Oracle Database Interview Question:

What Is the Quickest Way to Export a Table to a Flat File?

Submitted by: Administrator

The quickest way to export a table to a flat file is probably to use the SQL*Plus SPOOL command. It allows you to record SELECT query result to a text file on the operating system. The following tutorial exercise shows you how control the output format, start the spooler, and dump all record from a table to a flat text file:

>mkdir oraclexe est
>sqlplus /nolog

SQL> connect HR/globalguideline

SQL> SET HEADING OFF;
SQL> SET FEEDBACK OFF;
SQL> SET LINESIZE 1000;
SQL> SPOOL oraclexe estemployees.txt;
SQL> SELECT * FROM EMPLOYEES;
......
SQL> SPOOL OFF;

You should get all records in employees.txt with fixed length fields.
Submitted by: Administrator