[.ca] Oracle SQL Loader: The Definitive Guide (ISBN 1565929489)

From Amazon.co.uk:
Oracle SQL*Loader: The Definitive Guide certainly lives up to the promise of its title. What this book doesn't tell you about Oracle's high performance data loading utility is unlikely to be found elsewhere--from the possible permutations of command line syntax and options to the fine detail of what each option means. This book serves both as an introduction to SQL*Loader and as an in-depth reference to its use and behaviour. Having said that, it's perhaps debatable whether the relatively straightforward SQL*Loader merits the treatment it receives here and it's likely that the single chapter coverage in the Oracle Utilities manual, or any number of Oracle DBA reference books, will suffice for the average or occasional SQL*Loader user. However, it will be a useful addition to the bookshelf of the regular SQL*Loader user, or for those where getting the most out of SQL*Loader is an issue. --Michael O'Connor

Very easy to use, but doesn't omits some info:
This is a great book for the occaisional SQLLoad user--it'll tell you everything you need to know to use the tool, but after taking some oracle certification courses, I discovered more about the SQLLoader utility that's not covered in this book. I'm sure Oracle publishes a better book, but this one should suit you fine.

Start with this book and then go to the Oracle Docs:
This is the place to start if you want to know about SQL*Loader. The authors do a great job on covering how to use SQL*Loader and all the little nuances that it has. They also sprinkles in some good advise on how to handle situation that will probably come up when you use SQL*Loader. The back cover of the book indicates that it is updated for Oracle 9i. I have a little reservation about that because the book was written with an early release of Oracle 9i (it states so on page xii and xii). Bottom line: start with this book for the easy read and clear explanations. Then go to the Oracle 9i doc for the updates like the Control File being expanded to include new parameters.

Must-Have for Oracle Programmers:
This is not light reading, but it's a great reference and much better than the Oracle manuals on SQL Loader.

Comprehensive info on SQL Loader all in one place:
I searched through several manuals and guides on Oracle only to discover that very few cover the SQL Loader tool in great detail. This book does so, and in a way that's fairly easy to read. It is a huge benefit over the sparse 2-3 pages of documentation you'll typically find elsewhere.

A Nice Introduction to SQL Loader:
This is a good book for anyone needing or wanting to learn more about SQL Loader. The book begins by laying the foundation for SQL Loader and discussing "The Mysterious Control File". After that it discusses the two types of files that can be loaded - fixed lenght and delimited files. With the basics covered, the authors turn to error recovery and advanced features such as selective loading and direct path loads. After reading this book, you should have a good idea of what SQL Loader can and cannot do along with some of the finer points of when to and not to use SQL Loader. A knowledge of Oracle SQL is really all that is required to understand the material presented. This book is a must have for any shop using Oracle for their database.