Oracle SQL*Loader: The Definitive Guide

Preface. 1. Introduction to SQL*Loader The SQL*Loader Environment A Short SQL*Loader Example SQL*Loader's Capabilities Issues when Loading Data Invoking SQL*Loader. 2. The Mysterious Control File Syntax Rules The LOAD Statement Command-Line Parameters in the Control File Placing Data in the Control File. 3. Fields and Datatypes Field Specifications Datatypes. 4. Loading from Fixed-Width Files Common Datatypes Encountered Specifying Field Positions Handling Anomalous Data Concatenating Records Nesting Delimited Fields. 5. Loading Delimited Data Common Datatypes Encountered Example Data Using Delimiters to Identify Fields Common Issues with Delimited Data Concatenating Records Handling Nested Fields. 6. Recovering from Failure Deleting and Starting Over Restarting a Conventional Path Load Restarting a Direct Path Load. 7. Validating and Selectively Loading Data Handling Rejected Records Selectively Loading Data. 8. Transforming Data During a Load Using Oracle's Built-in SQL Functions Writing Your Own Functions Passing Data Through Work Tables Using Triggers Performing Character Set Conversion. 9. Transaction Size and Performance Issues Transaction Processing in SQL*Loader Commit Frequency and Load Performance Commit Frequency and Rollback Segments Performance Improvement Guidelines. 10. Direct Path Loads What is the Direct Path? Performing Direct Path Loads Data Saves Loading Data Fields Greater than 64K UNRECOVERABLE Loads Parallel Data Loading. 11. Loading Large Objects About Large Objects Considerations when Loading LOBs Loading Inline LOBs Loading LOBs from External Data Files Loading BFILEs. 12. Loading Objects and Collections Loading Object Tables and Columns Loading Collections Using NULLIF and DEFAULTIF with an Object or a Collection. Index