP
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/SEQUENCE/SEQUENCE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/TABLE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/COMMENT
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/PROCEDURE/PROCEDURE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/PROCEDURE/ALTER_PROCEDURE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/VIEW/VIEW
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/INDEX/INDEX
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/CONSTRAINT/CONSTRAINT
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/CONSTRAINT/REF_CONSTRAINT
. . exported "HR"."EMP"                                   17.3 KB     107 rows
. . exported "HR"."EMP_BACKUP"                            17.3 KB     107 rows
. . exported "HR"."LOCATIONS"                              8.6 KB      23 rows
. . exported "HR"."JOB_HISTORY"                            7.3 KB      10 rows
. . exported "HR"."JOBS"                                   7.2 KB      19 rows
. . exported "HR"."DEPARTMENTS"                            7.2 KB      27 rows
. . exported "HR"."COUNTRIES"                              6.5 KB      25 rows
. . exported "HR"."REGIONS"                                5.6 KB       5 rows
Master table "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01" successfully loaded/unloaded
******************************************************************************
Dump file set for HR.SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01 is:
  /home/oracle/dbbackup/exclude_emp.dmp
Job "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01" successfully completed at Wed Apr 22 13:35:07 2026 elapsed 0 00:01:51

Exclude Multiple Tables

expdp hr@pdb2 \
directory=dbbackup \
dumpfile=exclude_multi.dmp \
schemas=hr \
logfile=exclude_multi.log \
exclude=TABLE:\"IN \(\'EMPLOYEES\',\'DEPARTMENTS\'\)\"

OUTPUT:

[oracle@localhost ~]$ expdp hr@pdb2 \
directory=dbbackup \
dumpfile=exclude_multi.dmp \
schemas=hr \
logfile=exclude_multi.log \
exclude=TABLE:\"IN \(\'EMPLOYEES\',\'DEPARTMENTS\'\)\"
Export: Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Production on Wed Apr 22 13:37:09 2026
Version 23.26.0.0.0
Copyright (c) 1982, 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates.  All rights reserved.
Password: 
Connected to: Oracle AI Database 26ai Free Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Develop, Learn, and Run for Free
Starting "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01":  hr/********@pdb2 directory=dbbackup dumpfile=exclude_multi.dmp schemas=hr logfile=exclude_multi.log exclude=TABLE:"IN ('EMPLOYEES','DEPARTMENTS')" 
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/TABLE_DATA
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/INDEX/STATISTICS/INDEX_STATISTICS
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/STATISTICS/TABLE_STATISTICS
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/PRE_SCHEMA/PROCACT_SCHEMA/LOGREP
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/SEQUENCE/SEQUENCE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/TABLE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/COMMENT
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/PROCEDURE/PROCEDURE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/PROCEDURE/ALTER_PROCEDURE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/VIEW/VIEW
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/INDEX/INDEX
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/CONSTRAINT/CONSTRAINT
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/CONSTRAINT/REF_CONSTRAINT
. . exported "HR"."EMP"                                   17.3 KB     107 rows
. . exported "HR"."EMP_BACKUP"                            17.3 KB     107 rows
. . exported "HR"."LOCATIONS"                              8.6 KB      23 rows
. . exported "HR"."JOB_HISTORY"                            7.3 KB      10 rows
. . exported "HR"."JOBS"                                   7.2 KB      19 rows
. . exported "HR"."COUNTRIES"                              6.5 KB      25 rows
. . exported "HR"."REGIONS"                                5.6 KB       5 rows
Master table "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01" successfully loaded/unloaded
******************************************************************************
Dump file set for HR.SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01 is:
  /home/oracle/dbbackup/exclude_multi.dmp
Job "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01" successfully completed at Wed Apr 22 13:39:27 2026 elapsed 0 00:02:13

Exclude Tables Using LIKE

expdp hr@pdb2 \
directory=dbbackup \
dumpfile=exclude_like.dmp \
schemas=hr \
logfile=exclude_like.log \
exclude=TABLE:\"LIKE 'EMP%'\"

OUTPUT

[oracle@localhost ~]$ expdp hr@pdb2 directory=dbbackup dumpfile=exclude_like.dmp schemas=hr logfile=exclude_like.log exclude=TABLE:\"LIKE \'EMP%\'\"
Export: Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Production on Wed Apr 22 14:01:35 2026
Version 23.26.0.0.0
Copyright (c) 1982, 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates.  All rights reserved.
Password: 
Connected to: Oracle AI Database 26ai Free Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Develop, Learn, and Run for Free
Starting "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01":  hr/********@pdb2 directory=dbbackup dumpfile=exclude_like.dmp schemas=hr logfile=exclude_like.log exclude=TABLE:"LIKE 'EMP%'" 
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/TABLE_DATA
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/INDEX/STATISTICS/INDEX_STATISTICS
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/STATISTICS/TABLE_STATISTICS
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/PRE_SCHEMA/PROCACT_SCHEMA/LOGREP
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/SEQUENCE/SEQUENCE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/TABLE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/COMMENT
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/PROCEDURE/PROCEDURE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/PROCEDURE/ALTER_PROCEDURE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/VIEW/VIEW
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/INDEX/INDEX
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/CONSTRAINT/CONSTRAINT
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/CONSTRAINT/REF_CONSTRAINT
. . exported "HR"."LOCATIONS"                              8.6 KB      23 rows
. . exported "HR"."JOB_HISTORY"                            7.3 KB      10 rows
. . exported "HR"."JOBS"                                   7.2 KB      19 rows
. . exported "HR"."DEPARTMENTS"                            7.2 KB      27 rows
. . exported "HR"."COUNTRIES"                              6.5 KB      25 rows
. . exported "HR"."REGIONS"                                5.6 KB       5 rows
Master table "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01" successfully loaded/unloaded
******************************************************************************
Dump file set for HR.SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01 is:
  /home/oracle/dbbackup/exclude_like.dmp
Job "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01" successfully completed at Wed Apr 22 14:31:38 2026 elapsed 0 00:29:57

Exclude Indexes

expdp hr@pdb2 \
directory=dbbackup \
dumpfile=no_index.dmp \
schemas=hr \
logfile=no_index.log \
exclude=INDEX

OUTPUT:

[oracle@localhost ~]$ expdp hr@pdb2 \
directory=dbbackup \
dumpfile=no_index.dmp \
schemas=hr \
logfile=no_index.log \
exclude=INDEX
Export: Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Production on Wed Apr 22 13:39:43 2026
Version 23.26.0.0.0
Copyright (c) 1982, 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates.  All rights reserved.
Password: 
Connected to: Oracle AI Database 26ai Free Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Develop, Learn, and Run for Free
Starting "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01":  hr/********@pdb2 directory=dbbackup dumpfile=no_index.dmp schemas=hr logfile=no_index.log exclude=INDEX 
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/TABLE_DATA
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/STATISTICS/TABLE_STATISTICS
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/PRE_SCHEMA/PROCACT_SCHEMA/LOGREP
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/SEQUENCE/SEQUENCE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/TABLE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/COMMENT
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/PROCEDURE/PROCEDURE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/PROCEDURE/ALTER_PROCEDURE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/VIEW/VIEW
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/CONSTRAINT/CONSTRAINT
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/CONSTRAINT/REF_CONSTRAINT
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/TRIGGER
. . exported "HR"."EMP"                                   17.3 KB     107 rows
. . exported "HR"."EMPLOYEES"                             17.3 KB     107 rows
. . exported "HR"."EMP_BACKUP"                            17.3 KB     107 rows
. . exported "HR"."LOCATIONS"                              8.6 KB      23 rows
. . exported "HR"."JOB_HISTORY"                            7.3 KB      10 rows
. . exported "HR"."JOBS"                                   7.2 KB      19 rows
. . exported "HR"."DEPARTMENTS"                            7.2 KB      27 rows
. . exported "HR"."COUNTRIES"                              6.5 KB      25 rows
. . exported "HR"."REGIONS"                                5.6 KB       5 rows
Master table "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01" successfully loaded/unloaded
******************************************************************************
Dump file set for HR.SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01 is:
  /home/oracle/dbbackup/no_index.dmp
Job "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_01" successfully completed at Wed Apr 22 13:42:00 2026 elapsed 0 00:02:12

Include Only Tables

expdp hr@pdb2 \
directory=dbbackup \
dumpfile=only_tables.dmp \
schemas=hr \
logfile=only_tables.log \
include=TABLE

Include Specific Table

expdp hr@pdb2 \
directory=dbbackup \
dumpfile=only_emp.dmp \
schemas=hr \
logfile=only_emp.log \
include=TABLE:\"=\'EMPLOYEES\'\"

Include Only Indexes

expdp hr@pdb2 \
directory=dbbackup \
dumpfile=index_only.dmp \
schemas=hr \
logfile=index_only.log \
include=INDEX

Include Procedures Only

expdp hr@pdb2 \
directory=dbbackup \
dumpfile=proc_only.dmp \
schemas=hr \
logfile=proc_only.log \
include=PROCEDURE

Example of include:

[oracle@localhost ~]$ expdp hr@pdb2 directory=dbbackup dumpfile=only_emp.dmp schemas=hr logfile=only_emp.log include=TABLE:\"=\'EMPLOYEES\'\"
Export: Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Production on Wed Apr 22 14:02:50 2026
Version 23.26.0.0.0
Copyright (c) 1982, 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates.  All rights reserved.
Password: 
Connected to: Oracle AI Database 26ai Free Release 23.26.0.0.0 - Develop, Learn, and Run for Free
Starting "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_02":  hr/********@pdb2 directory=dbbackup dumpfile=only_emp.dmp schemas=hr logfile=only_emp.log include=TABLE:"='EMPLOYEES'" 
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/TABLE_DATA
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/INDEX/STATISTICS/INDEX_STATISTICS
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/STATISTICS/TABLE_STATISTICS
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/TABLE
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/COMMENT
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/INDEX/INDEX
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/CONSTRAINT/CONSTRAINT
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/CONSTRAINT/REF_CONSTRAINT
Processing object type SCHEMA_EXPORT/TABLE/TRIGGER
. . exported "HR"."EMPLOYEES"                             17.3 KB     107 rows
Master table "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_02" successfully loaded/unloaded
******************************************************************************
Dump file set for HR.SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_02 is:
  /home/oracle/dbbackup/only_emp.dmp
Job "HR"."SYS_EXPORT_SCHEMA_02" successfully completed at Wed Apr 22 14:04:05 2026 elapsed 0 00:01:09