Convert reqular | delimeted data into XMLtype

Question

How do we hold data
How do I convert/store regular data (coming from | delimeted .dat file) into Oracle XMLtype.
there will 400+ columns on each record and the file will be having about 50 millions records,
I have requirement to use the XMLtype, any help would be greatly appreciated.
In some cases the incoming file has more columns on day2 from day1. If table is predefined the no. of columns, Then this case I will loose that additional column's values. The main stuff is even if receive different no. of columns if need to capture without altering the table?
Is there any option, without altering the table, can I capture the additional columns in Oracle?
Also is there any advantage or disadvantage of this process, please!
Thanks,

Answer 1

Hi,
You can declare the column as XMLType and the storage as CLOB.
  1  SELECT SYS_XMLGen('T')
  2    FROM   user_tables
  3*   WHERE  rownum = 1
sql> /
SYS_XMLGEN('T')
<ROW>T</ROW>
sql> create table t2 (
  2     x xmlType)
  3   XMLType x STORE AS CLOB;
Table created.
sql> insert into t2
  2  SELECT SYS_XMLGen('T')
  3    FROM   user_tables
  4    WHERE  rownum = 1;
1 row created.
sql> commit;
Commit complete.Thanks,
Rajesh.
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