Need to call Shell script that uses SQL loader in APex4.1/11g

Question

Hi there!
I have a requirement, wherein I have to call a shell script that connects to an external server, ftp's a file in and then uses sqlloader to load data into our table. Now we have the ftp script that does this for another program, but is a scheduled job. I wanted to call the ftp shell script from within APEX. Any suggestions on how this can be done, what PL/SQL logic can we use? I see online some people using dbms scheduler for this?
Thank you
Sun

Answer 1

Hi,
Create some sh script on your oracle host machine where you can join into external server and run the process.
something like:
run_external_sh.sh
#!/bin/sh
ssh ext_user@ext_host ./sqlloader/import/import.shThen create a external JOB to call it via ORACLE(PL/SQL)
-- Call Shell Script.
BEGIN
  DBMS_SCHEDULER.create_program (
    program_name        => 'external_call_sh',
    program_type        => 'EXECUTABLE',
    program_action      => '/local_host/call_external/sh/run_external_sh.sh',
    number_of_arguments => 0,
    enabled             => TRUE,
    comments            => 'Call external SH script');
END;
/Now you can create a scheduled/or not scheduled JOB
-- Job defined by an existing program and schedule.
BEGIN
  DBMS_SCHEDULER.create_job (
    job_name      => 'jb_external_call_sh',
    program_name  => 'external_call_sh',
    schedule_name => 'external_call_scheduler', -- created scheduler
    enabled       => TRUE,
    comments      => 'Job defined by an existing external_call_sh program and schedule.');
END;
/Now you can call the JOB in APEX in PL/SQL process.
BEGIN
  -- Run job synchronously.
  DBMS_SCHEDULER.run_job (job_name            => 'jb_external_call_sh');
END;Regards
J :D