SQLLDR date format issue with AM/PM

Question

Hello Experts,
I am unable to load data into my table in oracle 11G using sql loader.
I will put my problem in a simpler way.
SQL> sho parameter nls_date_format
nls_date_format                      string      DD-MM-YYYY HH12:MI:SS AM
SQL>
SQL> desc hero
Name                                      Null?    Type
DAT_1                                              TIMESTAMP(6)
hero.ctl
LOAD DATA                                                                      
INFILE 'hero.dat'                                                              
INTO TABLE HERO                                                                
FIELDS TERMINATED BY ','                                                       
TRAILING NULLCOLS                                                              
   DAT_1     DATE "DD/MM/YYYY HH12:MI:SS AM"                                                                 
hero.log
   Column Name                  Position   Len  Term Encl Datatype
DAT_1                               FIRST     *   ,       DATE DD/MM/YYYY HH12:MI:SS AM
Record 1: Rejected - Error on table HERO, column DAT_1.
ORA-01858: a non-numeric character was found where a numeric was expected
Table HERO:
  0 Rows successfully loaded.
  1 Row not loaded due to data errors.
  0 Rows not loaded because all WHEN clauses were failed.
  0 Rows not loaded because all fields were null.
hero.bad
"28/2/2011  11:48:00 PM"Constraints :-
1. The data from the flat file cannot be formatted / edited / changed.
2. The table's datatypes cannot be altered.
Regards,
Valli

Answer 1

The problem is that you are trying to put a DATE into a TIMESTAMP column. The DATE needs converting to a timestamp. This would be easier if you used external tables as you could do the conversion on the fly when doing an insert...select... from the external table, rather than relying on the outdated SQL*Loader functionality.