Data types in delimited files

The LOAD and UNLOAD utilities can process delimited files. When you load a delimited file, LOAD requires that the data in the file be in a certain form depending on the data type. Similarly, when you unload data to a delimited file, UNLOAD writes the data in a certain form depending on the data type.

The following table identifies the acceptable data type forms for the delimited file format that the LOAD and UNLOAD utilities use.

Table 1. Acceptable data type forms for delimited files
Data type Acceptable form for loading a delimited file Form that is created by unloading a delimited file
CHAR, VARCHAR A delimited or non-delimited character string Character data that is enclosed by character delimiters. For VARCHAR, length bytes do not precede the data in the string.
GRAPHIC (any type)4 A delimited or non-delimited character stream Data that is unloaded as a delimited character string. For VARGRAPHIC, length bytes do not precede the data in the string.
INTEGER (any type)1 A stream of characters that represents a number in EXTERNAL format Numeric data in external format.
DECIMAL (any type) 2 A character string that represents a number in EXTERNAL format A string of characters that represents a number.
DECFLOAT EXTERNAL A character string that represents A SQL numeric constant.
FLOAT 3 A representation of a number in the range -7.2E+75 to 7.2E+75 in EXTERNAL format A string of characters that represents a number in floating-point notation.
BLOB, CLOB A delimited or non-delimited character string Character data that is enclosed by character delimiters. Length bytes do not precede the data in the string.
DBCLOB A delimited or non-delimited character string Character data that is enclosed by character delimiters. Length bytes do not precede the data in the string.
DATE A delimited or non-delimited character string that contains a date value in EXTERNAL format Character string representation of a date.
TIME A delimited or non-delimited character string that contains a time value in EXTERNAL format Character string representation of a time.
TIMESTAMP A delimited or non-delimited character string that contains a timestamp value in EXTERNAL format Character string representation of a timestamp.
Start of changeTIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONEEnd of change Start of changeA delimited or non-delimited character string that contains a timestamp with time zone value in EXTERNAL formatEnd of change Start of changeCharacter string representation of a timestamp with time zone.End of change
Note:
  1. Field specifications of INTEGER or SMALLINT are treated as INTEGER EXTERNAL.
  2. Field specifications of DECIMAL, DECIMAL PACKED, or DECIMAL ZONED are treated as DECIMAL EXTERNAL.
  3. Field specifications of FLOAT, REAL, or DOUBLE are treated as FLOAT EXTERNAL.
  4. EBCID graphic data must be enclosed in shift-out and shift-in characters.