Oracle BLOBs, CLOBs tips

BLOBs and CLOBs Creation

BLOB and CLOB datatypes are created by use of the CREATE or ALTER TABLE or the CREATE or ALTER TYPE commands. In fact, they are created identically to other non-sized datatypes such as DATE and LONG with the exception of the LOB storage clause. The LOB storage clause is not needed if the maximum size of the BLOB doesn't exceed 4000 bytes. Up to 4000 bytes can be stored in-line with the other data in the tablespace. If the length of the BLOB exceeds 4000 bytes it must be stored in either a system defaulted storage (the same as the default for the table it resides in) or in an explicitly defined LOB storage area.

TIP:

I suggest always specify the LOB storage clause, if you force the system to do a default storage each time a BLOB or CLOB exceeds 4000 bytes you could cause datafile fragmentation and performance problems. The LOB storage clause gives you control instead of the system.

An example creation of a table using a BLOB datatype is shown in Listing 1. It just as easily could have been a CLOB.

create table internal_graphics (

  graphic_id number,

  graphic_desc varchar2(30),

  graphic_blob blob,

  graphic_type VARCHAR2(4))

    lob (graphic_blob) store as glob_store (

    tablespace raw_data

    storage (initial 100k next 100k pctincrease 0)

    chunk 4

    pctversion 10

   INDEX glob_index (

   tablespace raw_index))

   TABLESPACE appl_data

  storage (initial 1m next 1m pctincrease 0);