Oracle Database Administration: The Essential Refe

SQL*Loader

SQL*Loader is an Oracle-supplied tool that provides a reliable method of bulk loading data into the database from almost any type of external non-database file. The file containing the data to be loaded can contain either fixed- or variable-length records, and the fields in the records can be fixed or variable length as well. The actual data may be character, date, or any of several formats of numeric, including packed decimal and floating-point binary.

SQL*Loader provides the ability to selectively load data based on the values of data elements, and can load multiple tables simultaneously. Records that are not loaded due to errors or improper data values may be placed in a separate discard file for later processing.

The following tasks can be accomplished by SQL*Loader:

• Load data from multiple files, which can be of different file types.

• Load data from fixed-format, delimited-format (e.g., comma-delimited), or variable-length records.

• Perform manipulation of data fields with SQL statements before storing this data in the database.

• Load from a variety of datatypes, including DATE, BINARY, PACKED DECIMAL, and ZONED DECIMAL.

• Combine multiple records into a single database row.

• Create multiple database rows from a single input record.

• Generate unique key values for columns as data is loaded.