List directory Files in PL/SQL

Question

I'm trying to list all the files in a Win NT/2000 directory (folder) from a PL/SQL procedure. I'd like to loop through and process each file. Is this possible in PL/SQL? If not is there anyway to accomplish this? Many Thanks

Answer 1

Hello,
U R trying to run an OS commd thrgh PLSQL, well U can do it but through an External Procedure - either using C prog or Java prog (preferd).
Points to get list of files from a directory is as follows :
1. Specify that directory path in init.ora
(ex : UTL_FILE_DIR=d:\Temp)
file for which U want to list files
2. write a Java prog. (preferred) which will list U all files with in that folder.
If more than one file, do concatinate those using a special char & make a single string so that U can resolve that in PLSQL block to seprte files.
a typical java prog which perform what I mensioned is as follows :
import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;
class TestFile
public static void main(String[] args)
TestFile t1 = new TestFile();
String fileNameStr = t1.returnFile();
System.out.println(fileNameStr);
public static String returnFile()
File f = new File ("d:\\Temp");
String str[] = f.list();
int size = str.length;
int i;
String fileName=new String();
if (size!=0)
for(i=0;i<=size-1;i++)
fileName = fileName + "$" + str;
return fileName;
else
return "No File";
This will returns all Files in the d:\Temp folder concatinated with "$" symbol.
3. load that Java prog in Oracle.
create directory pNew as
'd:\Test';
create or replace and resolve java source
named "TestFile" using bfile(pNew,'TestFile.java');
4. create a package in Oracle which call that Java prog.
create or replace package TestFile as
function returnFile return varchar2 is
language java
name 'FileRead.returnFile() return java.lang.String';
end;
SQL>SELECT TestFile.returnFile FROM DUAL;
Note: U should have CREATE ANY Directory Previlage.
Hope this helps, If U find btr soln, do inform & if reqrd frthr soln leave msg in this forum.
regards
Prakash