File transfer through the database

Hello,

Oracle 9iR2 Enterprise edition on Tru64 5.1B

We currently have a database application that creates RTF-documents on an UNIX-directory. For Windows-clients to read those documents, we have to transfer these files, either by ftp or, as I currently do, by HTTP (Internet Explorer starts with MS-WORD; the document is loaded). We do this in a single script with the document name as parameter.

The HTTP-server is a different machine, wich has to be retired from service, so I would like a different option.

I am thinking of two possibilities:

1. load the file line by line in a table with UTL_FILE, spool those lines to a RTF-file on a Windows directory and load this file in Word.
2. insert a pointer to this file in a BFILE column in a table, dowload this file to Windows and start Word.

The first seems straightforward, but only works for textfiles and I don't get the entire file at once. I'd rather have something more generic.

I don't know how to get about the second option. I can create the table. When using TOAD, I can doubleclick on a field in that BFILE column and a Window appears asking me if I want to run the associated program. The document is then loaded in MS Word.

Since normal users do not have TOAD, I need another way to run a single script with only the document name as parameter, which does the trick for me. I am not a programmer, but a DBA. What do I use best? PL/SQL, Java, Forms? Has anyone got example-code?

I do not have the possibility to install any additional software on the clients. They normally access the database using Forms 6. Received on Sat Dec 24 2005 - 04:00:45 CST