Teradata Fastload Reference Manual

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The article contains comparison and main features of the data loading tools provided by Teradata. The tutorial illustrates main features of Teradata Multiload , FastLoad and TPump (Parallel Data Pump) and provides sample real-life uses of those tools.
Scroll down for the sample scripts which illustrate different ways to load a sample fixed-length extract into a Teradata database using FastLoad, MultiLoad and Parallel Data Pump (TPump).

Teradata Fastload is a command driven utility which can be invoked either in batch or interactive mode and used to load large volume of data into Teradata empty table. Teradata Fastload utility establishes multiple session i.e. One session per AMP by default; transfer data using block rather than row to load data into the table and does not use any transient journal during operation. For more information, see Teradata FastLoad Reference documentation. TStatCatcher Statistics. Select this check box to collect log data at the component level. This component offers the flexibility of the DB query and covers all possible SQL queries. Output buffer size, in kilobyte,s used for Teradata FastLoad messages to the Teradata database. The output buffer size and the size of the rows in the Teradata FastLoad table determine the maximum number of rows that can be included in each message to the database. Table 20: FastLoad Entering Commands Command. Directs Teradata FastLoad to log on to the Teradata Database for up to four sessions. Directs Teradata FastLoad to begin reading data at record 100 in the input data source and stop reading records at record 100,000. So, I found some obsure information in the fastload reference manual that states fastload cannot support data files larger than 2 Gb on Windows systems becasue of old 32-bit architecture. The workaround was to use the 'LARGE FILE' AXSMOD. Unfortunantly, the AXSMOD source code is missing or no longer available that I can find.

Teradata Fast Load

  • Main use: to load empty tables at high speed.
  • The target tables must be empty in order to use FastLoad
  • Supports inserts only - it is not possible to perform updates or deletes in FastLoad
  • Although Fastload uses multiple sessions to load the data, only one target table can be processed at a time
  • Teradata Fastload does not support join indexes, foreign key references in target tables and tables with secondary index defined. It is necessary to drop any of the constraints listed before loading and recreate them afterwards.
  • The maximum number of concurrent Teradata Fastload tasks can be adjusted by a system administrator.
  • Fastload runs in two operating modes: Interactive and Batch
  • Duplicate rows will not be loaded

    Teradata Multi Load

  • Main use: Load, update and delete large tables in Teradata in a bulk mode
  • Efficient in loading very large tables
  • Multiple tables can be loaded at a time.
  • Updates data in a database in a block mode (one physical write can update multiple rows)
  • Uses table-level locks
  • Resource consumption: loading at the highest possible throughput
    • Duplicate rows allowed

    Teradata Parallel Data Pump (TPump)

  • Main use: to load or update a small amount of target table rows
  • Sends data to a database as a statement which is much slower than using bulk mode
  • TPump uses row-level hash locks
  • Resource consumption: loading speed can be adjusted using a built-in resource consumption management utility. The throughput can be turned down in peak periods.
    • TPump does not support MULTI-SET tables.
    The following script attached below will load a sample fixed-length columns extract into a Teradata database using FastLoad.
    Use the following command to run load the ggclients.fastload file using Teradata FastLoad script:
    Contents of a ggclients.fastload script:
    The following script attached below will load a sample fixed-length columns extract into a Teradata database using MultiLoad.
    Use the following command to run load the ggclients.mload file using Teradata FastLoad script:
    Contents of a ggclients.mload mload script:
    Teradata fastload script

    The sample script attached below loads a sample fixed-length columns extract into a Teradata database using Parallel Data Pump - Teradata TPump.
    Contents of a ggclients.tpump script:


    The article contains comparison and main features of the data loading tools provided by Teradata. The tutorial illustrates main features of Teradata Multiload , FastLoad and TPump (Parallel Data Pump) and provides sample real-life uses of those tools.
    Scroll down for the sample scripts which illustrate different ways to load a sample fixed-length extract into a Teradata database using FastLoad, MultiLoad and Parallel Data Pump (TPump).

    Teradata Fast Load

  • Main use: to load empty tables at high speed.
  • The target tables must be empty in order to use FastLoad
  • Supports inserts only - it is not possible to perform updates or deletes in FastLoad
  • Although Fastload uses multiple sessions to load the data, only one target table can be processed at a time
  • Teradata Fastload does not support join indexes, foreign key references in target tables and tables with secondary index defined. It is necessary to drop any of the constraints listed before loading and recreate them afterwards.
  • The maximum number of concurrent Teradata Fastload tasks can be adjusted by a system administrator.
  • Fastload runs in two operating modes: Interactive and Batch
    • Teradata fastload reference manual online
  • Duplicate rows will not be loaded

    Teradata Multi Load

  • Main use: Load, update and delete large tables in Teradata in a bulk mode
  • Efficient in loading very large tables
  • Multiple tables can be loaded at a time.
  • Updates data in a database in a block mode (one physical write can update multiple rows)
  • Uses table-level locks
    • Teradata Fastload Reference Manual
  • Resource consumption: loading at the highest possible throughput
    • Duplicate rows allowed

    Teradata Parallel Data Pump (TPump)

  • Main use: to load or update a small amount of target table rows
  • Sends data to a database as a statement which is much slower than using bulk mode
  • TPump uses row-level hash locks

    • Teradata Fastload Reference Manual Online

  • Resource consumption: loading speed can be adjusted using a built-in resource consumption management utility. The throughput can be turned down in peak periods.
    • TPump does not support MULTI-SET tables. Reference
    The following script attached below will load a sample fixed-length columns extract into a Teradata database using FastLoad.
    Use the following command to run load the ggclients.fastload file using Teradata FastLoad script:

    Teradata Fastload Script


    Contents of a ggclients.fastload script:
    The following script attached below will load a sample fixed-length columns extract into a Teradata database using MultiLoad.
    What Use the following command to run load the ggclients.mload file using Teradata FastLoad script:
    Contents of a ggclients.mload mload script:

    The sample script attached below loads a sample fixed-length columns extract into a Teradata database using Parallel Data Pump - Teradata TPump.
    Contents of a ggclients.tpump script: