Oracle 8i LONG Column and MS Access

[StevenB]

OK, so I have an Oracle 8i database that has a table with one column in LONG format.

I have a need to export this data, and somehow get it into MS Access. Although the data in in LONG format, there are no values that would not fit into an Access Memo field.

However, I'm having trouble getting it out of one and into the other.

Any thoughts?

 

[Shirley]

What is Oracle 8l database? Is it just like a long text file that is fixed width?

 

[StevenB]

I'm not sure I understand your question, but the Oracle LONG format is essentially like one of Access's "data types." The format supports up to 2 GB of data (compared to the 64000 characters of an Access memo field), but yes, it's like a giant text field.

So, for example, in this case it's storing the text of job applicant's resumes, all in one giant text field.

 

[Shirley]

If it is a fixed width test file you can break it down before you put the data in the table. When you import the data you go through a specification procedure, that you can set up to divide the text up to fields that you can create a table from. You can also save the specification to be used again. If you know the length of certain fields in the Oracle LONG format text, you can specify there. When you select import and select the file, then click on Fixed Width and the Advance Button:

Then you can setup a Specification for example:

Name Type Width Start
Dog Text 8 1
Type Text 2 9
Age Long 4 11

I hope this helps.