Insert /*+ Append */ and direct-path INSERT

Question

Hi Guys
Does insert /*+ Append */ into hint cause Oracle 10G to use direct-path INSERT?
and if insert /*+ Append */ into hint does cause Oracle to use direct-path INSERT, does insert /*+ Append */ is subject to the same restrictions as direct-path such as "The target table cannot have any triggers or referential integrity constraints defined on it."
Thanks

Answer 1

Dear,
Here below a simple example showing the effet of existing trigger on the append hint
mhouri@mhouri> select * from v$version where rownum=1;
BANNER                                                                         
Oracle Database 11g Enterprise Edition Release 11.2.0.1.0 - Production         
mhouri@mhouri> create table b as select * from all_objects where 1 = 2;
Table créée.
mhouri@mhouri> insert /*+ append */ into b
  2  select * from all_objects;
70986 ligne(s) créée(s).
mhouri@mhouri> select * from b;
select * from b
ERREUR à la ligne 1 :
ORA-12838: impossible de lire/modifier un objet après modification en parallèle
mhouri@mhouri> rollback;
Annulation (rollback) effectuée.The direct path took place as far as I can't select from the table before I commit
mhouri@mhouri> create trigger b_trg before insert on b
  2  for each row
  3  begin
  4  null;
  5  end;
  6  /
Déclencheur créé.
mhouri@mhouri> insert /*+ append */ into b
  2  select * from all_objects;
70987 ligne(s) créée(s).
424 ligne(s) sélectionnée(s).
mhouri@mhouri> select count(1) from b;
  COUNT(1)                                                                     
     70987                                                                      While in the presence of this trigger on the table, the append hint has been silently ignored by Oracle. The fact that I can select from the table immediately afte the insert has finished is the indication that the table has not be inserted using direct path load
Best Regards
Mohamed Houri