Oracle SQL*Loader: The Definitive Guide (Paperback)

by Jonathan Gennick (Author), Sanjay Mishra (Author)
Key Phrases: field specifications, loading delimited data, anomalous data, Tannery Falls, Fixed-Width Files, The Mysterious Control File (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
'Wow the title hits it bulls-eye - The Definitive Guide. - A humongous effort went into the book and the examples. It's another one for the desk, always to hand. Bravo Well Done" [e-mail]

Product Description
SQL*Loader is a utility used to load data from flat files into an Oracle database. Despite its wide availability and use, few Oracle users know how to get the most out of it. This book has everything you need to know about SQL*Loader: a reference to all of its syntax options and step-by-step instructions for all of the SQL*Loader tasks you'd want to perform--and maybe some you didn't realize you COULD perform. You'll learn how to construct the necessary control files, load from different types of files containing different types of data, validate data, load data selectively, transform data as it is loaded, and recover after failure. The book shows how to optimize SQL*Loader performance by adjusting the transaction size and using the new direct path option. It also covers the newest SQL*Loader features--the loading of large object (LOB) columns and the new object types (nested tables, varying arrays, and object tables).

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc.; 1st edition (April 19, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565929489
• ISBN-13: 978-1565929487
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #377,129 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #22 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Databases > Oracle > SQL
  #40 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Databases > Oracle > PL & SQL

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clearly information collected into one handy reference, June 30, 2001

By	Mike Tarrani "www.tarrani.com" (Deltona, FL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Although Oracle does a reasonable job of clearly explaining SQL*Loader, this guide takes it a giant leap forward. First it collects everything you ever needed or wanted to know about SQL*Loader into a 251 page reference. It's written in a friendlier fashion than Oracle's documentation, and with more examples that are better written. On the whole, this promotes a better understanding of SQL*Loader, its strengths and limitations, and will allow DBAs to master every facet and nuance of this powerful tool. Considering the damage that can be inflicted on a production database if SQL*Loader is improperly used, all DBAs who use this tool to load data (and who doesn't?) should read this book and have a copy on their desk.

Another use for this book is as a training aid for new DBAs and as the basis for database administration policies and procedures that spell out when and how to load data into a production system. It also contains a wealth of information that can be incorporated into change control implementation and rollback plans when massive updates need to be performed. I like the thorough treatment, the fact that it's up-to-date, and the advice and tips that are imparted throughout this book. It's definitely a good addition to your professional library.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive info on SQL Loader all in one place, February 18, 2004

By	Aaron Ping "ajping" (Kobe, Hyogo Japan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I searched through several manuals and guides on Oracle only to discover that very few cover the SQL Loader tool in great detail. This book does so, and in a way that's fairly easy to read. It is a huge benefit over the sparse 2-3 pages of documentation you'll typically find elsewhere.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Start with this book and then go to the Oracle Docs, July 5, 2003

By	Eric L. Yen (Covia, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This is the place to start if you want to know about SQL*Loader. The authors do a great job on covering how to use SQL*Loader and all the little nuances that it has. They also sprinkles in some good advise on how to handle situation that will probably come up when you use SQL*Loader. The back cover of the book indicates that it is updated for Oracle 9i. I have a little reservation about that because the book was written with an early release of Oracle 9i (it states so on page xii and xii).

Bottom line: start with this book for the easy read and clear explanations. Then go to the Oracle 9i doc for the updates like the Control File being expanded to include new parameters.