Patrice Borne wrote:
> On Feb 9, 8:38 am, DA Morgan <damor..._at_psoug.org> wrote:
>> web guy wrote:
>>> I'm using SQL*Loader with a delimited file from Excel. I have a date
>>> field that the users are 'supposed' to populate with a format of
>>> 'mmddyyyy', and I simply do a to_date(:date_field,'MMDDRRRR') in the lod
>>> script and all is well.
>>> However, very often I get dates in the file with a format of 'M/D/YYYY'
>>> or 'MM/DD/YYYY', and rather then reject that record during load, I would
>>> of course like to load it anyway.
>>> Any suggestions on how to do this?
>>> Tim
>> Define a discard file and send those records back to be fixing.
>>
>> Covering for other people's inadequacies is a recipe for working
>> evenings and weekends. And no one will remember you did it three
>> weeks later except to expect you to do it yet again.
>> --
>> Daniel A. Morgan
>> University of Washington
>> damor..._at_x.washington.edu
>> (replace x with u to respond)
>> Puget Sound Oracle Users Groupwww.psoug.org
>
> I agree 100% with Daniel. The best approach is to simply let those
> records be rejected and send them back to the senders, asking them to
> fix THEIR process. Otherwise, you are basically offering yourself as
> an easy scapegoat when something explodes in the future. Today, you
> know what the problem is and you know how to fix it. Tomorrow, someone
> will create another problem in the data (since they won't care because
> you will be responsible for problems, not them) and will not have
> anticipated it. Believe me, I have played this sort of game for a long
> time.
>
> Define a format that the data MUST adhere to and simply return to the
> sender data that doesn't comply. Remember, when something craps out
> that impacts the business directly, upper management will ask for a
> name to blame and you will be sacrificed because "you did not load the
> data correctly". Nobody will listen to your technical arguments,
> believe me!
Anyone that doesn't believe you (or us) just needs to give it a little
more time: Experience being the best teacher.
--
Daniel A. Morgan
University of Washington
damorgan_at_x.washington.edu
(replace x with u to respond)
Puget Sound Oracle Users Group
www.psoug.org
Received on Fri Feb 09 2007 - 14:19:44 CST
