Import data from file.txt to table Oracle SQL using PL/SQL - oracle

Question

I'm trying to read a file of type txt from c:\Dir and insert the content on the table Oracle Sql
set SERVEROUTPUT ON
CREATE OR REPLACE DIRECTORY MYDIR AS ' C:\dir';
DECLARE
vInHandle utl_file.file_type;
eNoFile exception;
PRAGMA exception_init(eNoFile, -29283);
BEGIN
BEGIN
vInHandle := utl_file.Fopen('MYDIR','attachment.txt','R');
dbms_output.put_line('The File exists');
EXCEPTION
WHEN eNoFile THEN
dbms_output.put_line('The File not exists');
END;
END fopen;
/
i have the file not exists but i have this file

Answer 1

I don't know whether space you have in front of the directory name in the first statement you posted makes difference (or is it just a typo), but - nonetheless, here's how it is usually done.
Create directory on hard disk:
C:\>mkdir c:\dir
Connect to the database as SYS (as it owns the database, as well as directories); create directory (Oracle object) and grant privileges to user which will use that directory:
C:\>sqlplus sys as sysdba
SQL*Plus: Release 11.2.0.2.0 Production on ╚et O×u 5 18:34:43 2020
Copyright (c) 1982, 2014, Oracle. All rights reserved.
Enter password:
Connected to:
Oracle Database 11g Express Edition Release 11.2.0.2.0 - 64bit Production
SQL> create or replace directory mydir as 'c:\dir';
Directory created.
SQL> grant read, write on directory mydir to scott;
Grant succeeded.
SQL>
You don't need this, as you already have the file; I'll create it by spooling table contents.
SQL> connect scott/tiger
Connected.
SQL> spool c:\dir\example.txt
SQL> select * From dept;
DEPTNO DNAME LOC
---------- -------------- -------------
10 ACCOUNTING NEW YORK
20 RESEARCH DALLAS
30 SALES CHICAGO
40 OPERATIONS BOSTON
SQL> spool off;
SQL> $dir c:\dir\*.txt
Volume in drive C is OSDisk
Volume Serial Number is 7635-F892
Directory of c:\dir
05.03.2020. 18:39 539 example.txt
1 File(s) 539 bytes
0 Dir(s) 290.598.363.136 bytes free
SQL>
Finally, reusing code you wrote:
SQL> set serveroutput on
SQL>
SQL> DECLARE
2 vInHandle utl_file.file_type;
3 eNoFile exception;
4 PRAGMA exception_init(eNoFile, -29283);
5 BEGIN
6 BEGIN
7 vInHandle := utl_file.Fopen('MYDIR','example.txt','R');
8 dbms_output.put_line('The File exists');
9 EXCEPTION
10 WHEN eNoFile THEN
11 dbms_output.put_line('The File not exists');
12 END;
13 END fopen;
14 /
The File exists
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL>
Works properly (congratulations, you wrote code that actually works!).
So, what have you done wrong?
as I said, space in front of c:\dir: CREATE OR REPLACE DIRECTORY MYDIR AS ' C:\dir';
database isn't on your computer but on a separate database server
it means that you probably created directory, but it points to c:\dir directory on the database server, not your own PC!
As Boneist commented, it is possible to create a directory (Oracle object) on computer which is NOT a database server, but that's not something we usually do. If you opt to choose this option, you'll have to use UNC (Universal Naming Convention) while creating directory.
Another option you might want to consider is to use SQL Loader. It is an operating system utility, installed along with the database or (full, not instant) client software. Its advantage is that it runs on your local PC (i.e. you don't have to have access to the database server) and is extremely fast. You'd create a control file which tells Oracle how to load data stored in the source (.txt) file.
Another option, which - in the background - uses SQL Loader, is to use an external table. It is yet another Oracle object which points to the source (.txt) file and allows you to access it using a simple SQL SELECT statement. Possible drawback: it still requires access to the Oracle directory (just like your UTL_FILE option).