--- In firebird-support@yahoogroups.com, "Hardy Sherwood" <HardyS@...>
wrote:

>
> I'd appreciate help on the use of external tables to load data into

internal

> tables.
>
>
>
> 1. I understand that external tables is the best way of

loading large

> quantities of data into internal tables. Is this correct? If not,

what is

> a better method?

Best? Probably not. It is awkward to use and lacks null flags / BLOBs
etc. But it is the fastest, so in some cases is the most appropriate.
For other cases, there are other tools like FBExport and FSQL which
may be a better compromise .

> 2. It seems that most experienced Firebird users recommend that only
> CHAR columns are defined in external tables. Are there problems

with using

> other column types?

I don't believe so, but using chars makes it a lot easier.

> 3. Does it matter how big the external file is in terms of bytes of
> data? Number of rows? Number of columns?

You asked this back in July and you were answered by Helen, Ann and
Vlad. External Files are limited to 2GB in size. Obviously any
internal table limit for number of rows and columns will apply once
you import the table as well.

Adam