ORA-29283: invalid file operation ORA-06512: at “SYS.UTL_FILE”, line 536

Question

Below is the code i use to extract data from a table to a flat file.

BEGIN
    DECLARE
        file_name VARCHAR2(50);
        file_handle utl_file.file_type;
BEGIN
    file_name := 'table.txt';
    file_handle := utl_file.fopen('SEND',file_name,'W');
FOR rec in(
    SELECT            column 1
                ||'~'||column 2
                ||'~'||column 3 out_line
    FROM table1)LOOP
UTL_FILE.PUT_LINE(file_handle,rec.out_line);
UTL_FILE.FFLUSH(file_handle);
END LOOP;
UTL_FILE.FCLOSE(file_handle);
END;
end;

This code is working fine in our development database but its throwing the below error if i execute in a new DB.

Error starting at line 1 in command:
    BEGIN
    DECLARE
        file_name VARCHAR2(50);
        file_handle utl_file.file_type;
BEGIN
    file_name := 'table.txt';
    file_handle := utl_file.fopen('SEND',file_name,'W');
FOR rec in(
    SELECT            column 1
                ||'~'||column 2
                ||'~'||column 3 out_line
    FROM table1)LOOP
UTL_FILE.PUT_LINE(file_handle,rec.out_line);
UTL_FILE.FFLUSH(file_handle);
END LOOP;
UTL_FILE.FCLOSE(file_handle);
END;
end;

Error report:
ORA-29283: invalid file operation
ORA-06512: at "SYS.UTL_FILE", line 536
ORA-29283: invalid file operation
ORA-06512: at line 7
29283. 00000 -  "invalid file operation"
*Cause:    An attempt was made to read from a file or directory that does
           not exist, or file or directory access was denied by the
           operating system.
*Action:   Verify file and directory access privileges on the file system,
           and if reading, verify that the file exists.

---

Oracle directory 'SEND' points to some UNIX directory which has rights as 
       'rwxrwsr-x' (Octal 2775)
Oracle Version:11g

Please help me to solve this issue.

Guys please do let me know if you require more data from me to solve this question.

Answer 1

So, @Vivek has got the solution to the problem through a dialogue in the Comments rather than through an actual answer. Who says SO is a Q&A site not a forum? Er, me, amongst others.

Anyway, in the absence of an accepted answer to this question I proffer a link to an answer of mine on the topic of UTL_FILE.FOPEN(). Find it here.

P.S. I'm marking this answer Community Wiki, because it's not a proper answer to this question, just a redirect to somewhere else.

Answer 2

On Windows also check whether the file is not encrypted using EFS. I had the same problem untill I decrypted the file manualy.

Answer 3

I had been facing this problem for two days and I found that the directory you create in Oracle also needs to created first on your physical disk.

I didn't find this point mentioned anywhere i tried to look up the solution to this.

Example

If you created a directory, let's say, 'DB_DIR'.

CREATE OR REPLACE DIRECTORY DB_DIR AS 'E:\DB_WORKS';

Then you need to ensure that DB_WORKS exists in your E:\ drive and also file system level Read/Write permissions are available to the Oracle process.

My understanding of UTL_FILE from my experiences is given below for this kind of operation.

UTL_FILE is an object under SYS user. GRANT EXECUTE ON SYS.UTL_FILE TO PUBLIC; needs to given while logged in as SYS. Otherwise, it will give declaration error in procedure. Anyone can create a directory as shown:- CREATE OR REPLACE DIRECTORY DB_DIR AS 'E:\DBWORKS'; But CREATE DIRECTORY permission should be in place. This can be granted as shown:- GRANT CREATE ALL DIRECTORY TO user; while logged in as SYS user. However, if this needs to be used by another user, grants need to be given to that user otherwise it will throw error. GRANT READ, WRITE, EXECUTE ON DB_DIR TO user; while loggedin as the user who created the directory. Then, compile your package. Before executing the procedure, ensure that the Directory exists physically on your Disk. Otherwise it will throw 'Invalid File Operation' error. (V. IMPORTANT) Ensure that Filesystem level Read/Write permissions are in place for the Oracle process. This is separate from the DB level permissions granted.(V. IMPORTANT) Execute procedure. File should get populated with the result set of your query.

Answer 4

Assume file is already created in the predefined directory with name "table.txt"

• 1) change the ownership for file :

  sudo chown username:username table.txt
  

• 2) change the mode of the file

  sudo chmod 777 table.txt
  

Now, try it should work!