NAME
    Oracle::Loader - Perl extension for creating Oracle PL/SQL and control
    file.

SYNOPSIS
      use Oracle::Loader;

      $ldr = Oracle::Loader->new;
      $ldr = Oracle::Loader->new(%args);
      $ldr->init;                     # only sets vbm(N),direct(N),reset(Y)
      $ldr->init(%args);              # set variables based on hash array
      $ldr->sync(%args);              # syncronize variables 
      $ldr->disp_param;               # display parameters 
      $ldr->crt_sql;                  # create PL/SQL file 
      $ldr->crt_ctl;                  # create control file 
      $ldr->crt_sql($crf,$fh,$apd,$tab,$rst);
      $ldr->crt_sql($crf,$fn,$apd,$tab,$rst);
      $ldr->crt_ctl($crf,$fh,$apd,$dat,$rst);
      $ldr->crt_ctl($crf,$fn,$apd,$dat,$rst);
      $ldr->create($typ,$cns,$sfn,$phm);
      $ldr->load($typ,$cns,$ctl,$phm,$log);
      $ldr->batch($typ,$cns,$sdr,$phm,$ext);
      $ldr->report_results($typ,$cns,$sdr,$ofn,$ext);
      $ldr->report_errors($typ,$cns,$sdr,$ofn,$ext);
      $ldr->read_log($sub,$log,$rno);

DESCRIPTION
    The Loader module creates data definition language (DDL) codes for
    creating tables and control file to be used to load data into Oracle
    tables. It creates DDL codes based on column definitons contained in an
    array or read from a definition file. It also has reporting functions to
    generate SQL*Load error reports and load result reports.

    The column definition array could be built from Data::Describe module.
    It is actually an array with hash members and contains these hash
    elements ('col', 'typ', 'wid', 'max', 'min', 'dec', 'dft', 'req', and
    'dsp') for each column. The subscripts in the array are in the format of
    $ary[$col_seq]{$hash_ele}. The hash elements are:

      col - column name
      typ - column type, 'N' for numeric, 'C' for characters, 
            'D' for date
      max - maximum length of the record in the column
      wid - column width. It is the max of the column length. If 
            'wid' presents, the max and min are not needed.
      min - minimum length of the record in the column
      dec - maximun decimal length of the record in the column
      dft - date format string, e.g., YYYY/MM/DD, 
            MON/DD/YYYY HH24:MI:SS
      req - whether there is null or zero length records in the 
            column only 'NOT NULL' is shown
      dsp - column description 

    The module will use column definitons to create DDL codes and control
    file using *crt_sql* and *crt_ctl* methods.

METHODS
    * the constructor new(%args)
        Without any input, i.e., new(), the constructor generates an empty
        object. If any argument is provided, the constructor expects them in
        the hash array format, i.e., in pairs of key and value.

        Input variables:

          %args - configuration parameters. The args are

            sql_fn    -  pl/sql file name
            ctl_fn    -  SQL*Loader control file name
            dat_fn    -  data file name for SQL*Loader
            bad_fn    -  bad file name for SQL*Loader
            dis_fn    -  discard file name for SQL*Loader
            def_fn    -  column definition file name
            def_ex    -  definition file name extent
            log_fn    -  log file name for SQL*Loader
            spool     -  spooling file name
            dbtab     -  Oracle table name
            dbts      -  Oracle tablespace name
            dbsid     -  Oracle SID/Database alias
            dbhome    -  Oracle home directory
            dbconn    -  Oracle connection string
            dbusr     -  Oracle user
            dbpwd     -  Oracle password
            ts_iext   -  tablespace initial extent
            ts_next   -  tablespace next extent
            db_type   -  database type: Oracle, MSSQL
            append    -  Y/N/O to append to sql and ctl files
            drop      -  Y/N to drop table in sql and
                                 #     to append in ctl files
            vbm       -  Y/N to display more message
            direct    -  using direct load method in SQL*Loader
            overwrite -  over write existing sql and ctl files
            src_dir   -  directory where def files stored
            DirSep    -  directory separator
            commit    -  whether to create tables and load data in
                         batch load
            reset     -  whether to reset values when new value is
                         passed in.
            relax_req - relax constraint/requirement for creating tables
            add_center - add center number to every plate
            _counter   - internal counter
            study_number - study number

            cols_ref  - ref to column array
            out_fh    - output sql file handle
            conn      - connection array - ["DBI:Oracle:$db",$usr,$pwd]

        Variables used or routines called:

          None

        How to use:

           my $obj = new Oracle::Loader;      # or
              $obj = Oracle::Loader->new;     # or
              $obj = Oracle::Loader->new(
                dbconn=>"usr/pwd\@db",def_fn=>'myDef.txt');

        Return: new empty or initialized class object.

        The *%args* can contain:

        * init(%attr)
            Input variables:

              %attr - argument hash array 

            Variables used or methods called:

              None 

            How to use:

              # use default value to initialize the object
              $self->init; 
              $self->init(%a); # use %a to initialize

            Return: the initialized object.

            This method initiates the parameters for the object.

        * sync (%args)
            Input variables:

              %args - argument hash array 

            Variables used or methods called:

              Debug::EchoMessage
                set_param - get parameter value from an array

            How to use:

              # use default value to syncronile the object
              $self->sync; 
              $self->sync(%a); # use %a to syncronize

            Return: the initialized object.

            This method syncronizes the parameters.

        * read_definitoin ($dfn, $typ)
            Input variables:

              $dfn - definition file name. If not specified, 
                     I<param->def_fn> method will be called.
              $typ - definition file type. Not implemented at 
                     this version.

            Variables used or methods called: None.

              param->def_fn - get definition file name
              param->reset  - reset parameters?
              cols_ref      - get/set column reference

            How to use:

              $self->read_definition($fn); 

            Return: none.

            This method reads a column definition file and sets the
            definition column array. It espects the definiton file to
            contain one column definition per line with vertical bar
            delimiting the definition. Here are the definitions:

              1. SAS Dataset Name and Path|
              2. ASCII File Name and Path|
              3. Variable Name|
              4. Variable Length|
              5. Variable Type (1=num 2=char 3=date)|
              6. Variable Date Format|
              7. Variable Label|
              8. All Values Exist?

            Here is an example:

              #SAS|ASCII|VarName|VarLength|VarType|DateFmt|VarLabel|NotNull
              ||STUDYNO|3|number||Study Number|not null
              ||CENTERNO|3|number||Center Number|
              ||PATIENTS|7|number||Center Patients|
              ||VISITS|7|number||Center Patients|
              ||RECORDS|7|number||Center Patients|
              ||Fax_In|6.1|number||Mean # Days from Visit to Fax In|
              ||DB_Entry|6.1|number||Mean # Days from Visit to DB entry|
              ||DB_Clean|6.1|number||Mean # Days from Visit to DB clean|
              ||clean_now|5.1|number||Percent Records Clean Now|
              ||job_id|9|number||Report Job number|not null

        * crt_sql($arf,$ofn,$apd,$tab,$rst,$drp)
            Input variables:

              $arf - array ref containing column definitions.
                     If not specified, it defaults to I<cols_ref>. 
              $ofn - output file name. The file will contains
                     the sql codes. It defaults to I<out_fh> or
                     I<sql_fn>.
              $apd - whether to append if the output file 
                     exists. It defaults to I<param->append>.
              $tab - database table name. It defaults to
                     I<param->dbtab>.
              $rst - whether to reset parameters based on the
                     specified parameters here. It defaults to
                     I<param->reset>.
              $drp - whether to drop the table before create it.
                     The default is 'Y'. 

            Variables used or methods called:

              param  - get parameters

            How to use:

              $self->crt_sql($arf, 'mysql.sql','Y', 'mytab'); 

            Return: create PL/SQL codes for creating Oracle tables.

            This method creates PL/SQL codes based on the columns defined in
            the definition array. You can access the array reference as
            ${$arf}[$i]{$k}. The $k could be 'col', 'typ', 'wid', 'max',
            'min', 'dec', 'dft', and 'req'. Some special keys are stored in
            the first element of the array, i.e., ${$arf}[0]. They are

              table_name - table name. It is used as the last 
                           resource in getting a table name.  
              table_desc - table title/description used to 
                           create table comments. 

        * crt_ctl ($arf, $ofn, $apd, $dat, $rst, $drp)
            Input variables:

              $arf - array ref containing column definitions.
                     If not specified, it defaults to I<cols_ref>. 
              $ofn - output file name. The file will contains
                     the sql codes. It defaults to I<out_fh>
                     or I<ctl_fn>.
              $apd - whether to append if the output file 
                     exists. It defaults to I<param->append>.
              $dat - input data file name. It defaults to
                     I<param->dat_fn>.
              $rst - whether to reset parameters based on the
                     specified parameters here. It defaults to
                     I<param->reset>.
              $drp - whether drop records before appending

            Variables used or methods called:

              param  - get parameters

            How to use:

              $self->crt_sql($arf, 'mysql.ctl','N', 'mytxt.dat'); 

            Return: create control file to be used by sql*loader.

            This method creates a SQL*Loader control file.

        * check_infile ($ctl,$typ)
            Input variables:

              $ctl - control file name
              $typ - routine type: load, create, etc.

            Variables used or methods called:

              echoMSG   - echo messages

            How to use:

              $self->check_infile($inf);

            Return: boolean, i.e., 1 for OK, 0 for not OK.

            This method checks whether there is INFILE parameter in control
            file, whether the infile exisit and has non-zero size.

        * create ($typ, $cns, $sfn, $phm)
            Input variables:

              $typ - DB type: Oracle, MSSQL, etc. It defaults to
                     Oracle
              $cns - connection string: usr/pwd@db
              $sfn - sql file name
              $phm - program (sqlldr) home directory 

            Variables used or methods called:

              param   - class method to get parameters

            How to use:

              $self->create; 
              $self->create('', 'usr/pwd@db'); 

            Return: None.

            This method creates the tables by running SQL*Plus or other
            program corresponding to its database.

        * load ($typ, $cns, $ctl, $phm, $log)
            Input variables:

              $typ - DB type: Oracle, MSSQL, etc. It defaults to
                     Oracle
              $cns - connection string: usr/pwd@db
              $ctl - control file name
              $phm - program (sqlldr) home directory 
              $log - log file name

            Variables used or methods called:

              param   - class method to get parameters

            How to use:

              $self->load; 
              $self->load('', 'usr/pwd@db'); 

            Return: None.

            This method loads that data into a corresponding table. For
            Oracle, sqlldr is used to load the data into the table.

        * batch ($typ, $cns, $sdr, $phm, $ext)
            Input variables:

              $typ - DB type: Oracle, MSSQL, etc. It defaults to
                     Oracle
              $cns - connection string: usr/pwd@db
              $sdr - source directory containing all the definition files
              $phm - program (sqlplus, sqlldr, etc.) home directory 
              $ext - definition file extension such as "def", "var", etc.
                     It uses 'def_ex' if it is set, otherwise default to
                     'def'.

            Variables used or methods called:

              param   - class method to get parameters
              crt_sql - create PL/SQL codes
              crt_ctl - create Oracle control file

            How to use:

              $self->batch; 
              $self->batch('', 'usr/pwd@db', '/my/load/dir'); 

            Return: None.

            This method calls *read_definition*, *crt_sql*, *crt_ctl*,
            *create*, *load* methods to run through all the definition files
            in a source directory.

        * read_log ($typ, $ifn, $rno)
            Input variables:

              $typ - type of information that is extracted from the log file.
                     The types are: result or error
              $ifn - log file name
              $rno - record number

            Variables used or methods called:

              param   - class method to get parameters
              sort_array    - sort a numeric array 
              compressArray - compress an array of numbers 
                              into a list of range or comma 
                              delimited numbers

            How to use:

              $self->read_log('','mylog.log');

            Return: None.

            This method reads a SQL*Loader log file and return loading
            result or loading errors based on request.

        * report_results ($typ, $cns, $sdr, $ofn, $ext)
            Input variables:

              $typ - database type: Oracle, MSSQL
              $cns - connection string: usr/pwd@db
              $sdr - source directory containing all the 
                     definition files
              $ofn - output file name  
              $ext - log file extension such as "log", "lst",
                     etc.

            Variables used or methods called:

              param    - class method to get parameters
              read_log - read an Oracle log file

            How to use:

              $self->report_results;

            Return: None.

            This method reads all the SQL*Loader log files in a load
            directory and generates a nice report with the following fields:

               1 - Success Rate
               2 - Oracle table name
               3 - Rows successfully loaded
               4 - Rows not loaded due to data errors
               5 - Rows not loaded because all WHEN clauses were 
                   failed
               6 - Rows not loaded because all fields were null
               7 - Total logical records skipped
               8 - Total logical records read
               9 - Total logical records rejected
              10 - Total logical records discarded
              11 - Start time
              12 - End time
              13 - Elapsed time
              14 - CPU time

        * report_errors ($typ, $cns, $sdr, $ofn, $ext)
            Input variables:

              $typ - database type: Oracle, MSSQL
              $cns - connection string: usr/pwd@db
              $sdr - source directory containing all the 
                     definition files
              $ofn - output file name  
              $ext - log file extension such as "log", "lst",
                     etc.

            Variables used or methods called:

              param    - class method to get parameters
              read_log - read an Oracle log file

            How to use:

              $self->report_errors;

            Return: None.

            This method reads all the SQL*Loader log files in a load
            directory and generates a nice error report with the following
            information:

              SQL*Loader error report
              ========================
              # Output format:
              # ORA-#####   counts
              # ORA-#####:table_name:colum_name (count) record range

FAQ
  What are the parameters?
                    CSV = []                            
                 DirSep = /                             
                 Oracle = [DBI:Oracle:orcl,usrid,userpwd]
             add_center =                               
                 append = N                             
                 bad_fn = /dlb/data/S083/load/s083p001.bad
               cols_ref = ARRAY(0x1787a4)               
                 commit = N                             
                   conn = ConnType::CSV,ConnType::Oracle
                 ctl_fn = /dlb/data/S083/load/s083p001.ctl
                 dat_fn = /dlb/data/S083/load/s083p001.dat
                db_type = Oracle                        
                 dbconn = usrid/userpwd@orcl          
                 dbhome = /export/home/oracle7          
                  dbpwd = userpwd                       
                  dbsid = orcl                          
                  dbtab = p083p001                      
                   dbts = data_ts                       
                  dbusr = userid                       
                 def_fn = /dlb/data/S083/load/s083p001.def
                 direct = N                             
                 dis_fn = /dlb/data/S083/load/s083p001.dis
                 log_fn = /dlb/data/S083/load/s083p001.log
                 out_fh =                               
              overwrite = Y                             
              relax_req = Y                             
                  reset = Y                             
                  spool = /tmp/xx_tst.lst               
                 sql_fn = /tmp/xx_tst.sql               
                src_dir =                               
           study_number =                               
                ts_iext = 21k                           
                ts_next = 2k                            
                    vbm = Y                             

        * database parameters
            Currently only two connection types are available: CSV and
            Oracle. None of them has been implemented to use in creating
            tables or loading data. This consideration is intended to be
            implemented in the future versions.

            You can get the connection information using these methods:

                # create the loader object
                $ldr = new Oracle::Loader;
                # get connection array reference
                $a = $ldr->{conn};   
                # output the contents
                print "@$a\n";

            You can set the connection using these methods:

                $ldr->{conn} = ["DBI:CSV:f_dir=/tmp"]; # or
                $ldr->{conn} = ["DBI:Oracle:sidxx"), "usrid", "usrpwd"];
                $ldr->sync;
              Or 
                $ldr->{dbconn} = "usrid/usrpwd@db";
                $ldr->sync;
              Or
                $ldr->{dbsid} = 'sidxx';
                $ldr->{dbusr} = 'orausr';
                $ldr->{dbpwd} = 'orapwd';
                $ldr->sync;

            Other database parameters:

                # set Oracle tablespace name
                $ldr->{dbts} = 'USER_DATA'; 
                # set tablespace intial extent
                $ldr->{ts_iext} = '10k'; 
                # set tablespace next extent
                $ldr->{ts_next} = '5k';
                # set table name
                $ldr->{dbtab} = 's083ae'; 
                # set database type
                $ldr->{db_type} = 'Oracle';
                # database executable home directory
                $ldr->{dbhome} = '/export/home/oracle7';

        * input/output file names
            There are two ways to run this program: in single or batch mode.
            If it runs in single mode the input file name defined in
            *def_fn* is used; otherwise, the definiton files in the source
            directory are searched. The source directory is defined through
            parameter *src_dir*. These are the parameters related to input
            files:

                # set definition file name
                $ldr->{def_fn} = '/tmp/load/s083p001.def';
                # set source directory containing all the definition files
                $ldr->{src_dir} = '/data/S083/load'; 

            The important parameter is *cols_ref*. This parameter is re-set
            by running *read_definition* method. If we did not set *def_fn*
            or *src_dir*, we can set *cols_ref* parameter directly, and the
            action methods such as *crt_sql* and *crt_ctl* will use the
            array referenced by *cols_ref* parameter to create SQL and
            control files. You could use Data::Describe module to form
            column definitions and pass the reference to *cols_ref* in the
            Loader.

            These are the parameters related to SQL file:

                # set sql file name
                $ldr->{sql_fn} = '/tmp/xx_tst.sql';
                # set spool file name 
                $ldr->{spool} =  '/tmp/xx_tst.lst';

            The only parameters related to report file names are
            *study_number* and *src_dir*. If no report file name is
            specified in *report_results* or *report_errors* methods, the
            report file name is formed using *study_number*. If no
            *study_number*, then the directory name one level above
            *src_dir* is used. For instance, if we have

                $ldr->{study_number} = '90';
                $ldr->{src_dir} = '/tmp/S083/load'; 

            then the report file names are 'S090_ldr.rst' and 'S090_ldr.err'
            for result report and error report respectively. The report
            files will be resided under '/tmp/S083/load'. If we reset the
            *study_number* to null, then the report file names will be
            'S083_ldr.rst' and 'S083_ldr.err' for result and error reports
            respectively.

            These are the parameters related to control file:

                # set control file name
                $ldr->{ctl_fn} = '/tmp/load/s083p001.ctl';
                # set data file name for SQL*Loader
                $ldr->{dat_fn} = '/tmp/load/s083p001.dat';
                # set discard file name
                $ldr->{dis_fn} = '/tmp/load/s083p001.dis';
                # set bad file name
                $ldr->{bad_fn} = '/tmp/load/s083p001.bad';
                # set log file name
                $ldr->{log_fn} = '/tmp/load/s083p001.log';

            If an output file handler is defined, the SQL codes or control
            codes will be written to the file handler. The *sql_fn* or
            *ctl_fn* will be ignored.

        * boolean parameters
            The boolean parameters are used to turn on or off some of the
            features or functions this program have. They use Y or N (or
            null). Here is a list of the parameters (the first one is the
            default value):

              add_center (N/Y): whether to add center number or 
                                foreign key to all the tables.
                  append (N/Y): whether to append the output to 
                                existing file such as SQL or 
                                control file.
                  commit (N/Y): whether to actually create tables 
                                and load data into the tables.
                  direct (N/Y): whether to use direct path in 
                                SQL*Loader to load data into the 
                                tables.
               overwrite (N/Y): whether to over write existing files 
                                if they already exist. 
               relax_req (Y/N): whether to relax the constraints 
                                defined in the definition file. If 
                                yes, then only the constraints in 
                                column names containing 'ID' are 
                                enabled.
                   reset (Y/N): whether to re-set the parameters if 
                                new values are passed in through a 
                                method such as I<crt_sql>, I<crt_ctl>, 
                                I<load>, I<create>, etc.
                     vbm (N/Y): whether to display more information 
                                about the progress.                             

        * miscellaneous parameters
            We only have one miscellaneous parameter, i.e., *DirSep*. It is
            currently set to '/' for Unix system. It could be determined by
            using Perl special variable - '$^O' ('$OSNAME'). Here is how to
            change it to NT directory separater:

                $ldr->{DirSep} = '\\';

  How to create a Loader object?
        You can create an empty Loader object using the following methods:

          $ldr = Oracle::Loader->new();
          $ldr = new Oracle::Loader;

        If you have an hash array %p containing all the parameters, you use
        the array to initialize the object:

          $ldr->init(%p);

        You can create your hash array to define your object attributes as
        the following:

          %p = (
            'vbm'       => 'Y',    # use verbose mode 
             'cols_ref' => \@C,    # array_ref for col defs
            );
          $ldr = Oracle::Loader->new(%p);

  How to change the array references in the display object
        You can pass data and column definition array references to display
        objects using the object constructor *new* or using the *set*
        methods:

          $ldr = Oracle::Loader->new($arf, $crf); 
          $ldr->{data_ref} = \@new_array;
          $ldr->{cols_ref} = \@new_defs;     

  How to access the object?
        You can get the information from the object through all the methods
        described above without providing a value for the parameters.

  Future Implementation
        Although it seems a simple task, it requires a lot of thinking to
        get it working in an object-oriented frame. Intented future
        implementation includes

        * add MSSQL type so that it can create T-SQL codes and DTS codes
        * a debugger option
            A method can also be implemented to turn on/off the debugger.

        * a logger option
            This option will allow output and/or debbuging information to be
            logged.

CODING HISTORY
        * Version 0.01
            12/10/2000 (htu) - Initial coding

        * Version 1.00
            02/15/2001 (htu) - major restructuring

        * Version 1.01
            02/15/2001 (htu) - quote Oracle key words

        * Version 1.02
            02/15/2004 - removed dependence from Data::subs for sort_array
            and compressArray methods.

        * Version 1.03
            6/15/2004 (htu) - added pre-requisite module Class::Struct in
            the test script.

        * Version 1.04
            7/19/2004 (htu) - removed some unrelated inline comments and try
            to find out why it failed the test on CPAN while it runs ok on
            my computer.

        * Version 1.05
            Commented out all the tests in Loader.t to see if it fails CPAN
            tests.

        * Version 1.06
            The problem is the './t/Loader.t' in MANIFEST. CPAN takes it
            when it is entered as 't/Loader.t'.

        * Version 1.10
            Remove Class::Struct implementaiton since this PM does not work
            as expected with new Class::Struct.

SEE ALSO (some of docs that I check often)
        Data::Describe, perltoot(1), perlobj(1), perlbot(1), perlsub(1),
        perldata(1), perlsub(1), perlmod(1), perlmodlib(1), perlref(1),
        perlreftut(1).

AUTHOR
        Copyright (c) 2000-2001 Hanming Tu. All rights reserved.

        This package is free software and is provided "as is" without
        express or implied warranty. It may be used, redistributed and/or
        modified under the terms of the Perl Artistic License (see
        http://www.perl.com/perl/misc/Artistic.html)