LOAD DATA INFILE 'data.csv' INTO TABLE employees FIELDS TERMINATED BY ',' TRAILING NULLCOLS ( emp_id, emp_name, commission_pct -- If this is missing in the file, it becomes NULL ) Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard 5. Using SQL Functions
You can also use Oracle SQL functions within the control file to handle null logic during the load process. This is helpful for replacing nulls with a specific value (like NVL ). column_name "NVL(:column_name, 'Unknown')" Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Summary of Key Commands NULLIF Sets column to NULL if a specific condition is met. DEFAULTIF Uses the database's default value if a condition is met. TRAILING NULLCOLS Prevents errors when the last columns in a row are missing. BLANKS
The DEFAULTIF clause works similarly to NULLIF , but instead of forcing a NULL, it tells SQL*Loader to use the defined for that column. column_name DEFAULTIF (column_name = '0') Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard 4. Handling Trailing Nulls
A keyword used with NULLIF to identify fields containing only whitespace.
Handle Null Values In Sql Loader Apr 2026
LOAD DATA INFILE 'data.csv' INTO TABLE employees FIELDS TERMINATED BY ',' TRAILING NULLCOLS ( emp_id, emp_name, commission_pct -- If this is missing in the file, it becomes NULL ) Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard 5. Using SQL Functions
You can also use Oracle SQL functions within the control file to handle null logic during the load process. This is helpful for replacing nulls with a specific value (like NVL ). column_name "NVL(:column_name, 'Unknown')" Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Summary of Key Commands NULLIF Sets column to NULL if a specific condition is met. DEFAULTIF Uses the database's default value if a condition is met. TRAILING NULLCOLS Prevents errors when the last columns in a row are missing. BLANKS Handle Null Values In Sql Loader
The DEFAULTIF clause works similarly to NULLIF , but instead of forcing a NULL, it tells SQL*Loader to use the defined for that column. column_name DEFAULTIF (column_name = '0') Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard 4. Handling Trailing Nulls LOAD DATA INFILE 'data
A keyword used with NULLIF to identify fields containing only whitespace. This is helpful for replacing nulls with a