Introduction of SQL LOADER

Introduction of SQL LOADER:-

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SQL LOADER is an Oracle utility used to load data from the given data-file into table or tables created in the database. The data-file which has the records those need to be loaded. SQL*Loader takes data file, as well as a control file, to insert data into the table. When a Control file is executed, it may create 3 files called log file, bad file, and discard file.

Log file will be created for sure in any case (Pass or fail). Bad file would only be created if any record validation fails and Discard file would be created only WHEN condition fails (If Control file has the WHEN condition).

• Log file tells you the number of logical records already read from the input data-file and the state of the tables and indexes. This information can be used to resume the load where it left off.
• bad file gives you the records that were rejected because of formatting errors or because they caused Oracle/validation errors .
• discard file specifies the records that do not meet any of the loading criteria like when any of the WHEN clauses specified in the control file. These records differ from rejected records.

CONTROL file will have the path and name of the DATA-FILE. If both the CONTROL and DATA files are present in the same directory then you do not need to give any path of the data-file (Name of the file will be enough).

SQL LOADER utility can be used from any Operating system like Windows, UNIX or Linux etc.

Types of the data file structure:

They are two different types format structure of the data-file.

1) Fixed record format

2) Variable record format.

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