SQL*Loader is a ubiquitous tool in the Oracle world. It has been shipped with Oracle since at least Version 6 and continues to be supported and enhanced with each new version of Oracle, including Oracle8 and Oracle8i. The job of SQL*Loader is to load data from flat files into an Oracle database. It's optimized for loading large volumes of data, and is flexible enough to handle virtually any input format. Almost every Oracle user has to use SQL*Loader at one time or another, and DBAs are frequently called upon to load data for the users in their organization. Despite SQL*Loader's wide availability and usage, few DBAs and developers know how to get the most out of it. Oracle SQL*Loader: The Definitive Guide has everything you need to know to put SQL*Loader to its best use: an introduction to SQL*Loader, a reference to all of its syntax options, and most importantly, step-by-step instructions for all 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 and load from different types of files containing different types of data (e.g., fixed-width data, delimited data, and data of various datatypes). You'll also learn how to validate data, load it selectively, transform it as it is loaded, and recover after failure. This book explains 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). Oracle SQL*Loader: The Definitive Guide is an indispensable resource for anyone who is new to SQL*Loader; a task-oriented learning tool for those who are already using it; and a quick reference for every user. If you want to take best advantage of an essential Oracle tool, you need this book.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 11 Ratings

Comprehensive info on SQL Loader all in one place - 2004-02-19
Reviewer Rating:
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.

No Bull straight to the point - 2004-12-08
Reviewer Rating:
I have been dealing with databases for over three years now.
Right now I am doing Siebel Consulting in which Enterprise Integration Module(EIM) is responsible for data transfer from any source to Sieble database. I came across a requirement where I had to use Oracle SQL Loader, so I went looking for a good book.
This 250 page book tells you everything you need to know about SQL Loader in less time than any other. Lots of code and real time examples.
Worth having as ref book for all DBAs or even developers.
Five Stars for sure.

An excellent book - 2008-10-09
Reviewer Rating:
The authors have done a superb job of covering all corner cases that one might encounter while loading data in the database. The text is sprinkled with practical advise, do's & dont's

I am not sure if sqlloader development has kept up with the database development (i.e. if there exists a 10g version of the sqlloader to go with the 10g Oracle database). If so, then I wish they will come up with a second edition of the book.

Where are the examples? - 2007-10-26
Reviewer Rating:
This book contains a somewhat disjointed overview of SQL*Loader. It starts to explain something and then shows one little example of a character column, for instance. But then there is nothing at all about what to do if the column is a number or date. It explains a lot but it shows little. A very frustrating book.

Oracle's SQL*Loader is fragile, counter-intuitive, dated, and hard to work with. If there were ANY other books available, I would try one of those instead.

Good intro to SQL Loader - 2005-10-15
Reviewer Rating:
This little book is a lifesaver. I have benefitted a lot from the examples provided in this book. SQL Loader can be hard but very easy if you have a guide like this book.

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