Hello,

I have to read a file via external table but this file it's located into another directory inside the ASM.
As first step I have to move the file
So, I decided to use the preprocessor feature running a script

Here's my table (premise: all permissions are set correctly etc)

CREATE TABLE EXT_FILE
   ( "REC" VARCHAR2(3 BYTE), 
 "VAL" VARCHAR2(4 BYTE), 
 ...
   ) 
   ORGANIZATION EXTERNAL 
    ( TYPE ORACLE_LOADER
      DEFAULT DIRECTORY "ACFS_EXECDIR"
      ACCESS PARAMETERS
      ( RECORDS DELIMITED BY NEWLINE
        PREPROCESSOR ACFS_EXECDIR:'preprocess.sh'
        FIELDS LDRTRIM 
        MISSING FIELD VALUES ARE NULL 
        REJECT ROWS WITH ALL NULL FIELDS 
        (
          "REC" (1:3) CHAR(3),
          "VAL" (4:7) CHAR(4),
          ...
        )
              )
      LOCATION
       ( 'file.ftp'
       )
    )
   REJECT LIMIT UNLIMITED ;

this file is located into a folder and the script (preprocess.sh) into another
so I thought to proceed like this:
* move the file into the ACFS_EXECDIR directory,

so when executing the SELECT * FROM EXT_FILE, the 'preprocess' feature would have executed the script which moves the file
into the default directory (ACFS_EXECDIR) then read it

But it doesn't work..because it cannot find the file

KUP-04040: file file.ftp in ACFS_EXECDIR not found
29913. 00000 -  "error in executing %s callout"
*Cause:    The execution of the specified callout caused an error.
*Action:   Examine the error messages take appropriate action.

So I've created a blank file just to pass the exception and it worked.
I thought the feature would have execute the script before anything else, then read it
of course the file is not there..

Another test I made was replacing the filename with the script's name to 'bypass' the exception again. It worked.

 LOCATION
       ( 'preprocess.ftp'
       )
    )

so,
first question
Does the file have to be into the directory even before the execution of the preprocessor's script? Does it check if the file exists?

second:
Do I have to cat the file to view it inside the table? Again, I thought the external table would 'view' the file automatically after the execution of the script

third:
I cannot find the documentation of this feature for oracle 11g, would you provide a link?

Thank you