RE: historical data

David,
 It was mainframe and COBOL shop, we did not use delimiters in the data files. All the files were using fixed format for data fields. There was one file per table (datasets as they are called in the Burroughs (Unisys) DMSII database). I think one file per table would be much easier to deal with (SQL*Loader, for example). Logically combining data while unloading is another method to consider to save number of files/disk space etc. However, re-loading from such data will be a rather involved process. Of course, YMMV.. You may also know that Jared has a dump.sql script to unload table data into a comma delimited ASCII file. I have used that script a few times. Works great. It also builds the SQL*Loader control file to load the data back. You can find it at http://www.cybcon.com/~jkstill/util/util_master.html.

HTH Regards,
- Kirti Deshpande
  Verizon Information Services
   http://www.superpages.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Turner [SMTP:turner_at_tellme.com]
> Sent: Monday, May 21, 2001 9:59 PM
> To: Deshpande, Kirti
> Cc: ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com; turner_at_tellme.com
> Subject: Re: historical data
>
> What did you use as a delimiter, and are their any limits on tables I can
> write to a file?
>
> Thanks, Dave
> On Mon, May 21, 2001 at 09:47:20PM -0500, Deshpande, Kirti wrote:
> > Hi David,
> > If there is a remote possibility of loading this data back into Oracle
> XX
> > database (or any other, for that matter), then what you are doing makes
> > perfect sense. I used to unload data into flat files when I worked on
> the
> > mainframe systems a few years ago. And a few times we did have to load
> it
> > back into newer versions of the database. You are on the right track.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > - Kirti Deshpande
> > Verizon Information Services
> > http://www.superpages.com
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: David Turner [SMTP:turner_at_tellme.com]
> > > Sent: Monday, May 21, 2001 5:17 PM
> > > To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
> > > Subject: historical data
> > >
> > > We have to role off partitions of data every week and I am writing a
> > > script to
> > > write the data to comma separated files using utl_file. What I was
> > > wondering is
> > > does anyone have an alternative that is better? I thought about using
> > > export but
> > > thought it wouldn't be fun trying to import an export file into the
> latest
> > > version
> > > of Oracle 10 years down the road.
> > >
> > > Thanks, Dave
> > > --
> > > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
> > > --
> > > Author: David Turner
> > > INET: turner_at_tellme.com
> > >
> > > Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051
> > > San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists
> > > --------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
> > > to: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in
> > > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L
> > > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may
> > > also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).

-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
-- 
Author: Deshpande, Kirti
  INET: kirti.deshpande_at_verizon.com

Fat City Network Services    -- (858) 538-5051  FAX: (858) 538-5051
San Diego, California        -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists
--------------------------------------------------------------------
To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
to: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in
the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L
(or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from).  You may
also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).