Re: UTL FILE PKG

> WE want to read a file which is in a client machine
> thru UTL_FILE is it possible ?
> We have to do this because forms ( ver 5) can't read
> a file in the client when it is run through the oracle
> web server.

UTL_FILE can only read files on the machine where the oracle server is running. If your client can publish a filesystem (say, via NFS) that you can mount on the oracle server machine, you may be able to use UTL_FILE. But since you are talking about Forms I don't imagine this is an option to you. Also, using UTL_FILE is not very secure (of course, neither is NFS) and a lot of people who try to use it get pretty frustrated. I think some oracle 8.1+ sites are instead using the file I/O features of Java via (Java stored procedures) to read and write files on the database server machine.

If the file is small you may be able to have the user upload it to the server via an HTML form (but you can't upload a file without some specific user action) or maybe via some Java applet. As far as I'm concerned, the HTML method relatively easy (also it is tried and true). You have to jump through a bunch of hoops to authorize Java to read a file, though.

I suppose, though I've not done it, that Oracle's new "iFS" (Internet File System) might also provide a solution to the general problem of reading files from client machines into the database, maybe someone on the list could comment there..

Just curious, what is the function of the file?

Good luck
Bill

--

______________________________________________
http://www.datacraft.com/    http://plnet.org/


-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
-- 
Author: Bill Pribyl
  INET: bill_at_datacraft.com

Fat City Network Services    -- (858) 538-5051  FAX: (858) 538-5051
San Diego, California        -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists
--------------------------------------------------------------------
To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
to: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in
the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L
(or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from).  You may
also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).