Data Loading Performance Issues

Hi,

        I have several thousand records that need to be loaded into a table. However, the data is all in a flat file. The data also needs to be massaged and other info. needs to be looked up before I can insert these records into the table.

        My question is:
Is it faster/better to use sql-loader load all the data into a temp. table and manipulate the data say, using pl/sql and insert in finaly; Or, use pro*c read in the records from the data file lookup the reqd. info and then insert the records?

        Thanks in advance.

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