Update 2 fields in 1 table

Question

I need to update an Oracle 8i database. I need to update 2 fields in 1 table with about 2,000 rows of data.
Right now the date is stored in an Excell file in columns A and B.
I need Something like:
Update Table1
set field1 with value from A:1,
set field2 with value from B:1
repeated with A:2,B:2 and so on

Answer 1

I believe you could use sql loader to get your excel file in but here is a way I cheat to do it.
I save the excel file as a comma deliminated file (I think it is .csv)
then I open it up and copy and paste it into the following. (the part that says paste flat file here)
this is assuming 8i supports model clause I'm unsure on that point.
create or replace view view_xl_file_to_table as
select * from
with t as (select
--- copy paste your flat file here
' Bob,Jones,12345,Employee
  Fred,Thebes,32,Manager
  John,Smith,12,Employee
  Karl,Cane,432,Employee
  George,Johnson,54,Manager
  ' flat_text_file from dual
select flat_text_file text_file_turned_into_row,
        substr(flat_text_file, 1, instr(flat_text_file,',',1,1)-1) col1, -- get text up to the first comma
        substr(flat_text_file, instr(flat_text_file,',',1,1)+1, instr(flat_text_file,',',1,2) - instr(flat_text_file,',',1,1)-1  ) col2, --2nd comma
        substr(flat_text_file, instr(flat_text_file,',',1,2)+1, instr(flat_text_file,',',1,3) - instr(flat_text_file,',',1,2)-1  ) col3, --3rd
        substr(flat_text_file, instr(flat_text_file,',',1,3)+1, instr(flat_text_file,',',1,4) - instr(flat_text_file,',',1,3)-1  ) col4,
        substr(flat_text_file, instr(flat_text_file,',',1,4)+1, instr(flat_text_file,',',1,5) - instr(flat_text_file,',',1,4)-1  ) col5,
        substr(flat_text_file, instr(flat_text_file,',',1,5)+1, instr(flat_text_file,',',1,6) - instr(flat_text_file,',',1,5)-1  ) col6,
        substr(flat_text_file, instr(flat_text_file,',',1,6)+1, instr(flat_text_file,',',1,7) - instr(flat_text_file,',',1,6)-1  ) col7
  from t
-- first turn the carriage return into seperate rows
model return updated rows
dimension by (0 d)
measures (flat_text_file, 0 position_of_return )  -- the position of return is where the next carriage return is
rules iterate(1000) until position_of_return[iteration_number+1] = 0
position_of_return[iteration_number + 1] = instr(flat_text_file[0],chr(10),1,iteration_number + 1), -- find the next carriage return
-- get the text between the previous carriage return and the next and make it a row
flat_text_file[iteration_number + 1] = replace(substr( flat_text_file[0],
                                            position_of_return[iteration_number],
                                            position_of_return[iteration_number + 1] - position_of_return[iteration_number]
                                           ),chr(10))||',' 
)now I have a view and I could anything I want with it and I just drop it when I'm done.
Edited by: pollywog on Apr 19, 2010 7:57 AM