Using the EXTERNAL FILE Option
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The EXTERNAL FILE option creates a table for which the data resides in an external table or file, rather than in the InterBase database. External files are ASCII text that can also be read and manipulated by non-InterBase applications. In the syntax for CREATE TABLE, the <filespec> that accompanies the EXTERNAL keyword is the fully qualified file specification for the external data file. You can modify the external file outside of InterBase, since InterBase accesses it only when needed.
- Note: The 2GB external file size limit has been removed from InterBase XE onward.
Use the EXTERNAL FILE option to:
- Import data from a flat external file in a known fixed-length format into a new or existing InterBase table. This allows you to populate an InterBase table with data from an external source. Many applications allow you to create an external file with fixed-length records.
SELECTfrom the external file as if it were a standard InterBase table.- Export data from an existing InterBase table to an external file. You can format the data from the InterBase table into a fixed-length file that another application can use.
- Important: For security reasons, it is extremely important that you not place files with sensitive content in the same directory with external tables.