To read text file using utl_file

Question

I would like to read test_file_out.txt which is in c:\temp folder.
create or replace create or replace directory dir_temp as 'c:\temp';
grant read, write on directory dir_temp to system;
then when i execute the below code i get the error .
// to read text file using utl_file
DECLARE
FileIn UTL_FILE.FILE_TYPE;
v_sql VARCHAR2 (1000);
BEGIN
FileIn := UTL_FILE.FOPEN ('DIR_TEMP', 'test_file_out.txt', 'R');
UTL_FILE.PUT_LINE (FileIn, v_sql);
dbms_output.put_line(v_sql);
UTL_FILE.FCLOSE (FileIn);
END;
ERROR:
invalid file operation
i would like to use ult_file only and also can you let me know to read the text file and place its contents in tmp_emp table?

Answer 1

Are you trying to read the contents of the file into the local variable? Or write the contents of the local variable to the file?
Your text talks about reading the file. And you open the file in read mode. But then you call the UTL_FILE.PUT_LINE method which, as SomeoneElse points out, attempts to write data to the file. Since the file is open in read-only mode, you cannot write to the file.
If the goal is really to read from the file, replace the UTL_FILE.PUT_LINE calls with UTL_FILE.GET_LINE. If the goal is really to write to the file, you'll need to open the file in write mode ('W' rather than 'R' in the FOPEN call).
Justin