Skip to Main Content
  • Questions
  • Convert BLOB file to readable format

Breadcrumb

Question and Answer

Chris Saxon

Thanks for the question, Ankit.

Asked: March 17, 2017 - 5:14 am UTC

Last updated: March 20, 2017 - 2:50 pm UTC

Version: 11.2.0.1

Viewed 10K+ times! This question is

You Asked

Hi,

There is one table which has data type as BLOB for one of the columns.

We need to open that file and see the context.

Please suggest, how can we convert that file and make it in readable format?

Thanks.

and Chris said...

A blob stores binary data. So you need to know what format it is and use an appropriate client.

If you're using SQL Developer, you can use it to read comment file types (images, PDF, ...)

Jeff Smith shows you how at:

http://www.thatjeffsmith.com/archive/2016/04/viewing-blobs-in-sql-developer-as-text/
http://www.thatjeffsmith.com/archive/2013/10/sql-developer-blobs-and-the-external-editor/

Rating

  (1 rating)

Is this answer out of date? If it is, please let us know via a Comment

Comments

Ankit Bhatt, March 18, 2017 - 5:48 pm UTC

Hi,

Thanks for the information but I am getting error as "Mime type not supported" when I am using External Editor as per Jeff's comments.

Please suggest.

Thanks.


Chris Saxon
March 20, 2017 - 2:50 pm UTC

What file type is it? You need to launch a program that can read the contents correctly.

More to Explore

CLOB/BLOB/etc

Complete documentation on Securefiles and Large Objects here