<p>When you need to move BLOBs between databases (especially when DBs can't talk with each other), it needs a little bit more work, but it is still easy.</p>
<h3 id="heading-necessary-tools"><strong>Necessary tools</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li><p>SQL Developer</p>
</li>
<li><p>Oracle Instant Client with SQLLoader inside (file is called "sqlldr" and it's out of the box) - if you have SQLcl working, SQLLoader should work too.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="heading-step-1-export-blobs-from-source-db-using-sql-developer-cart">Step 1 - Export BLOBS from source DB using SQL Developer "Cart"</h3>
<p>Go to SQL Developer and use Cart to export objects containing BLOBs from your source database.</p>
<p>I prefer exporting files as a zip e.g. to /my_path/blobs.zip</p>
<p>Using Cart is well described in details by Jeff Smith <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thatjeffsmith.com/archive/2014/05/exporting-multiple-blobs-with-oracle-sql-developer/#:~:text=Cart%2C%20again.-,Open%20the%20Cart,-This%20is%20easy">here</a>.</p>
<h3 id="heading-step-2-use-sql-loader-to-import-blobs-to-target-db">Step 2- Use SQL Loader to import BLOBs to target DB</h3>
<p>Unzip the file created in step 1 to, e.g. /my_path/blobs</p>
<p>Ensure that you can connect to your target DB from the above location.</p>
<p>Use terminal and go to /my_path/blobs folder.</p>
<p>Review *.ctl file inside your folder - it shows what will happen if you run the script below.</p>
<pre><code class="lang-bash">sqlldr your_target_db_usr/password@your_db_tns_name CONTROL=BLOB_TABLE.ctl LOG=your_path_to_log_file/log.log BAD=your_path_to_error_log_file/err_log.bad skip=1
</code></pre>
<p>That's all.</p>


When you need to move BLOBs between databases (especially when DBs can't talk with each other), it needs a little bit more work, but it is still easy.

### **Necessary tools**

* SQL Developer
    
* Oracle Instant Client with SQLLoader inside (file is called "sqlldr" and it's out of the box) - if you have SQLcl working, SQLLoader should work too.
    

### Step 1 - Export BLOBS from source DB using SQL Developer "Cart"

Go to SQL Developer and use Cart to export objects containing BLOBs from your source database.

I prefer exporting files as a zip e.g. to /my\_path/blobs.zip

Using Cart is well described in details by Jeff Smith [here](https://www.thatjeffsmith.com/archive/2014/05/exporting-multiple-blobs-with-oracle-sql-developer/#:~:text=Cart%2C%20again.-,Open%20the%20Cart,-This%20is%20easy).

### Step 2- Use SQL Loader to import BLOBs to target DB

Unzip the file created in step 1 to, e.g. /my\_path/blobs

Ensure that you can connect to your target DB from the above location.

Use terminal and go to /my\_path/blobs folder.

Review \*.ctl file inside your folder - it shows what will happen if you run the script below.

```bash
sqlldr your_target_db_usr/password@your_db_tns_name CONTROL=BLOB_TABLE.ctl LOG=your_path_to_log_file/log.log BAD=your_path_to_error_log_file/err_log.bad skip=1
```

That's all.

Keep It Simple. Developer's tips.

Keep It Simple. Developer's tips.

Move BLOBs between Oracle databases

Table of contents

Necessary tools

Step 1 - Export BLOBS from source DB using SQL Developer "Cart"

Step 2- Use SQL Loader to import BLOBs to target DB