Re: how to tell RMAN to look at different location for ARCH_LOG backup piece.

You mean,
http://download-west.oracle.com/docs/cd/A87860_01/doc/server.817/a76990/rmanreco.htm#436862 ?

run {

     allocate channel ch1 type disk;


     # Set a new location for logs 1 through 10.

     set archivelog destination to '/disk1/oracle/temp_restore';
     restore archivelog from logseq 1 until logseq 10;


     # Set a new location for logs 11 through 20.

     set archivelog destination to '/disk1/oracle/arch';
     restore archivelog from logseq 11 until logseq 20;


     # Set a new location for logs 21 through 30.

     set archivelog destination to '/disk2/oracle/temp_restore';
     restore archivelog from logseq 21 until logseq 30;
     . . .
     recover database;

jg

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