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Browse All TopicsI need to update user information in a huge table. First name and last name columns have to be replaced by same length masked values. Which of the following ways is the most efficient solution.
1) Bulk Update the table as follows
Update table
Set first_name = masking functions and apply logic on the first_name,
last_name = masking functions and apply logic on the last_name
2) Use Cursor as follows
cursor c is select * from table;
open c
first_name_modified := modify c.first_name to mask the actual values;
last_name_modified := modify c.last_name to mask the actual values;
update table set
first_name = first_name_modified,
last_name = last_name_modified
where table_id = c.table_id
close c;
Note: This masking logic involves the use of a lot of string functions like substr,decode,lpad etc etc.
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by: mark_willsPosted on 2008-05-14 at 07:00:37ID: 21564255
If it is a one time procedure and there is a lot of manipulation then would be inclined to go the cursor route - it is easier to code and to manipulate and/or debug. Then let it run for half and hour longer maybe - who cares - it is a once off anyway. But, if it is an ongoing problem, then use the cursor appropach to refine and tune the conversion using the mask, and then make it into an update query...