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SQL Loader Overview

SQL Loader:

SQL*Loader is the primary method for quickly populating Oracle tables with
data from external files. It has a powerful data-parsing engine that puts little limitation on
the format of the data in the datafile. SQL*Loader is invoked when you specify the sqlldr
command.

SQL*Loader can be used to do the following:

• Load data across a network. This means that a SQL*Loader client can be run on a
different system from the one that is running the SQL*Loader server.
• Load data from multiple datafiles during the same load session
• Load data into multiple tables during the same load session
• Specify the character set of the data
• Selectively load data
• Load data from disk, tape, or named pipe
• Specify the character set of the data
• Generate sophisticated error reports, which greatly aid troubleshooting
• Load arbitrarily complex object-relational data
• Use either conventional or direct path loading.

SQL*Loader Control File:

The control file is a text file written in a language that SQL*Loader understands.
The control file tells SQL*Loader where to find the data, how to parse and interpret the
data, and where to insert the data.

Input Data and Datafiles:

SQL*Loader reads data from one or more files specified in the control file. From
SQL*Loader's perspective, the data in the datafile is organized as records. A particular
datafile can be in fixed record format, variable record format, or stream record format.
The chosen format depends on the data and depends on the flexibility and performance
necessary for the job.

SQL*Loader Discards:

• As SQL*Loader executes, it may create a file called the discard file. This file is
created only when it is needed, and only if you have specified that a discard file
should be enabled .The discard file contains records that were filtered out of the
load because they did not match any record-selection criteria specified in the
control file.

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• The discard file therefore contains records that were not inserted into any table in
the database. You can specify the maximum number of such records that the
discard file can accept. Data written to any database table is not written to the
discard file.
• The discard file is written in the same format as the datafile. The discard data can
be loaded with the existing control file, after any necessary editing or correcting.

Loading into Empty Tables:

If the tables you are loading into are empty, use the INSERT option.

Loading into Non-Empty Tables:

If the tables you are loading into already contain data, you have three options:
APPEND
REPLACE
TRUNCATE
Warning: When the REPLACE or TRUNCATE keyword is specified, the entire table
is replaced, not just individual rows. After the rows are successfully deleted, a commit is
issued. You cannot recover the data that was in the table before the load, unless it was
saved with Export or a comparable utility.

APPEND:

If data already exists in the table, SQL*Loader appends the new rows to it. If data doesn't
already exist, the new rows are simply loaded. You must have SELECT privilege to use
the APPEND option.

REPLACE:

All rows in the table are deleted and the new data is loaded. The table must be in your
schema, or you must have DELETE privilege on the table.
The row deletes cause any delete triggers defined on the table to fire. If DELETE
CASCADE has been specified for the table, then the cascaded deletes are carried out, as
well.

Updating Existing Rows:

The REPLACE method is a table replacement, not a replacement of individual rows.

SQL*Loader does not update existing records, even if they have null columns. To update
existing rows, use the following procedure:

1. Load your data into a work table.

2. Use the SQL language UPDATE statement with correlated subqueries.

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3. Drop the work table.

TRUNCATE:

Using this method, SQL*Loader uses the SQL TRUNCATE command to achieve the
best possible performance. For the TRUNCATE command to operate, the table's
referential integrity constraints must first be disabled. If they have not been disabled,
SQL*Loader returns an error.
Once the integrity constraints have been disabled, DELETE CASCADE is no longer
defined for the table. If the DELETE CASCADE functionality is needed, then the
contents of the table must be manually deleted before the load begins.
The table must be in your schema, or you must have the DELETE ANY TABLE
privilege.
Notes:
Unlike the SQL TRUNCATE option, this method re-uses a table's extents.
INSERT is SQL*Loader's default method. It requires the table to be empty before
loading. SQL*Loader terminates with an error if the table contains rows.

Steps to Run a SQL loader:

• Open Command prompt.

• Then enter the Database details in the below mentioned format.
SQLLDR Database Username/Password@Database Name.
Eg: SQLLDR SYSADM/SYSADM&HRMS90DM
• Press enter.
• You will see
Control= (in the Next Line, Enter the Control file Path.)
Eg: Control=X:\appserv\prcs\HRMS90DM\files\Course_Catalog_Control.CTL
(And
Enter)
• System takes the input from the file path mentioned in the control file and start
loading the file with data accordingly.

Sample CTL (Control) File:

File name should be stored with the extension *.CTL.

LOAD DATA
INFILE 'X:\appserv\prcs\HRMS90DM\files\Course_Catalog.txt'
BADFILE 'X:\appserv\prcs\HRMS90DM\files\Course_Catalog.BAD'
DISCARDFILE 'X:\appserv\prcs\HRMS90DM\files\Course_Catalog.DIS'
APPEND
INTO TABLE PS_PMR_AD_CRS_CATL
fields terminated by "|"

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TRAILING NULLCOLS
(
INSTITUTION,
ACAD_CAREER,
CU_SUBJECT,
CU_CATALOG_NUM,
EFFDT DATE,
EFF_STATUS,
CU_DESCR_CRSE,
CU_ACAD_GROUP,
CU_DEPT_ACAD,
CU_CRS_TYPE_CD,
CU_SCHEDULE_SEQ_NM,
CU_ACAD_LVL_CD,
CU_CREDIT,
CU_HOUR,
CU_EQ_CREDS,
CU_VR_CRED_INDC,
CU_LST_TERM_OFF,
CU_GRADE_MTH_CD,
CU_FIRST_TERM_OFFR,
CU_BHE_APPROVAL_DT,
CU_CREDT_ONLY_INDC,
CU_ATTND_REQ_CD,
CU_SPL_FEES,
CU_ROOM_REQ_CD,
CU_ESL_INDC,
CU_VAR_DESR_INDC,
CU_UPDAT_TIME,
CU_LIBERAL_ARTS_IN,
CU_REPEAT_ALLOW_IN,
CU_REQUISIT_OF_IND,
CU_REQUISITE_FLAG,
CU_BLCK_PRG_OFF_CD,
CU_SAT_LIB_ART,
CU_CPI_SUBJECT,
CU_CPI_UNIT,
CU_CPI_ELECTIVE,
CU_UP_LOW_CD,
CU_SPC_EFF_EXP_DTE,
CU_WAIT_LST_ALW_IN,
CU_PRE_REG_ALW_IND,
CU_BLK_BOARD_ALLOW,
CU_SCH_CLS_BLK_IND
)

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URL’s you can refer:

The contents written above were taken from the following mentioned URLs.Please go
through them for the details.

 http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/database/utilities/htdocs/sql_loader_o
verview.html
 http://www.cs.umbc.edu/help/oracle8/server.815/a67792/ch03.htm

Sample Screenshot:

This is how the command prompt screen looks like when you execute SQL loader.

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