Re: Data Comparison

raghu wrote:
> Hi,
>
> We are trying to compare two tables of similar structure. In other
> words, the missing and the different records are to be determined. The
> database is Oracle 9i.
>
> The options being evaluated are
>
> 1. Minus Operator - Since the table has nearly 4 million records, I am
> not sure if this is a feasible option.
>
> 2. Cursors - For each table, cursors can be opened and the data can be
> compared. Fetching the records in blocks (using BULK COLLECT LIMIT) may
> not be possible because different records might be selected from each
> table. Moreover, comparing null values makes it even tougher.
>
> Though time (taken for the comparison operation) is not a constraint,
> the number of database hits and the processing memory are to be
> certainly considered.
>
> What are your thoughts? Are there any other ways to do the data
> comparison?
>
> Thank you.

The thought is that you are ignoring the built-in solution.

The question is why? Getting paid by the hour?

-- 
Daniel A. Morgan
http://www.psoug.org
damorgan_at_x.washington.edu
(replace x with u to respond)