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Able to create external table to query csv files as a table...

Gbenga AjakayeSep 12 2016 — edited Sep 12 2016

I think it would be nice to be able to create a external that points to a .csv that I can then query like a regular table.

Each csv columns will represent a table column.

Comments

Mike Kutz

This is what External Tables were designed to do.

I believe that you can use SQL*Developer to create the necessary parameters.

Now, if the CSV was a CLOB (or BLOB) in a table (eg APEX "File Browse..." Item), then you'll want to up-vote this:

Other than that, you will need to explain what you want with more details.

MK

Gbenga Ajakaye

This is what External Tables were designed to do.

I believe that you can use SQL*Developer to create the necessary parameters.

Now, if the CSV was a CLOB (or BLOB) in a table (eg APEX "File Browse..." Item), then you'll want to up-vote this:

Other than that, you will need to explain what you want with more details.

MK

Thanks Mike. I want to be able to read the data in a .CSV without loading the data. I can see how your idea could come in handy, but it's different from what I'm looking for.

BPeaslandDBA

I'm going to vote Up. The reason is because this has already been implemented...many many versions ago. Here is the Oracle documentation on the subject:

External Tables

Either that, or I missed the point entirely.

Now querying a .xlsx file directly from an external table...now there's an idea!

Cheers,
Brian

BPeaslandDBA

Thanks Mike. I want to be able to read the data in a .CSV without loading the data. I can see how your idea could come in handy, but it's different from what I'm looking for.

External Tables do not load the data. They do use the SQL*Loader engine to read from the .csv file, but data is not loaded to the database.

Gbenga Ajakaye

External Tables do not load the data. They do use the SQL*Loader engine to read from the .csv file, but data is not loaded to the database.

I know that @"BPeaslandDBA".

Mike Kutz

I'm going to vote Up. The reason is because this has already been implemented...many many versions ago. Here is the Oracle documentation on the subject:

External Tables

Either that, or I missed the point entirely.

Now querying a .xlsx file directly from an external table...now there's an idea!

Cheers,
Brian

BPeaslandDBA wrote:

Now querying a .xlsx file directly from an external table...now there's an idea!

Cheers,
Brian

Hmmm... can you pass a BFILE to the XMLType() that is part of an XMLTable() ???

MK

Gbenga Ajakaye

I'm going to vote Up. The reason is because this has already been implemented...many many versions ago. Here is the Oracle documentation on the subject:

External Tables

Either that, or I missed the point entirely.

Now querying a .xlsx file directly from an external table...now there's an idea!

Cheers,
Brian

I'll like to see that @"BPeaslandDBA". Though .xlsx can be rather problematic to query. It's not as straightforward.

FatMartinR

.xlsx is a proprietary format.     Not only could it change in the next release of Excel, but it can contain objects other than just text.

How would it copy with embedded objects, for example?

William Robertson

I know that @"BPeaslandDBA".

BCG14 wrote:

I know that BPeaslandDBA.

Then why suggest something that you know already exists?

Gbenga Ajakaye

BCG14 wrote:

I know that BPeaslandDBA.

Then why suggest something that you know already exists?

My reply was that I know that external table is meant to ready data.

BPeaslandDBA

I know that @"BPeaslandDBA".

If you know that, then why did you say "I want to be able to read the data in a .CSV without loading the data." That's precisely what an External Table does. I must be missing something, because you're asking for functionality that already exists so either you did not know that, or  you're asking for something that is not clear to the rest of us in which case you should elaborate more.

Gbenga Ajakaye

If you know that, then why did you say "I want to be able to read the data in a .CSV without loading the data." That's precisely what an External Table does. I must be missing something, because you're asking for functionality that already exists so either you did not know that, or  you're asking for something that is not clear to the rest of us in which case you should elaborate more.

I do know what a external table is are what it's used for. I see what you both are saying. I'll remove the idea.

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Added on Sep 12 2016
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