Скачать или смотреть Resolving the ORA-00936: missing expression Error in SQL*Loader Control Files

Discover the solution to the `ORA-00936: missing expression` error in your SQL*Loader control file with our easy-to-follow guide.
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Resolving the ORA-00936: missing expression Error in SQL*Loader Control Files

When working with SQL*Loader to load data into Oracle databases, you might encounter the error: ORA-00936: missing expression. This can be frustrating, especially when the SQL query you are using runs smoothly in other environments like SQL Developer. Let’s explore this issue and understand how to resolve it effectively.

Understanding the Problem

The error message you are receiving indicates that there is a syntax issue in your SQL*Loader control file (control.ctl). The relevant section of your control file looks like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

While the SQL statement works perfectly when executed in SQL Developer, it leads to an error in SQL*Loader because it expects an expression and not an entire SQL query.

Solution Overview

Use the Correct Syntax

To fix the error, you need to modify your control file to use the correct syntax for expressions. Instead of using the SELECT statement, you should directly place the function call in the expression. Below is the corrected version of your control file:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Key Changes

Replace the entire SQL query SELECT NEXT_DAY(SYSDATE, 'MONDAY') FROM dual with just the function call NEXT_DAY(SYSDATE, 'MONDAY').

This adjustment allows SQL*Loader to interpret it as an expression instead of requiring a complete SQL query context.

Testing the Changes

After making the changes to your control file, you can test it by running the SQL*Loader command as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Sample Output

Once you execute the command, SQL*Loader will process the input, and the log should confirm that the data was loaded successfully. You can verify this by running a simple SQL query against the table:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Example Output

This will return a result set resembling the following:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

The error ORA-00936: missing expression in SQLLoader is usually due to the improper usage of SQL within the control file. By replacing the SELECT statement with a direct function call, you can successfully load your data without encountering further errors. Always remember that SQLLoader expects expressions, not full SQL queries.

If you have additional questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out! Happy loading!