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Change files

A Change File is a delimited text file that contains a record of DML changes - represented as rows - to apply to the specified target tables. Replicate reads the Change File(s) and applies the changes to the relevant target tables, which can either be specified in the Change File itself or in a Reference File (see Reference files below for details). Change Files are picked up from the source directory according to their modification date, thereby ensuring that the changes will be processed in the proper sequence.

Information note

The Change File modification date must be both newer than the task start timestamp and newer than the last processed Change File.

Each row in a Change File consists of the following delimited columns:

  • (Optional) The change operation e.g. DELETE. If the operation field is absent, INSERT is assumed.
  • The name of the target table to which to apply the change (only required if the Change File contains changes for multiple tables)
  • (Optional) The timestamp of the change i.e. when the change occurred
  • (Optional) The user who applied the change
  • The data to change (one or more columns)

Change Files can either contain changes for multiple tables or for a single table, as shown in the examples below.

Information note

To access Change Files that reside in different locations and/or that do not include the target table names, you need to use a Reference File. For more information on Reference Files, see Reference files.

Information note

Change File names cannot exceed 70 characters (no such limitation exists for the path length). Change File names that exceed 70 characters will be ignored and appropriate warning will be written to the log.

Change File that contains changes for multiple tables

INSERT,table1,ts1,user,dog,cat,bird

INSERT,table2,ts1,user,dog,cat,bird

DELETE,table3,ts1,user,dog,cat,bird

Change File that contains changes for a single table

INSERT,,ts1,user,dog,cat,bird

INSERT,,ts1,user,dog,cat,bird

DELETE,,ts1,user,dog,cat,bird

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