What sort of files? directories and external tables (as Joerg suggests) work extremely well for reading flat files, so long as you are comfortable with sqlloader syntax. I don't think that they work well for writing - since the write format is a proprietory one that is really only useable by other Oracle databases. binary files would I think need some other programmable interface java or .net stored procedures or an external procedure call. Niall On Tue, Dec 16, 2008 at 12:25 PM, John Dunn <JDunn@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Apart from re-writing pl/sql to java, what are the alternatives to > utl_file that I can use in PL/SQL to read and write files? > > Oracle version is 10.2 > > > > > *John Dunn* > > Product Consultant > Sefas Innovation Limited. > > Tel: + 44 (0) 117 373 6122 > > www.sefas.com > > P Please consider the environment before printing this email > > Sefas Innovation Limited, CityPoint, Temple Gate, Bristol BS1 6PL, UK. > > Tel: +44 (0) 117 373 6114 Fax: +44 (0) 117 373 6115. > > Registered No: 3769761 England. > > Registered Office: One New Street, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2LA, United > Kingdom. > > VAT Registration No: GB 741 5377 32 > > Unless stated to be non-confidential, this email and any attachments are > private and confidential and are for the addressee only. Sefas monitors > e-mails to ensure its systems operate effectively and to minimize the risk > of viruses. Whilst Sefas has taken reasonable steps to scan this email, it > does not accept liability for any virus that may be contained in it. > > Internet communications are not 100% secure and as such Sefas is not > responsible for their abuse by 3rd parties, nor for any alteration or > corruption in transmission. > > -- Niall Litchfield Oracle DBA http://www.orawin.info