title: Pl SQL reading text file from directory on database
body: <p>I have to read a text file that I have created on the database. I am not sure what the appropriate path would be for the <code>UTL_FILE.FOPEN</code> directory parameter. I am confused because the path is not on my local pc. </p>
  
  <p>The path where I found this file is something like </p>
  
  <pre><code>\\{something here}\winixdb$\{schema here I think}\dev\data
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This is my current code.</p>
  
  <pre><code>Declare
  
  f UTL_FILE.FILE_TYPE;
  s VARCHAR2(200);
  
  begin
  
    f:= UTL_FILE.FOPEN({path_here}, 'certs_file.txt', 'R');
    UTL_FILE.GET_LINE(f,s);
    UTL_FILE.FCLOSE(f);
    dbms_output.put_line(s);
  
  end;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Right now if I put the exact path there it will be an error:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p><code>ORA-2928: Invalid Directory Path</code> </p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>I've tried looking at other resources but they talk about a path that is found on your local environment. Also, I don't quite understand the idea of a file on your database.</p>
  
  <p>I want to see this file be outputted to the DBMS. </p>