vladman992000 wrote:

>> Is it fixed-width? If yes, using an external table is the fastest way.
>
> No, its not currently fixed width. I don't have any control over the
> source data being uploaded (as I would lose all the performance gain
> in trying to pad the data anyway). What is the impact of using a
> non-fixed width file here?

It won't work. Won't be able to declare the external table.

> The file, for example, looks like this:
>
> jsmith@...
> benedict@...
> bill@...

You should really try and compare the speed you would gain from external
table to the time it takes to pad the file.

--
Milan Babuskov
http://www.flamerobin.org
http://www.guacosoft.com