BL_API_BULKLOAD= Data Set Option

Specifies to perform bulk loading using the Oracle Direct Path API instead of the Oracle SQL*Loader utility.

Valid in: DATA and PROC steps (when accessing data using SAS/ACCESS software)
Categories: Bulk Loading
Data Set Control
Default: NO
Restriction: This data set option is not valid in z/OS operating environments.
Requirement: To specify this option, you must first set BULKLOAD=YES
Data source: Oracle
See: BULKLOAD= data set option, ERRLIMIT= data set option, INSERTBUFF= data set option

Table of Contents

Syntax

BL_API_BULKLOAD=YES | NO

Syntax Description

YES

specifies to perform bulk loading using the Direct Path API.

Notes The Oracle SQL* Loader is not required for bulk loading using Direct Path API.
Direct Path API bulk loading shows better performance for SAS tables that contain mainly numeric values as compared to the same bulk loading using the SQL*Loader utility.

NO

specifies to perform bulk loading using the Oracle SQL*Loader utility.

Details

The following are differences in bulk loading when you use the Direct Path API:

  • DAT files are not needed. Therefore, they are not created.
  • The SLQ*Loader utility is not used.
  • Other bulk-loading data set options are ignored for Direct Path API bulk loading.
  • Direct Path API bulk loading uses the value of the INSERTBUFF= data set option to optimize performance. It uses the ERRLIMIT= data set option to limit the number of errors before SAS stops processing and issues a rollback.
Last updated: February 3, 2026