Re: Hex data into SQL*Loader

John-Paul Mead wrote:
I have a column of hexadecimal data that I want to load as integer data. This column will be used as the primary key, and I believe Oracle will more efficiently index the table if it treats this column as numerical rather than character data. <<

Your expectation that a numeric key will be more efficient is not necessarily correct. Oracle store all numbers as scientific notation, not in machine native integer, float, or double variables. We have found that varchar2 works as well, if not better, than numeric for short columns (like department number) that consist of numberic digits but are not used in math operations (calculations). I do not remember what test results we got on longer values, but our development staff has not submitted a table request with a numeric key in recent memory. This leads me to believe that char and varchar2 indexed columns perform at least as well.

Mark Powell -- The only advise that counts is the advise that you follow so follow your own advise Received on Thu Sep 11 1997 - 00:00:00 CEST