Example:
dbadmin=> CREATE TABLE test (c INT);
CREATE TABLE
dbadmin=> \d test
List of Fields by Tables
Schema | Table | Column | Type | Size | Default | Not Null | Primary Key | Foreign Key
-------+-------+--------+------+------+---------+----------+-------------+------
public | test | c | int | 8 | | f | f |
(1 row)
dbadmin=> \! cat /home/dbadmin/test.txt
""
"1"
dbadmin=> COPY test
dbadmin-> FROM '/home/dbadmin/test.txt'
dbadmin-> ENCLOSED BY '"'
dbadmin-> REJECTED DATA TABLE test_bad;
Rows Loaded
-------------
1
(1 row)
dbadmin=> SELECT c
dbadmin-> FROM test;
c
---
1
(1 row)
dbadmin=> SELECT rejected_data, rejected_reason
dbadmin-> FROM test_bad;
rejected_data | rejected_reason
---------------+--------------------------------------------
"" | Invalid integer format '' for column 1 (c)
(1 row)
Vertica cannot implicitly cast the NULL value to an integer . But we can explicitly using the cast ::!.
dbadmin=> DROP TABLE test_bad;
DROP TABLE
dbadmin=> TRUNCATE TABLE test;
TRUNCATE TABLE
dbadmin=> COPY test (c_filler FILLER VARCHAR(1), c AS c_filler::!INT)
dbadmin-> FROM '/home/dbadmin/test.txt'
dbadmin-> ENCLOSED BY '"'
dbadmin-> REJECTED DATA TABLE test_bad;
Rows Loaded
-------------
2
(1 row)
dbadmin=> SELECT c
dbadmin-> FROM test;
c
---
1
(2 rows)
dbadmin=> SELECT rejected_data, rejected_reason
dbadmin-> FROM test_bad;
rejected_data | rejected_reason
---------------+--------------------------------------------
(0 rows)
Helpful Links:https://www.vertica.com/docs/latest/HTML/index.htm#Authoring/SQLReferenceManual/LanguageElements/Operators/CastFails.htm
https://www.vertica.com/docs/latest/HTML/index.htm#Authoring/AdministratorsGuide/BulkLoadCOPY/IgnoringColumnsAndFieldsInTheLoadFile.htm
Have fun!
About the Author
James Knicely
Vertica Field Chief Technologist
I've had the privilege of working with many database technologies in my career. But after being introduced to Vertica in May of 2011 as a client, I was hooked on the new technology after witnessing a query run in milliseconds that had previously ran for hours on the legacy database we had in place. It was then that I knew I wanted to eventually join the Vertica team, and 4 years later I did! I am currently a Vertica evangelist and am ready to help you get on board! Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have about Vertica and make sure to follow my Vertica Quick Tips!
