Sql loader and bulk data

Question

hi,
I want to insert 100,000 records daily in a table for the first month and then in next month these records are going to be replaced by new updated records.
there might be few addition and deletion in the previous records also.
actually its consumer data so there might be few consumer who have withdrawn the utility and there will be some more consumer added in the database.
but almost 99% of the previous month data have to be updated/replaced with the fresh month data.
For instance, what i have in my mind is that i will use sql loader to load data for the first month and then i will delete the previous data using sqlPlus and load the fresh month data using sql loader again.
1. Is this ok ? or there is some better solution to this.
2. I have heard of external files, are they feasible in my scenario?
3. I have planned that i will make scripts for sqlPlus and Loader and use them in batch files. (OS windows 2003 server, Oracle 9i database). is there some better choice to make all the procedure automatic?
looking for your suggestions
nadeem ameer

Answer 1

I would suggest u use External tables since its more flexible then
sqlloader & is a better option.
For using external tables
1)u will have to create a directory first
2)Generally creation od directory is done by sys,hence after creating the directory
privileges read & write to be provided to user .
3)Creation of external tables.
4) Now use the table as a normal table to insert ,update delete in
ur table.
U can get more information from
http://www.oracle-base.com/articles/9i/SQLNewFeatures9i.php#ExternalTables
Create Directory <directory_name> as <Directory path where file be present>
Grant read,write on directory <directory_name> to <username>
CREATE TABLE <table_name>
(<column names>)
ORGANIZATION EXTERNAL
TYPE ORACLE_LOADER
DEFAULT DIRECTORY ,directory_name>
ACCESS PARAMETERS
RECORDS DELIMITED BY NEWLINE
FIELDS TERMINATED BY ','
LOCATION (<filename>)
PARALLEL 5
REJECT LIMIT 200;
Hope this helps.