Load utility processing methods

The Loader offers the following options for processing data using the Load command:

Before loading data, you should determine which method of processing would produce the best results.

Load method

DB2 Consider the load method in the following situations:

With the load method, data is loaded into the database. If the data already exists, the command fails as a result of a duplicate-key error and a duplicate-error message displays.

Import method

DB2 With the import method for DB2, data is also loaded into the database. If the data already exists, it is not deleted but is updated with new values. Consider this method in any of the following situations:

i5/OSiSeries With the import method, data is also loaded into the database. If the data already exists, it is not deleted but is updated with new values. Consider this method in any of the following situations:

SQL import method

DB2Oracle With the SQL import method, JDBC or SQL statements are used to update or insert data into the database. Data is inserted if it does not already exist, and existing data is updated. Consider this method in any of the following situations:

createonly method

To improve performance during instance creation, use the createonly method. Use the createonly method to create mass-load data (MLD) files without loading the data into the database. You can later use your native database load utility to load the MLD files that you created into a WebSphere Commerce database by running the Load command using the loadonly method.

loadonly method

Use the loadonly method to load MLD files that were created using the createonly method. Use the loadonly method only for instance creation. If you use it at any other time, the result may not be desirable.

Other considerations

Restrictions on using the load method

Restrictions on using the import method

The import method cannot insert or update data in bit data fields.

Comparison of the SQL import and load methods

The SQL import method checks for data consistency, including foreign references, and allows you to update existing data. The load method does not.

Comparison of the import and SQL import methods

The import and SQL import methods perform similar functions. The import method is typically faster, but it requires disk space for temporary files.

Further considerations

The delete method is used to delete data that is in the input XML document from the database. The element must contain the values for the primary key or the unique index for the table. If the data being deleted has dependencies to data in another table with "cascade on delete" enabled, the dependent data is also deleted.

If you are using Product Advisor search-space synchronization, you must use the SQL import method for loading data.

The import and load methods use native utilities that are optimized for DB2, while the SQL import method uses JDBC calls (which are generic to many database products).

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