The ONLINE keyword initiates an online archive on a table or database. During an online archive, the system creates and maintains a log for the specified table or a separate log for each table in the specified database. All changes to a table are captured in its log. Each log of changed rows is then archived as part of the archive process. When the archive process completes, the online archive is terminated and the change logs are deleted.
When a table is restored, the table's change log is restored also. The changed rows in the log are rolled back to the point that existed prior to the start of the archive process. The table is then rolled back to that same point. All tables within the same transaction in the online archive are restored to the same point in the transaction.
For tables involved in a load operation, see section Archiving Online.