Substr function in CTL file of sqlloader

Question

Hi gurus,
I am using sql loader to load the data from text file to oracle table.
I have 2 columns in the input data, which are of more size than their corresponding destination table column sizes.
I am using substr() function in the control file, but it is failing for some records in 2 scenarios, details given below.
First scenario:
destination table column size is 250 characters.
substr() function works fine when the source data is less than 255 characters, but when it is more than 255 characters, the record is getting rejected as bad record.
eg: if the source data is of 254 characters, only 250 chars are inserted in the table, but if the size is 256, record is not inserted in the table.
Here is the syntax i am using
ENQUIRY "SUBSTR(:ENQUIRY, 0, 250)",
Second scenario:
destination table column size is 2000 characters.
substr() function works fine when the source data is upto 2000 characters, but when it is more than 2000 characters, the record is getting rejected as bad record.
Here is the syntax i am using
ANSWER CHAR(2000) "SUBSTR(:ANSWER, 0, 2000)",
Please suggest.
Thanks,

Answer 1

odie_63 wrote:
Hi,
Try with specifying a larger size limit for both columns :
ENQUIRY CHAR(4000) "SUBSTR(:ENQUIRY, 0, 250)",        
ANSWER  CHAR(4000) "SUBSTR(:ANSWER, 0, 2000)"
Will the substr work with a starting offset of 0 ? Doesn't substr uses 1 as the first character position? or it is different with sqlloader?
Okay I checked, It works just like if the offset is given as one. Perfect.
SQL> select substr('ABCDEF',0,3) from dual;
SUB
ABCThanks odie_63. :)
Edited by: zahid79 on Jul 23, 2010 5:20 PM
Edited by: zahid79 on Jul 23, 2010 5:22 PM