How to Insert Large XML Data into XMLTYPE Column in Oracle Without Breaking Length Restrictions

Discover the solution to handle long string literals while inserting XML data into Oracle's XMLTYPE column. Learn how to use CLOB effectively to bypass the 4000 characters limit.
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How to Insert Large XML Data into XMLTYPE Column in Oracle Without Breaking Length Restrictions

Working with large XML data can often lead to challenges, especially when you're trying to insert it into an Oracle database. One common issue that database developers face is the String literal too long error. This happens because Oracle SQL restricts the size of string literals to a maximum of either 4000 characters or, with the MAX_STRING_SIZE setting, up to 32767 characters in PL/SQL. If your XML data exceeds these limits, you may encounter this error when you try to insert it into an XMLTYPE column.

In this post, we will provide a clear solution to insert large XML data without changing the data type and while complying with Oracle’s limitations. Let’s break down the steps for a streamlined approach.

Understanding the Problem

You might have an XML string that is exceedingly long, possibly over 100,000 characters, and you want to insert this into an Oracle table with the following characteristics:

Table Name: XYZ.ABC

Table Structure: Contains a column named REQUEST_XML of type XMLTYPE.

Block of Code: You may be attempting to use a PL/SQL block like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

However, when this XML string exceeds the defined limit, it raises the String literal too long error in Oracle.

Solution Overview

The solution lies in using CLOB (Character Large Object) to handle the large XML string. The xmltype constructor can work with CLOB, allowing us to circumvent the string literal limitation.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Declare Variables:

Create a variable to hold the CLOB data.

Create another variable for the XMLTYPE data.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Constructing the XML in Chunks:

If your XML string is particularly lengthy, construct it in manageable chunks of less than 32,768 characters (if using the MAX_STRING_SIZE setting). Below is the outline to illustrate this.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Creating the XMLTYPE:

After constructing the full XML string into your CLOB variable, convert it to XMLTYPE using the createxml method.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Inserting It into the Table:

Finally, perform the insert operation with the new XMLTYPE variable.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Example Complete Code

Here’s how the entire PL/SQL block should look:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

Now, whether you're dealing with configuration files, extensive user data, or any large structure, you can confidently insert XML content with these methods!