Export data with the OUTPUT statement

Use the OUTPUT statement to export query results, tables, or views from your database.

The OUTPUT statement is useful when compatibility is an issue because it can write out the result set of a SELECT statement in several different file formats. You can use the default output format, or you can specify the file format on each OUTPUT statement. Interactive SQL can execute a SQL script file containing multiple OUTPUT statements.

The default Interactive SQL output format is specified on the Import/Export tab of the Interactive SQL Options window (accessed by clicking Tools » Options in Interactive SQL).

Use the Interactive SQL OUTPUT statement when you want to:

export all or part of a table or view in a format other than text
automate the export process using a SQL script file

Impact on the database

If you have a choice between using the OUTPUT statement, UNLOAD statement, or UNLOAD TABLE statement, choose the UNLOAD TABLE statement for performance reasons.

There are performance impacts associated with exporting large amounts of data with the OUTPUT statement. Use the OUTPUT statement on the same computer as the server if possible to avoid sending large amounts of data across the network.

Export data with the OUTPUT statement

Impact on the database

See also