UTL_FILE errors, invalid directory path ???

Question

Hi All,
I am trying to create a csv output file through pl/sql.
However i am having some issues since its my first time.
Please have a look at the following code:
create or replace
PROCEDURE amer_main_proc (start_sent_date date,
                    end_sent_date date,
                    senttype number) IS
CURSOR main_cur IS
SELECT
          s.sent_id,
          s.ussc_id,
          s.sent_upd_date,
          s.alt_docket,
          s.amend_year,
          s.def_num,
          s.dep_status_code,
          s.var_status_code,
          s.disp_type_code,
          s.docket,
          s.oth_sent_code,
          substr(s.oth_text,1,100) oth_text,
          s.po_code,
          ind.prim_offn_code,
          s.prob_mons
FROM      sentences s,
          submission sub,
          ind_sent ind,
          defendants def,judges j
WHERE      s.sent_id = sub.sent_id
AND      s.sent_id = ind.sent_id
AND      ((sub.case_type_code in (10,11) 
AND      trunc(sent_vio_date) between start_sent_date and end_sent_date) or
          (sub.case_type_code in (10)  AND trunc(sent_vio_date) between start_sent_date and end_sent_date) or
          (sub.case_type_code in (11) AND trunc(sent_vio_date) between start_sent_date and end_sent_date) or
          (sub.case_type_code in (11) and  s.amend_code = 10 AND trunc(sub.create_date) between start_sent_date and end_sent_date))
          AND s.def_id=def.def_id
          AND s.ao_judge_id = j.ao_judge_id
          AND sent_creator_id is not null
          AND dist_id != 99
ORDER BY s.ussc_id, s.sent_id;
--Define output file variables
out_file UTL_FILE.FILE_TYPE;        /* file type */
path_name VARCHAR2(50);            /* file path */
file_name VARCHAR2(50);            /* file name */
line_buffer VARCHAR2(2000);        /* store all the elements that make up one line in the output file */
BEGIN
    path_name := 'C:\SQL';  // this folder does exist in my C drive
    file_name := 'main.txt';
    out_file := UTL_FILE.FOPEN(path_name, file_name, 'W');
    line_buffer := 'data main;';
    UTL_FILE.PUT_LINE (out_file, line_buffer);
    line_buffer := 'infile cards delimiter='','';';
    UTL_FILE.PUT_LINE (out_file, line_buffer);
    line_buffer := 'input ' ||
    'USSCIDN ' ||
    'ALT1DOC $ ' ||
    'DEPART ' ||
    'VARIAN ' ||
    'DISPOSIT ' ||
    'DOCKETID $ ' ||
    'TYPEOTHS ' ||
    'TYPEOTTX $ ' ||
    'POOFFICE $ ' ||
    'MONOFFTP ' ||
    'PROBATN ';
    UTL_FILE.PUT_LINE (out_file, line_buffer);
    FOR main_cur_rec IN main_cur LOOP
     --Writes to file
          line_buffer := main_cur_rec.ussc_id ||
          ',' || nvl(main_cur_rec.alt_docket,' ') ||
          ',' || nvl(to_char(main_cur_rec.dep_status_code),' ') ||
          ',' || nvl(to_char(main_cur_rec.var_status_code),' ') ||
          ',' || nvl(to_char(main_cur_rec.disp_type_code),' ') ||
          ',' || nvl(main_cur_rec.docket,' ') ||
          ',' || nvl(to_char(main_cur_rec.oth_sent_code),' ') ||
          ',' || nvl(main_cur_rec.oth_text,' ') ||
          ',' || nvl(to_char(main_cur_rec.po_code),' ') ||
          ',' || nvl(to_char(main_cur_rec.prim_offn_code),' ') ||
          ',' || nvl(to_char(main_cur_rec.prob_mons),' ');
          UTL_FILE.PUT_LINE (out_file, line_buffer);
     END LOOP;
     --Write SAS footer
     line_buffer := ';';
     UTL_FILE.PUT_LINE (out_file, line_buffer);
     line_buffer := 'run;';
     UTL_FILE.PUT_LINE (out_file, line_buffer);
     --Close file
     UTL_FILE.FCLOSE(out_file);
EXCEPTION
-- Write error messages to the screen and file
    WHEN OTHERS THEN
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(SUBSTR(SQLERRM,1,50));     // this is line 106
    UTL_FILE.PUT_LINE(out_file, SUBSTR(SQLERRM,1,50));
   UTL_FILE.FCLOSE(out_file);
END amer_main_proc;I know I am having issues regarding the path, please have a look at the ERRORS below:
Error starting at line 1 in command:
DECLARE
  START_SENT_DATE DATE;
  END_SENT_DATE DATE;
  SENTTYPE NUMBER;
BEGIN
  START_SENT_DATE := '01-JAN-2001';
  END_SENT_DATE := '01-MAR-2001';
  SENTTYPE := 10;
  AMER_MAIN_PROC(
    START_SENT_DATE => START_SENT_DATE,
    END_SENT_DATE => END_SENT_DATE,
    SENTTYPE => SENTTYPE
END;
Error report:
ORA-29282: invalid file ID
ORA-06512: at "SYS.UTL_FILE", line 878
ORA-06512: at "USSC_CASES.AMER_MAIN_PROC", line 106
ORA-29280: invalid directory path
ORA-06512: at line 10
29282. 00000 -  "invalid file ID"
*Cause:    A file ID handle was specified for which no corresponding
           open file exists.
*Action:   Verify that the file ID handle is a value returned from a
           call to UTL_FILE.FOPEN.thanks guys.
Edited by: Rooney on Feb 20, 2012 12:29 PM

Answer 1

You'll need to create an Oracle Directory object that contains 'C:\SQL' and use that in your UTL_FILE call if you are using a 10g+ version of the database and the UTL_FILE_DIR parameter does not include your path.
CREATE DIRECTORY my_dir AS 'C:\SQL';
GRANT READ WRITE ON DIRECTORY my_dir TO <user>;You can then use the directory object name in the path of your UTL_FILE call.
ORA-29280: invalid directory path Cause: A corresponding directory object does not exist.
Action: Correct the directory object parameter, or create a corresponding directory object with the CREATE DIRECTORY command.>
Hope this helps!